Fells Point’s got a new little spot that had me at freshly baked Peruvian empanadas, and honestly, Empa511 delivered. I’m a longtime fan of Chef Jose’s original restaurant, Puerto 511, so when I heard he opened a fast casual empanada shop (you might know it as @chefempa511 on IG), I made a beeline for Thames Street.
It’s tucked into a brick alley in Brown’s Wharf, a tiny order-at-the-kiosk kind of place with a short menu of handmade empanadas, dipping sauces, and Peruvian drinks. My friend and I grabbed four different flavors, and every single one was a winner. If you’ve never had a Peruvian empanada, they’re baked instead of fried, with a slightly sweet, buttery crust that’s a whole different vibe from the ones you might be used to. For $5.95 a pop, this is an easy yes!
@nomtastickim I’m a HUGE fan of Puerto511 so when I heard Chef Jose opened a new fast casual spot in Fells, I had to check them out 🫶 This place is called Empa511, and they have a small menu ft handmade empanadas, dipping sauces, and drinks. They have 7️⃣ different flavors available ($5.95 each) along with 3 dipping sauces (50 cents). Here’s what we got: ▪️Anticuchera: chicken marinated in their anticucho sauce with caramelized onions and smoked potatoes ▪️Tradicional: pieces of meat seasoned with onions, raisins, green olives, parsley and powdered sugar. ▪️Lomo Saltado: meat stir fried in a wok with red onions and tomatoes + soy sauce, French fries and sweet plantain ▪️Huachana: pork sausage with yellow chili, caramelized onions, scrambled eggs and potatoes All 4 were delicious so I don’t think you can go wrong here, lol. @deke_dc and I also got chimichurri and rocotito as well. Highly recommend getting some dipping sauces for your empanadas. Oooo, and I also tried chicha mirada for the first time! Deke’s been to Peru so he’s had it before, but I really enjoyed it. It’s a popular Peruvian drink made with purple corn, cinnamon and pineapple. Perfect for this hot weather ☀️ PS. This place is pet friendly inside and out, and they have seating outdoors as well! LMK what you guys think if you go 🙂 📍1627 -A Thames Street, Baltimore ⏰T-Sa 11-8pm, Su 11-7pm #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #baltimore #bmore #bmoremd #baltimoremaryland #peruvian ♬ A Life of Joy – DJsNeverEndingStory
What Makes Empa511 a Standout Peruvian Spot
Here’s what sets Empa511 apart. It comes from Chef Jose Victorio Alarcon, the same chef behind Puerto 511, the beloved little Peruvian restaurant up in Mount Vernon, so the pedigree’s legit. The empanadas follow his grandmother’s recipe, with a dough made from flour, butter, and a touch of sugar, which is why the crust’s got that gentle sweetness.
The fillings are made fresh daily and the meats are hand cut into big pieces instead of ground, so every bite actually has texture. They’re prepped over at Puerto 511 each morning, then assembled and baked on site, so you’re getting them warm. It’s a small, focused menu done with real care, and in a neighborhood packed with options, that kind of intention’s exactly what makes it worth seeking out. If you love hunting down Fells Point gems, it’s in good company with spots like Aru Aru, the pupusa favorite just around the way.
What to Order at Empa511
Everything comes in that same baked, golden shell, so really you can’t lose. But here’s what we grabbed and what I’d steer you toward.
Lomo Saltado ($5.95)
This one was so good! It takes Peru’s classic stir fry, beef with red onions, tomatoes, and soy sauce, and tucks it into an empanada along with French fries and sweet plantain. It’s basically a whole Peruvian dinner in one empanada. You really can’t go wrong with it.
Anticuchera ($5.95)
Another delicious one. It’s chicken marinated in their anticucho sauce with caramelized onions and smoked potatoes, so you get that smoky, slightly tangy flavor anticuchos are known for. It’s a great pick if you’re into that marinated, grilled anticucho style.
Tradicional ($5.95)
This one’s the classic. It’s seasoned meat with onions, raisins, green olives, and parsley, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar on top. That sweet and savory combo’s a signature of Peruvian empanadas, so if you want the most traditional bite, start here.
Don’t Skip the Sauces (and the Rest)
We also grabbed the Huachana, which is pork sausage with yellow chili, caramelized onions, scrambled eggs, and potatoes, and it’s a hearty, breakfast-style filling. Add a couple of dipping sauces for 50 cents each while you’re at it. The chimichurri and rocotito (a Peruvian pepper sauce) are highly recommended, so grab a couple.
If you want to keep exploring, they’ve also got Mixta, Oriental, and a Vegetariana option. And you gotta wash it all down with a chicha morada, a refreshing purple corn drink with cinnamon and pineapple. It was my first time trying it and I really enjoyed it!
What Makes Peruvian Empanadas Different?
If your only reference for empanadas is the fried kind, Peruvian empanadas are their own thing. They’re baked, not fried, so the shell’s lighter and a little flaky, and the dough’s made with butter and a touch of sugar, which gives it that subtle sweetness.
The fillings lean big and bold, with hand cut meats instead of ground, and you’ll often see that classic move of powdered sugar dusted right on top of a savory empanada. It’s the kind of sweet and savory balance that makes Peruvian food so fun to eat, and it’s a big part of what makes Peruvian empanadas worth trying.
The Vibe and Experience
Empa511’s tucked into a pedestrian brick alley off Thames Street, in the old Sofi’s Crepes space in Brown’s Wharf, and it’s very much a grab and go setup. You order at a self serve kiosk, which keeps things quick, and there’s seating if you want to hang for a bit.
Bonus for my fellow dog parents, it’s pet friendly inside and out, with outdoor seating too, so it’s a great warm weather stop. I also love that they lean into sustainability, using biodegradable dishware and cutting way back on plastic. It’s casual, it’s easy, and it slots right into a Fells Point afternoon of wandering the waterfront.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 1627-A Thames Street, Baltimore, MD, in a brick alley in Brown’s Wharf
- Hours: open daily, but they’ve shifted since opening, so peek at their site before you head over
- Prices: empanadas $5.95 each, dipping sauces 50 cents
- Ordering: self serve kiosk in the shop, plus online ordering through Toast
- Drinks: chicha morada, Inca Kola, and smoothies
- Good to know: pet friendly with outdoor seating
- Sister spot: from the team behind Puerto 511 in Mount Vernon, if you want a full sit-down Peruvian meal
Is Empa511 Worth A Visit?
If you’re in Fells Point and want something quick, affordable, and genuinely delicious, Empa511’s a no brainer, and that Lomo Saltado empanada alone’s worth the stop. It’s counter service in an alley, so set your expectations there, but the quality punches way above the price. And if you want to keep the Fells Point snacking going, swing by Pitango for gelato or a pastry after.
Have you guys made it to Empa511 yet? Drop your favorite empanada flavor in the comments, Nomsters, and if you’ve got a friend who loves a good hidden gem, send this their way. Happy eating.