Lama Beans

Awesome empanadas with a huge variety to pick from. The cook had that look of experience that aligned with the ultimate great hot taste and the dipping sauce should not be rejected. Interior nothing to write home about, but don't let that deter you.

They serve some of the BEST empanadas in Albany! The chicken in the chicken empanadas is so tender. The cabbage and chorizo empanadas are fantastic. Don't forget to grab some "green sauce" it pairs so perfectly! If you get a chance, try their rice and beans, too! Also, try to call ahead if you want to place an order.

Delicious and no frills. The owner was in the kitchen and the cashier answered all my questions. The place is tiny and not fancy, but the llama decorations make the place cute. The tequenos are cheese filled tacos. Get them because they're cheesy and deep fried and they will make you feel fat in the best way.

These folks were incredibly nice and helpful. I had a great experience and the empanadas were great

Great food for a low cost. The selection of items for both the regular menu and the $8 lunch were decent.

These have to be the BEST empanadas in the capital region! I got the Mac and cheese one for $4 and it’s beyond good. Delicious, authentic, and a great price. Support this local buisness!!!!

Amazing authentic food made fresh. I'm not really a guacamole person but this place makes me a fan of theirs! I recommend the platter for those that may not be sure what they wish to try, you'll definitely want to return and try more of everything...if there were more stars I'd add them as well!

I have only gotten delivery so I can't speak to the atmosphere, cleanliness or staff but the food!!!!!!!!!!!! I ordered it for lunch yesterday and dinner today. That's a good review right there. I had the arroz con pollo with a side of fried plantains. The rice and beans were so well seasoned and not dry like some other reviewers have found. I've now tried 5 of the savory and 3 of the sweet empanadas. I think my favorite so far is the cabbage and chorizo. I would drink the green side sauce with a straw! Also, I have found it be reasonably priced. Tonight we got the family dinner which came with plentiful arroz con polo and your choice of 4 empanadas for only $28. Highly recommend this establishment!

This place makes a unique experience that most other restaurants won't give you. It's a hole in the wall kind of place that serves great food that makes you feel like it was a home cooked meal. The food is reasonably priced for the kind of food that you get. If you look at the price for Peruvian food anywhere else, it's 5-10$ more money. I ordered Ceviche, which is a very classic Peruvian dish with raw fish marinated in a lemon fish sauce. It tasted right. If you don't like lemon or raw fish, then you won't like it. The portion sizes are misleading because they look smaller than they actually are. Both my wife and I did not finish our plate. It's very filling. You should know that the food definitely isn't prepared by some kind of renowned chef, which you can tell, but it's good nevertheless. The price is right! The empanada's are delicious, and worth the trip to this restaurant alone. If you read other people's reviews, everybody raves about the empanada's. The customer service was excellent for us. Others apparently have had bad experiences. However, the lady who helped us had a big smile on her face, and served us very personally. PS: There isn't any bathroom just in case you need to go!

I wish I could rate more than 5 stars, I love La Empanada Llamas empanadas! They're always fresh and I enjoy trying different flavors and finding new favorites - they have so many to choose from! The staff is very generous every visit and the authenticity of the Peruvian flavors and atmosphere ties everything together. The best part for me is that they're not stingy with the sides of cilantro dipping sauce like most places tend to be. I recommend grabbing a few empanadas if you're in the area, they're worth every penny spent!

A great lunch option on the go with lots of empanadas! A unique hole-in-the-wall place with a lot of character. I would highly recommend and I will be back!

What a great little place! The food is always wonderful. It's like having your Peruvian Momma cook for you. The roast pork and rice is especially delicious! Stewed chicken is pictured with a cabbage/chorizo empanada 😀

Well, howdy y'all! If you ever find yourself wanderin' 'round Albany, NY, and you get a hankerin' for some downright delicious grub, you best mosey on over to Llama Empanada at 469 Delaware Ave. I reckon it's a place you won't soon forget. Now, I done went there and ordered myself three empanadas and a passion fruit lemonade to wash it all down. Let me tell y'all, every single bite screamed fresh and homemade. Felt just like when Ma used to whip up somethin' special in our old country kitchen back home. The empanadas I tried? Chicken and cheese, beef and cheese, and - hold your horses - chorizo and cabbage. That last one? It hit me right in the feels. Reminded me of the glucke my Polish Babcia used to make on those cold Appalachian nights. Only difference? This was wrapped in a crispy, tender, flaky crust that'd make any country boy's heart sing. Now, I gotta tip my hat to the folks workin' at Llama Empanada. It was hotter than a summer's day in July inside that restaurant, and yet, these folks were workin' like it was nothin', crafting culinary masterpieces. I couldn't bear that heat myself, but I reckon their dedication's somethin' fierce. Makes the food taste even better, knowin' the love and sweat that went into it. Had to grab my order to-go 'cause of that heat, but you best believe I'll be ridin' back to Llama Empanada for another round of those mouthwatering empanadas. Till then, y'all keep ridin', eatin', and enjoyin' the simple pleasures. And if you're ever in Albany, don't miss out on this gem!

Madelyn D

These have to be the BEST empanadas in the capital region! I got the Mac and cheese one for $4 and it’s beyond good. Delicious, authentic, and a great price. Support this local buisness!!!!

Justa GoodOlBoy

Amazing authentic food made fresh. I'm not really a guacamole person but this place makes me a fan of theirs! I recommend the platter for those that may not be sure what they wish to try, you'll definitely want to return and try more of everything...if there were more stars I'd add them as well!

Ashlee Duclos

I have only gotten delivery so I can't speak to the atmosphere, cleanliness or staff but the food!!!!!!!!!!!! I ordered it for lunch yesterday and dinner today. That's a good review right there. I had the arroz con pollo with a side of fried plantains. The rice and beans were so well seasoned and not dry like some other reviewers have found. I've now tried 5 of the savory and 3 of the sweet empanadas. I think my favorite so far is the cabbage and chorizo. I would drink the green side sauce with a straw! Also, I have found it be reasonably priced. Tonight we got the family dinner which came with plentiful arroz con polo and your choice of 4 empanadas for only $28. Highly recommend this establishment!

Aaron Spoonhour

This place makes a unique experience that most other restaurants won't give you. It's a hole in the wall kind of place that serves great food that makes you feel like it was a home cooked meal. The food is reasonably priced for the kind of food that you get. If you look at the price for Peruvian food anywhere else, it's 5-10$ more money. I ordered Ceviche, which is a very classic Peruvian dish with raw fish marinated in a lemon fish sauce. It tasted right. If you don't like lemon or raw fish, then you won't like it. The portion sizes are misleading because they look smaller than they actually are. Both my wife and I did not finish our plate. It's very filling. You should know that the food definitely isn't prepared by some kind of renowned chef, which you can tell, but it's good nevertheless. The price is right! The empanada's are delicious, and worth the trip to this restaurant alone. If you read other people's reviews, everybody raves about the empanada's. The customer service was excellent for us. Others apparently have had bad experiences. However, the lady who helped us had a big smile on her face, and served us very personally. PS: There isn't any bathroom just in case you need to go!

E K

I wish I could rate more than 5 stars, I love La Empanada Llamas empanadas! They're always fresh and I enjoy trying different flavors and finding new favorites - they have so many to choose from! The staff is very generous every visit and the authenticity of the Peruvian flavors and atmosphere ties everything together. The best part for me is that they're not stingy with the sides of cilantro dipping sauce like most places tend to be. I recommend grabbing a few empanadas if you're in the area, they're worth every penny spent!

Taylor Mitchum

A great lunch option on the go with lots of empanadas! A unique hole-in-the-wall place with a lot of character. I would highly recommend and I will be back!

D Clark

What a great little place! The food is always wonderful. It's like having your Peruvian Momma cook for you. The roast pork and rice is especially delicious! Stewed chicken is pictured with a cabbage/chorizo empanada 😀

Timothy Stockholm

Well, howdy y'all! If you ever find yourself wanderin' 'round Albany, NY, and you get a hankerin' for some downright delicious grub, you best mosey on over to Llama Empanada at 469 Delaware Ave. I reckon it's a place you won't soon forget. Now, I done went there and ordered myself three empanadas and a passion fruit lemonade to wash it all down. Let me tell y'all, every single bite screamed fresh and homemade. Felt just like when Ma used to whip up somethin' special in our old country kitchen back home. The empanadas I tried? Chicken and cheese, beef and cheese, and - hold your horses - chorizo and cabbage. That last one? It hit me right in the feels. Reminded me of the glucke my Polish Babcia used to make on those cold Appalachian nights. Only difference? This was wrapped in a crispy, tender, flaky crust that'd make any country boy's heart sing. Now, I gotta tip my hat to the folks workin' at Llama Empanada. It was hotter than a summer's day in July inside that restaurant, and yet, these folks were workin' like it was nothin', crafting culinary masterpieces. I couldn't bear that heat myself, but I reckon their dedication's somethin' fierce. Makes the food taste even better, knowin' the love and sweat that went into it. Had to grab my order to-go 'cause of that heat, but you best believe I'll be ridin' back to Llama Empanada for another round of those mouthwatering empanadas. Till then, y'all keep ridin', eatin', and enjoyin' the simple pleasures. And if you're ever in Albany, don't miss out on this gem!

Matt Hovey

These folks were incredibly nice and helpful. I had a great experience and the empanadas were great

Michael Dzikowski

Great food for a low cost. The selection of items for both the regular menu and the $8 lunch were decent.

Great empanadas. We had empanadas for lunch. The cabbage/chorizo was great and the Dulce de Leche was rich and gooey. I liked them so much I ordered a bunch for dinner. Took the home and reheated in the air fryer. All -chicken, beef, chicken/cheese were very good. The tamales didn’t make me happy. The yellow sauce didn’t help the meal but the cilantro sauce was wonderful.

The customer service is good, and the food is always fresh and hot. A few things that stand out to me are the consistency of freshness, flavor and properly cooked meat, no matter what I get. Portions sizes are right for the pricing. I LOVE their Empanadas. We are a family of 7, and I can order ahead of time (by phone or online) and pickup. The kids can try different flavors because they are big enough to cut in half. The plantains are good too, though I prefer them a little bit softer. Overall, this place is a Fam Fave!

Stellar empanadas made by their very kind owners, and very great prices for freshly made empanadas. Nutella banana empanada, as well as the beef and the apple pie varieties were fantastic and came out very fast after ordering. Passionfruit lemonade was also delicious. Definitely planning to return sometime.

Food was incredible, HIGHLY recommend any flavor of empanada, especially the dessert ones. Fresh, flavorful, guaranteed ill be back. To anyone worried about trying out a new place, dont be afraid! Nothing was too spicy, or greasy. Empanadas are a good introduction, even for a little snack. In a city of burgers/pizzas, be an empanada!

We have ordered here twice and everything has always been better than expected! We live out of state, or we would eat here more often. The chicken and cheese, vegetable, and beef and cheese empanadas were lovely, and the kids enjoyed everything as well! I highly recommend this spot for a quick lunch or easy family meal! We haven't eaten there, but the service is prompt and they always include sauces and everything you order (which seems rare these days with takeout!)

Kiki Elizabeth

We have ordered here twice and everything has always been better than expected! We live out of state, or we would eat here more often. The chicken and cheese, vegetable, and beef and cheese empanadas were lovely, and the kids enjoyed everything as well! I highly recommend this spot for a quick lunch or easy family meal! We haven't eaten there, but the service is prompt and they always include sauces and everything you order (which seems rare these days with takeout!)

Vince Dieff

Stellar empanadas made by their very kind owners, and very great prices for freshly made empanadas. Nutella banana empanada, as well as the beef and the apple pie varieties were fantastic and came out very fast after ordering. Passionfruit lemonade was also delicious. Definitely planning to return sometime.

Dan McGuinness

Great empanadas. We had empanadas for lunch. The cabbage/chorizo was great and the Dulce de Leche was rich and gooey. I liked them so much I ordered a bunch for dinner. Took the home and reheated in the air fryer. All -chicken, beef, chicken/cheese were very good. The tamales didn’t make me happy. The yellow sauce didn’t help the meal but the cilantro sauce was wonderful.

Kimberly Marie

Very good and delicious food! Staff is friendly, decorations are cute and also give it Peruvian cultural atmosphere. Highly recommend that you stop by here for a quick bite to eat! They also have vegan and vegetarian options.

Sarah Johnson

The customer service is good, and the food is always fresh and hot. A few things that stand out to me are the consistency of freshness, flavor and properly cooked meat, no matter what I get. Portions sizes are right for the pricing. I LOVE their Empanadas. We are a family of 7, and I can order ahead of time (by phone or online) and pickup. The kids can try different flavors because they are big enough to cut in half. The plantains are good too, though I prefer them a little bit softer. Overall, this place is a Fam Fave!

Authentic Peruvian empanadas. Very small, only 2 tables, but we managed to seat 8 people. They were very accommodating as they brought over chairs so we could sit together. Good selection of empanadas and other Peruvian foods. More of a takeout place. Would definitely stop in again for empanadas!

The restaurant is now settled into its location at the corner of Whitehall and Delaware in the South End and it's a good addition to the neighborhood. I had the salchipapas, a beef empanada and beans and rice with the intriguing chicha morada drink. The salchipapas were satisfying, drizzled with a garlic chili sauce that I wanted to drizzle over everything. They served ketchup, but the sauce was perfect for this homely but comforting snack.The beans were mixed in with the rice and had no "gravy" which is how I liked them best, but they served their purpose of being a substantive and tasty starch. I liked everything and the empanada was delicious!!! The restaurant has about 10 seats and a nice view onto the corner. I would DEFINITELY use this place for catering an event where I want something different to eat. And I will be revisiting often for more empanadas I must taste my way through the list:beef, chicken, beans, cheese, spinach, Mexican, cabbage and chorizo, beans - not to mention the sweet ones.

Went here tonight with my husband and four year old daughter. We all loved it! We tried a variety of different empanadas, yucca fries, and plantains. Everything was delicious and service was quick and friendly. We will definitely be repeat customers.

They had many options and the flavor here is authentic. They definitely put love into their food! I would recommend to anyone that wants to expand their cuisine horizons. The only thing that lacked was customer service. The man was not very pleasant. Seemed like he would rather not be there.

The most delicious cheese and chicken empanadas 😋

The empanadas were good. You only get one and they're around 3-4 bucks. You might not want to dine here in the heat because there's no air conditioning inside. I would eat here again, I'm just going to pick up my lunch. There's a Groupon for lunch vouchers, that's how I discovered this place and gave it a try. Picture of my lunch below, I ate at my desk.

helia mojtabavi

The most delicious cheese and chicken empanadas 😋

Ashley Aponte

The empanadas were good. You only get one and they're around 3-4 bucks. You might not want to dine here in the heat because there's no air conditioning inside. I would eat here again, I'm just going to pick up my lunch. There's a Groupon for lunch vouchers, that's how I discovered this place and gave it a try. Picture of my lunch below, I ate at my desk.

The empanada dough was too thick for my liking. Empanada flavors we tasted included chicken; chicken and cheese; beef and cheese; spinach; Peruvian mac and cheese, which seemed like regular mac and cheese to us. Fried plantains are good. Dolce de lecce cookie was so-so. We ordered the dolce de lecce empanada too, which was better than the cookie. The yellow rice and chorizo didn’t taste homemade — when it comes to rice, if it tastes like I could have made it better, it’s a big let-down. We ordered chips and guacamole and didn’t select “extra guacamole,” and were a little disappointed by the size of the standard container, too.

The staff is nice. The food was not to my liking, but it may be to yours. It may be that I'm just not accustomed to the textures and flavors. I tried stewed chicken, rice, beans, and plantain. We also had roasted pork. It was just okay.

It's Saturday I decided to treat myself today. Started with a massage, got the hair done, now I'm hungry. I see Empanada Nada. I keep hearing so much about this place. Ok let me try it out..mind you I don't like eating out because everybody food isn't good.. anyways, I order the arroz con Pollo with fries dinner. [yeah I know weird combo] in my opinion I did not like it. The rice was highly flavored in cilantro the peas was crunchy the chicken had no flavor or color and dry. The best part of the meal was the steak fries..sorry Empanada Nada that meal was an epic fail for me..

S Moore

It's Saturday I decided to treat myself today. Started with a massage, got the hair done, now I'm hungry. I see Empanada Nada. I keep hearing so much about this place. Ok let me try it out..mind you I don't like eating out because everybody food isn't good.. anyways, I order the arroz con Pollo with fries dinner. [yeah I know weird combo] in my opinion I did not like it. The rice was highly flavored in cilantro the peas was crunchy the chicken had no flavor or color and dry. The best part of the meal was the steak fries..sorry Empanada Nada that meal was an epic fail for me..

I am very disappointed with the food from here. I love Peruvian food so I was excited to find this place near my new job. I ordered and was told 40 mins. I got there and part of my order was incorrect. The lady was friendly so I was understanding. I sat down and ate an empanada while I waited for them to complete my "corrected" order. I was disappointed by the chicken empanada and even more disappointed by the green sauce. After having delicious Peruvian food in the past I was shocked by how inferior the flavor was. I hoped that the rest would be better. Unfortunately, it only got worse. The portions were more like lunch portions than dinner. The rice tasted like instant rice. It was not cooked all the way. The aji de gallina was simply gross. The flavor was indescribable .... just really not good. I brought the food home to my husband (who is Peruvian) and he was also shocked by how inferior the food was. The only thing good was the fried yucca. Go figure. That was the part of my order they almost forgot to give me so I had to wait for. What a waste of $55. Please do not let this place dictate your opinion on Peruvian food. Try another spot !!

Very disappointing: I was looking forward to good Peruvian food but this place left us very disappointed.There staff was not very courteous, seemed annoyed about my of Arroz Con Pollo & several varieties of empandas. After I placed my order, someone from the kitchen came to tell me it'd be 45 minutes, which I said was fine. The food ended up taking 20 mins to be ready but the rice did not taste right, like it was instant or something, anyway I wouldn't return & I wouldn't recommend it

I’ve eaten here twice and this is absolutely the worst restaurant in this area the amount of good reviews from palate-less low standard animals is amazing. The rice was the final straw. First of the empanadas if you’re lucky enough to get a freshly fried one,you’ll be pleasantly surprised by a bite into the driest and most poorly seasoned ounce of meat you ever had in your life. I’ve had to have had at least 3 different variations and every single one was completely absent of depth and flavor(seasonings/marinade) I cook rice and eat rice everywhere,I’ve made a 100variations of freshly cooked rice - This Rice Is From A Bag,it has a chemical taste something like Uncle Bens/Rice Roni but that would give them to much credit it has the semblance of rice pre cooked in a cup that you microwave. Whoever prepares this food is a disgrace to cuisine, unbelievably LAZY cooking No skill,no seasoning,over priced dog food. Empanada Llama should have 1 Star it should be closed for making palate-less white people think this is authentic For clarity i’m 22 and have eaten at over 100 Resturants in just the 518 finding good food is passion. !!This is the worst restaurant in the 518!! !!Do Not Support This Garbage!! Go To La Fiesta,Iron Gate Cafe,New World Bistro,or Pad Thai Noodle if you want real food.

If I could I would give them 0 stars. I cannot speak for the food as I never got my order (they refused to give it to me.) They have horrible customer service. I ordered through GrubHub which gave me an estimated time of 60 mins. So I arrive there a little over the 60 minutes. There was no one at the register so I waited 10 min for someone to show up and noticed my order in the window with the grubhub ticket on it. The lady who did show up informed me that I was missing the yuca which would take an additional 6 mins. So I waited an additional 30 min. I couldn't get a hold of anyone during this time because they were busy with a really large order. When the Yuca was done, she went to recount all my items and realized that the tamale what was with my order wasn't there anymore. From my perspective it seemed like she gave it to the lady with the large order. She proceeded to call the other lady to see if she had the extra tamale and I can tell that the lady said yes from her face. When I asked what was wrong and if i was missing something she acted like I was burdening her with my questions. I said that it's fine, I have to go back to work and I can't wait any longer, can I have all the items that is ready now? I already paid online with a 20% tip and wasn't going to ask or a refund for the tamale. She said no in a very rude manner and yelled at me to just go cancel the order on Grub hub. I explained that I just want the food that is ready since I already paid for it. She then proceeded to yell at me to just cancel the order and leave. So I left and called grub hub for a refund. I would never go here again because I never thought anyone can be so rude to a customer that already paid. I would not recommend this to anyone. 0/10

There was hair in my rice and finger nails in my empanadas this is discussing clearly they make the food with there hands I will never go here again! I called and complained the older lady was so rude and disrespectful told me just to not come back to her store! Wow! I’m appalled how you can just neglect the fact that there’s hair and finger nails in someone’s food! And not care! Mind you there expensive and the empanadas are very small I paid 4 and change for a beef and cheese and there was hardly no beef and I saw no cheese! Never again! If your thinking of tryin this place don’t! There’s a Dominican store on central next to Henry Johnson blvd there’s are big there stuffed with meat and there cheep and delicious. Don’t waste your money at this disgusting place!

We were passing through town a few weeks back on vacation and decided on some Peruvian. My wife is Peruvian so we know good Peruvian food. What a HUGE disappointment this place was. We got the empenada "special" for $6.50. I kid you not a fried empanada and instant rice and beans from a can. Peruvians DO NOT fry their empenada and NEVER eat instant rice, only real rice. Beans had zero flavor and came straight from a can. My son asked for a smoothie and the man behind the counter acted as if we were bothering him!!! Woman behind the counter was rude and gave us an attitude when inquiring about the dishes. Needless to say will never go back so if you want authentic Peruvian food you'll have to look elsewhere in Albany. Quite frankly I'm shocked at the number of 4 and 5 stars it has received as apparently it's easy to please Americans taste buds when they're eating garbage.

This place is very bizarre and the service need serious upgrade. Though I have not ordered their food (which I don't plan on anymore) their empanadas were a total failure. No taste or flavor. Definitely a disgraced. The jamaican spot right across from them is so much better. Save yourselves and go straight to Natty's if you're craving for a patté/dough kind of food.

It’s all just frozen food, nothing is actually “fresh”. Kitchen was absolutely disgusting and they do not keep up with regular cleaning standards. All they do all day is take your frozen food and throw it in the microwave. I have 100% proof of this because I worked there before they fired me and replaced me when I had COVID. I’ve also seen food dropped right on the floor and still cooked. Disgusting little restaurant ran by an insane, rude, stuck up for no reason, lady. Empanadas are also frozen and thrown in the fryer and still microwaved. Also none of their food is labeled at all. They throw food in the refrigerator and just let it sit there sometimes for days with no covering. Bottom line is that it’s a disgusting place to eat at and not worth it at all. A complete waste of space on Delaware Avenue. Go check it out if you want “authentic Peruvian food”!

I will NEVER give this place another penny. Today was my first time I ever ate there and food my had a distinct cat-urine taste... no I have never tasted cat urine but, the taste was identical to the way cat urine smells. After the first bite my stomach turned and I've been nauseous since. Terrible because its such a cute unique place and reasonably priced but not worth chancing food poisoning.

I wouldn’t recommend. The older woman who took my Order was getting an attitude with me for asking questions regarding the menu. When I was handed my food and took a bite, I realized instantly that the shrimp inside the empanada was ice cold. It was like they put the semi frozen shrimp inside an empanada dough and fried it and called it a day. It had no seasoning. I was really looking forward to this place, but I must say today was my first and last time there.

I recently visited this place and I’ll never go back. When I walked in I was not greeted just eye rolls. Then I started to ask questions about the menu and they were frustrated about that. At this point I’m just over the whole experience already ..... on top of it being 200 degrees in there with one running fan. I did place a small order to go. I enjoyed the plantains but The older I get the bigger I am on customer service. I want to be treated right if I’m spending my money with you.

Conveniently located near other local restaurants didn’t really like the taste or texture of the food courteous staff Covid glass up separate from dining area small selection of drinks They no longer sell smoothies cash or card. Hard to find parking if you drive. Sell aprons with vibrant colors and nice designs

The empanadas were truly bad, worst I've ever had - crust soft, meat flavorless. The rice and beans was just blah and the fried plantains were undercooked. All around not good food. I ended up tossing most of it. To top it off, the cashier was not too friendly and didn't seem to want to help me chose what to order. I rarely leave such a bad review, but I had to on this one.

Empress Lala Stone

Conveniently located near other local restaurants didn’t really like the taste or texture of the food courteous staff Covid glass up separate from dining area small selection of drinks They no longer sell smoothies cash or card. Hard to find parking if you drive. Sell aprons with vibrant colors and nice designs

Vladimir Andral

The empanadas were truly bad, worst I've ever had - crust soft, meat flavorless. The rice and beans was just blah and the fried plantains were undercooked. All around not good food. I ended up tossing most of it. To top it off, the cashier was not too friendly and didn't seem to want to help me chose what to order. I rarely leave such a bad review, but I had to on this one.