Pan American Bakery & Grill

Never really had saltenas before so I don’t have much to compare to, but these were really good. They’re like empanadas but with stew/​soup/​more flavor inside and a slightly sweet thin doughy exterior. I got the chicken one and loved it… It was also pretty large so if you’re not terribly hungry, two of these could probably be a full meal. I ordered too much as usual though, and went with a full entrée as well… had my heart set on lomo saltado for lunch, but Pan American wasn’t serving that (maybe just that day, because I know I saw it on the online menu). So I opted for lomo montado, which is basically pan seared top sirloin steak served with roasted potatoes, white rice, a fried egg on top, and fresh tomato and lettuce. It was definitely good… but not as flavorful as lomo saltado :(Had to put a lot of hot sauce on it to give it more flavor and sauce, considering all the carbs included (rice and potatoes).
This restaurant is basically a hole in the wall… so be prepared to take your food to go if it’s crowded. I“d say there are about 5 small tables inside. Also, the menu was a little confusing, as there’s an abundance of signs up all over the place saying what they have but seemingly no comprehensive menu all in one place. There’s also a huge display case of unmarked Bolivian pastries — they all looked really good but nothing is really labeled with prices or descriptions. FYI this is located in the corner of a small strip mall off Columbia Pike, and funny enough is DIRECTLY next to another saltenas place, which didn’t seem to be nearly as popular or busy. Will def be back to Pan American for the saltenas!

The empanadas were fresh but the filling compared to its competitor had liquid dripping out of it after taking a bite, it ruined my shirt a heads up would have been nice, however non of the sales persons assisting at the time we ordered spoke proficient English; it was hard to explain or inquire exactly what was in the empanadas or any of their other products. The dough was a bit hard at some places and not consistent. The store was small and it was hard not to bump into other customers while entering or leaving the establishment. Will not go back.

This is the go-​to place for Salteñas and after hearing so much about them, I knew I had to try one.
On a weekday around 11am, this place is quite busy (but the space itself is also pretty small). Don’t be surprised if you haven’t anywhere to sit, so do prepare to take your food on the go. You order your food at the register, and you’ll notice that there is an abundant amount of signage that still doesn’t quite clearly tell you what is actually for sale. What did seem to be popular that cold, winter’s day were the soups. You’ll also notice the bakery case overflowing with delectable, albeit unmarked, pastries. No matter, Salteñas are offered according to the neon light sign in the window, and that’s what I ordered.
For $ 2.75 a piece, you get a delectable little pocket of meat, veggies, soupy sauce, and spiced amazingness. I can only describe it as a hybrid child between an empanada and a pot pie. I wanted to try the chicken, but they were still cooking at that time so ultimately opted for the beef. It was a great choice, and I was definitely satisfied in terms of quality and flavor. Two of these salteñas could easily be a meal. And definitely dip the crust into the green, spicy sauce that comes with your order.
Overall, a very affordable treat that meets the hype! Would’ve loved to know what else is offered, so my only suggestion would be to add clearer signage!

I love this place! The staff is friendly, and even when they are low on items I usually do not have to wait long for my order. The saltenas are amazing. I haven’t tried anything else because I can’t bring myself to not order them. The price is decent too, so we usually get a box of them (chicken and beef) for dinner!

The Salteñas here are amazing, and they are reasonably priced. If you want to get some take out that is authentic, fair-​priced, and delicious, this is one of the better places to go in Arlington.
With that said, the dining area is small. I would definitely recommend take-​out.
In my experience, they cook their Salteñas every hour or thirty minutes, so call in to make sure you arrive when the Salteñas are ready.
I recommend 2 Salteñas per person.

I volunteer at our elementary school for all of the teacher meals we provide. We know that the teachers love the saltenas! Amazing! And the breakfast empanadas is huge and yummy. I always hope to get them when they are warm!

The saltenas are good here, but the chicken empanadas are what you should get. Fried to order and filled with yummy goodness, i.e. shredded chicken, potatoes, peas, and olives. The only issue is the olives are not pitted, so to avoid losing a tooth, please eat slowly. Service is great — the cashiers are extremely friendly. This place serves meat-​heavy entrees, like steak with potatoes and rice, in addition to various desserts. I would be open to a sit-​down meal at some point when the opportunity presents itself.

This is my favorite type of place — hole-​in-​the-​wall style place that flies under the culinary radar that serves amazing food for little money. Just like everyone else has said, this place and its’ saltenas are unbelievably good! For $ 6, it’s such an easy meal for two. Yes, chicken saltenas rule, so be prepared for them to run out if you go too late in the day, but beef is a pretty close second place. Tres leches cake is not to be missed, as well — so yummy. No, this place is not easily accessible but if you’re in Arlington and are a car-​free type, you can always take the Arlington Transit ART 41 bus from the Ballston Metro and get off at the corner of Columbia Pike & South George Mason Drive.

I just don’t understand. This place is so good, their saltenas are so good. The base inside has a strong, semispicy, savory kick, and the dough outside is this perfect sweetness that blends with the savory inside.
I first tried the saltenas at a church lunch (where we catered from Pan American) and now, they have a special, unique place in my heart. I’ve taken visiting friends here (off the beaten path of DC eats), and we unanimously agreed that this would be one of those foods we’d consider proposing as a «If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life…» food.

The salteñas are delicious. They have improved this last month greatly. If you were a fan of Tutu Bene’s salteñas, you will absolutely love these– although they are a bit spicier.
The service was also great, especially Sandra who is always smiling.

Based on the chicken saltena, I would definitely come back to this place and gladly drag friends and family along till I convert them to the awesomeness of saltenas. How they keep the pastry crisp and flaky while enveloping a juicy stew filling is a mystery but I don’t mind. This place is a gem!

I have been going for the Saltenas, which are always great, but I broke down and tried to order Lomo Saltado, but they had Lomo Montado instead. I was going to order Silpancho but the owner was like, «Try the Lomo Montado» and man was he right! Tons of rice on one side, fried potato on the other, a plate of lettuce/​cabbage and tomatos, salsa verde and a very nicely prepared, large flank steak topped with a fried egg.
Savory, egg yolky, layered flavors of blissful deliciousity. With extra salsa verde. Sorry Pan Am owner, I think I ate a quarter bottle of the salsa verde. And washed it down with an Inca.
Cool place. Good people.

This is a great little hole in the wall with excellent Bolivian-​style salteñas. I had 2 of them (1 chicken, 1 beef). The outer bread shell is sweet and quasi-​crispy. Bust into it to find basically chicken or beef stew inside that have excellent savory flavors and pair well with the outer sweetness. Then pour on a little bit of the green hot sauce on the table to add some spice — good stuff.
I’m a pretty big guy, and 2 of these was more than plenty for lunch for me. Also, it’s really cheap — I think I paid somewhere around $ 6 total.
It’s not really metro accessible, but there’s a good amount of parking in the front, so you’ll likely be able to find a space. There are only a handful of tables and chairs around, so keep your group small.

Utterly amazing! I’m half Bolivian and was born & raised in Arlington/​Falls Church so I’ve tried all the Boli places around here and this one takes the cake!
The Silpancho here makes me smile every time! It’s the perfect amount of perfectly thin, breaded steak, rice, tomatoes/​onions, runny eggs & potatoes. I usually eat half and save the rest for another meal. It fills me up and every bite is fantastic.
The saltenas are pretty good here and I do love their cunapes (cheesy bread). Dip them in coffee! Perfect for a rainy day… or any day for that matter.
I love seeing the blanquitos come in and order food. That’s the great thing about Arlington; lots of open minded individuals who want to experience different cultures.
Seating is limited but I’ve found a place to sit here pretty often. The line goes out the door sometimes but moves rather quickly.
Try this place out!

They make the best saltenas in the Washington DC area. I have tried other saltenas from at least four or five other places that were not as good as here. The prices for their saltenas are good.
Also their cakes are top quality. I got a dulce de leche cake for my significant other’s birthday and it was really good… She’s latina with a good taste in food and said it was good/​legit.

Buckle up, cause we going to the hood! (For me at least…)
This authentic, little, Latin hole-​in-​the-​wall, located in Falls Church serves the best Salteñas I’ve encountered of all my dining life. Although, this place is definitely not one of which you would want to sit down and eat at. There’s literally 3 tables and usually crowded with families eating already… Take it to go!
I recommend the chicken saltenas. Beef is also great, but chicken… yeaaah chicken, is extraordinary! The bread that encases all of its glorious goodness is warm, buttery, and a tad flaky. The juicy filling inside include meat, eggs and vegetables are inculcated with authentic spices – very flavorful.
As for the other pastries, I also recommend you try their Tres Leches cake– it’s a sponge cake soaked in milk – 3 type of heavy, cream based milk – hence «tres».
For any bakery-​type business to succeed, you’re pastries MUST be baked fresh daily, and I definitely got it from here. Fresh and Well-​Priced! Around $ 2.50 a pc.
They have a variety of other pastries, but I definitely recommend their Salteñas and tres leches cake. They’re definitely worth a visit, TRUST me. It’s a hike for me to visit, but it’s been well worth it for these goodies.
On a side note, it’s a plus for those of you who can speak spanish; it’ll be very useful here.

Saltenas were very good, though they were a bit too big and had a bit too much potatoes, but the flavor was great and they were juicy.
the chairo was well made too, not oily as it can happen sometimes when cooked at restaurants.

About a 3.5: I’ve given the saltenas about 3 tries at 3 different places and really wasn’t a fan of it; I thought to myself, why not one more, just to really make sure? Pan American Bakery & Grill has 3 locations — one off of Columbia Pike in Arlington, one on Pickett St in Alexandria, and one in Fairfax. They offer a selection in breads, cakes, and even grill items such as salads, burgers, subs, etc. This location is literally next to another saltenas place (Pike Pizza), so I thought that was pretty funny. When walking in, we were greeted right away and I just placed my order — 1 carne saltena, 1 pollo saltena, and 1 spicy cheese empanada. I was shocked at how HUGE the spicy cheese empanada was, as it was lined up on a tray on top of the bakery case. The carne saltena had a weird after taste, so I wasn’t much of a fan; however, I really enjoyed the chicken one as it was very juicy, and the broth inside was actually quite tasty and delicious — the combination of the hardboiled eggs, peas, and the potatoes were yummy. The exterior was also not overly doughy and had a nice little crunchiness to it. The spicy cheese empanada was just a mixture of white cheese, jalapenos, and white onions, so it was just ‘okay.’ I definitely would come back for the chicken saltenas, though, and I think this is my go-​to spot! :D Service was friendly and sweet, and there’s parking available in the lot. There is also some seats available inside if you want to enjoy your treats right away! :D
+Pollo Saltena = yum! :D

I am on a search for the BEST Saltenas and this was my second stop so far! Thanks to the amazing recommendation from Kunal M. & Antonio M. I not only had the BEST Saltena I have ever had but was also introduced to delicious bolivian baked goods. I am now obsessed. I literally came here everyday this weekend.
We surprised Jon & his Bolivian Mother & Aunt for dinner Friday night by getting a dozen chicken saltenas (only $ 2.50 each!!!), some fresh cheese bread, and some alfajor cookies (my fave!!!). Service was incredibly fast and friendly — our saltenas were still piping hot by the time we got home to eat them with the family. Cheese bread was to die for.
Since the dinner was such a hit we decided to go back Saturday AM to try more of their baked goods. This time we got more cheese bread (obviously), cheese empanada, spicy cheese empanada, pound cake, cinnamon sorbet and a few others which for the most part were all excellent!
The only items I didn’t care for were the following:
— alfajor cookies did not have enough caramel and were a bit too dry for me
— big white circle cookie (no idea the name) was way too hard to eat, we had to crack it on the table to share it
Based on other reviews, I REALLY want to come back and try their lunch specials and authentic bolivian entrees. Hope they have those on the weekends!

Salteñas every damn day son!
Thank you to Pan American Bakery for saving the day. I had volunteered to bring an appetizer to a Latin themed dinner party I was attending. I had grand plans of making a knock-​your-​socks off dish, but after three episodes of House of Cards and one nap later, it was obvious that making a dish was out of the question.
The boy and I decided to investigate the Latino bakery down the street which always had a hot empanada sign flashing. It turned out that the only fillings they had for empanadas was cheese so we decided to try a salteña instead. We got one for test purposes only and after splitting a giant stuffed pastry, it was decided.
One dozen to go. A salteña is basically a Bolivian style empanada filled with a beef or chicken stew. Think hearty chunks of carrots, potatos, and other delicious and filling spices. It’s God’s gift to man and at $ 2.65 a pop, they are practically giving them away for free.
While we waited for the store keep to box up our order, we noticed so many yummy plates of food coming out of the kitchen. Namely the chicharones. I’ll be back with a bottle of Lipitor for this!
The salteñas were a big hit, and they were so big that we ended up with tons of leftovers. I ate a salteña every day for breakfast for the past three days and I’m still not sick of them.
Go Team Bolivia!