DC Empanadas
Capital City Market, Washington DC
Restaurant in Washington DC, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
DC Empanadas fills a genuine gap in NoMa, one of Washington's fastest-growing neighborhoods but historically thin on casual dining options. Walk-in friendly and well-suited for solo diners or a quick lunch near the NoMa-Gallaudet Metro, it's the low-friction option in the area. Don't come expecting a full dining experience — come for the format, the convenience, and the neighborhood anchor it provides.
About DC Empanadas
The Verdict
DC Empanadas is the kind of spot that fills a specific gap in Washington's NoMa neighborhood — a quick, accessible eat in a stretch of the city that has grown faster than its dining options. If you're near 5th and Florida and want something satisfying without a reservation or a wait list, this is a direct call. It won't compete with the tasting-menu rooms across town, but it doesn't try to.
Why It Works for This Neighborhood
NoMa has spent the last decade accumulating residents, office workers, and commuters passing through Union Station, but the dining infrastructure has lagged behind the development. DC Empanadas fills a real function: a handheld, portable format that suits the neighborhood's pace. Empanadas travel well, cost little, and require no ceremony — which is exactly what a neighborhood like NoMa needs more of. The format also has genuine depth when done well, with filling variety and dough quality separating a forgettable empanada from one worth returning for.
For the food-curious visitor, empanadas offer a useful lens into Latin American regional cooking traditions, the format spans Argentine, Colombian, Chilean, and other variations, each with distinct dough textures and filling conventions. Whether DC Empanadas leans into any particular regional tradition is something you'll learn on arrival, since the venue data available is limited. Go with an open mind and a willingness to try more than one.
What to Know Before You Go
The address, 1309 5th St NE, puts this in the heart of NoMa, walkable from the NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro station on the Red Line. Given the format and the neighborhood, expect a casual counter-service or fast-casual setup rather than a sit-down experience. This is a good stop before or after events at nearby venues, or as a lunch option for anyone working in the area. Booking is easy, almost certainly walk-in only, which makes it low-friction for solo diners, pairs, or anyone who hasn't planned ahead.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
- Neighborhood: NoMa
- Nearest Metro: NoMa-Gallaudet U (Red Line)
- Booking: Easy, walk-in friendly
- Format: Casual, counter-service style
- Leading for: Quick lunch, solo diners, neighborhood regulars
- Price tier: Not confirmed, expect budget-friendly given the format
Explore More in Washington, D.C.
DC Empanadas is one piece of a growing dining scene in the capital. For a fuller picture, browse our full Washington, D.C. restaurants guide, or check our Washington, D.C. bars guide, hotels guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide for the full city view. If you want to benchmark against D.C.'s more ambitious kitchens, Jônt and minibar represent the best of the city's tasting-menu tier. For strong mid-range options, Oyster Oyster and Rooster & Owl are worth your time. Beyond D.C. if you're tracking serious dining across the country, Le Bernardin in New York City, Lazy Bear in San Francisco, Smyth in Chicago, Atomix in New York City, The French Laundry in Napa, Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg, Emeril's in New Orleans, and Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico all offer useful points of comparison across formats and price tiers.
Planning details
- Location
- 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
- Website
- dcempanadas.com/mobile
- Phone
- +1 703 400 5363
The take
The Take
The Vibe
DC Empanadas presents a focused, product-first personality in the heart of Union Market. It operates with the economy and precision of a single-subject shop: there is no pretense of theater, just carefully made handhelds. The writing frames the empanada as a ritual object — whole, self-contained and judged by the first bite — and that pared-back seriousness feels rooted in the surrounding food corridor rather than white-tablecloth ambition. The result is a casual, energetic kiosk-style spot where the neighborhood’s culinary curiosity and the kitchen’s technical discipline meet on a modest counter.
Best For
This is a place to go when the food is the point. The counter-service format and handheld menu suit quick lunches, solo outings and casual meetups where you want something satisfying without ceremony. It’s easy to swing by from the surrounding Union Market blocks, grab a selection of empanadas and keep moving or eat at nearby communal seating. It’s not presented as a destination for elaborate multi-course dinners; instead the shop rewards repeat visits and sampling across its compact roster of fillings.
Ordering Tips
Order with the expectation that the empanada is the star — there’s no front-of-house pacing to rescue the product. Try the signatures (the Traditional beef empanada and the El Greco spinach‑feta are called out) and consider ordering multiple varieties to sample the kitchen’s range. Because service is counter-based there’s no need for a reservation; approach the counter, choose a few hand-helds and judge them on texture and seasoning from that first bite, which the copy highlights as decisive for the experience.
Venue details
Ambiance
Casual market counter or food truck atmosphere with focus on quick, handheld savory empanadas.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Counter Service
- Meal Pacing
- Quick Bite
- Capacity
- Small
- Kitchen
- Fusion
- Menu Format
- A la carte, Small plates
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly
Signature Dishes
- Traditional beef empanada
- El Greco spinach-feta
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Oyster Oyster, New American, Vegetarian, Vegetarian (Sustainable), $$$
- Albi, United States, Middle Eastern, $$$$
- Causa, Peruvian, $$$$
- Rooster & Owl, Contemporary, $$$
- Rose’s Luxury, New American, Contemporary, $$$$
Restaurant context
If you're deciding between DC Empanadas and the broader Washington dining options Pearl tracks, the comparison almost answers itself by price tier. DC Empanadas is a casual, likely budget-friendly spot suited for a quick meal, it's not competing with Albi, Causa, or Rose's Luxury, all of which sit at $$$$ and require planning. Those are destination restaurants. DC Empanadas is a neighborhood fixture.
The more useful comparisons are with Oyster Oyster and Rooster & Owl, both at $$$, both worth booking in advance, and both offering a more complete sit-down experience. If you have time to plan and want a proper meal with a considered menu, either of those is the better call. If you're in NoMa, hungry now, and not looking for a reservation, DC Empanadas is the pragmatic choice.
For the food-oriented traveler who wants to map D.C.'s dining range in a single visit: DC Empanadas makes sense as a casual lunch between more ambitious dinners at places like Causa or Albi. It's not a trade-off, it's a different category entirely. Book the tasting menus for evenings, and let this be your midday reset.
Explore Washington DC
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full DC Empanadas guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare DC Empanadas
| Venue | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|
| DC Empanadas | No published awards | , |
| Oyster Oyster | Washingtonian 100 Very Best Restaurants 2026 · #622026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Highly Recommended2025 Food & Wine Global Tastemakers Top Restaurants · #152025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #251We're Smart World Top Restaurants 20252025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2025 The Best Chef One Knife2025 Michelin 1 Star2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #203 | $$$ |
| Albi | Washingtonian 100 Very Best Restaurants 2026 · #12026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #6RAMMYS 2026 Winners - Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year2025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #342025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #892025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #1302025 Michelin 1 Star2024 James Beard Awards · #12024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #109 | $$$$ |
| Causa | Washingtonian 100 Very Best Restaurants 2026 · #162025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #2752025 James Beard Awards2025 Michelin 1 Star2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #2252024 Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ |
| Rooster & Owl | Washingtonian 100 Very Best Restaurants 2026 · #652026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #7532025 Michelin 1 Star2024 Michelin 1 Star | $$$ |
| Rose’s Luxury | Washingtonian 100 Very Best Restaurants 2026 · #232026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #682025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #572025 Michelin 1 Star2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #562024 Michelin 1 Star2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Ranked · #12023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #74Pearl Recommended Restaurants | $$$$ |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to DC Empanadas in Washington, D.C.?
DC Empanadas fills a casual, quick-service role that none of its peer venues replicate. Oyster Oyster and Rooster & Owl are sit-down tasting-format spots with significantly higher price points and advance booking requirements. Rose's Luxury and Albi are full-service dinner destinations. Causa offers Peruvian-Japanese cooking in a more composed dining room. None of these compete on speed or price — if you want a fast, affordable meal near NoMa or Union Station, DC Empanadas is in a different category entirely.
What should a first-timer know about DC Empanadas?
The address is 1309 5th St NE, which puts it squarely in NoMa and within walking distance of the NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro stop on the Red Line. This is a casual, counter-service format — not a sit-down dining experience. Come expecting a quick, affordable eat, not a full meal with table service. It's best suited for lunch, a casual dinner, or a stop before or after catching a train at Union Station.
What should I order at DC Empanadas?
Specific menu items aren't confirmed in available data, so ordering specifics can't be responsibly recommended here. What is clear is the format: empanadas are the core offering, and the venue is built around quick, accessible eating. Ask staff on arrival what's freshest or most popular that day — that's the most reliable approach at any counter-service spot.
Is DC Empanadas good for a special occasion?
No. DC Empanadas is a casual counter-service spot in NoMa — the format doesn't fit a celebratory dinner or a milestone event. For special occasions in Washington, D.C. Rose's Luxury, Albi, or Rooster & Owl all offer the full-service experience that a special occasion calls for. DC Empanadas is the right call when you need a good, fast meal, not when you're marking an occasion.
What should I wear to DC Empanadas?
Whatever you're already wearing. DC Empanadas is a casual counter-service venue in NoMa — there are no dress expectations. Office clothes, gym gear, or weekend casual all work equally well here.
Is DC Empanadas good for solo dining?
Yes, and arguably better for solo diners than for groups. Counter-service empanada spots are built for quick individual meals — no awkward table minimums, no wait for a party to be seated together. The NoMa location at 1309 5th St NE also makes it practical for a solo lunch break or a grab-and-go meal near Union Station.
