Josephine’s Special Empanadas

We came across Josephine’s Special Empanadas on accident while getting something at Island Pacific Grocery store on Amar. The menu is simple, they have beef and chicken empanadas. The best part about their empanadas are the crust. It was sweet but yet had a great taste.

I made the mistake of coming 30 minutes before they closed. There wasn’t much left. I got 2 chicken empanadas, a regular bibingka & the green bibingka (I forgot the name for it).
The empanadas were pretty good, considering they weren’t fresh or hot. So i can only imagine how great it’ll be when I get a fresh one next time.
The bibingka was okay — it was a bit dry but I’m assuming its only because I went so late. They were already starting to pack it away when I got there — which makes me think they don’t really do all fresh ones? I might be wrong on that — but it doesn’t matter — I’ll be back to try some more soon enough.

I had high expectations based on previous Unilocal reviews. I tried one beef and one chicken empanada. The beef was a little tastier. The meet itself was not bad. The chicken was a little more dry then I would have liked. My main issue is with the bread. It had a sweet taste to it. I may have not read enough reviews to anticipate the sweet taste of the bread contrasted against the taste of beef or chicken.
The service was pleasant but not friendly. I’m glad I tried the empanadas, and maybe one day I will get a craving for these empanadas again.

My review is purely for the bibingka. First off, bibingka is a Filipino rice cake made with rice flour, coconut milk, and water that is wrapped in banana leaves to bake. It is topped with sugar, butter, and grated coconut. This place makes mini bibingkas and THEY ARE DELICIOUS!
The service is not that great… They never pick up their phone and if they do, it takes about 3+ minutes for someone to actually answer any questions or take your order. The workers at PhilHouse always have to call someone to the counter in order to get some service. Sometimes the worker is rude and sometimes is friendly, it’s really a toss up. The bibingkas tend to sell quickly in comparison to the empanadas so if you can get over the bad service, go try them!

I have had quite a few empanadas in my life, mostly Argentinean, Singaporean (curry puffs), Indian and a few Filipinos. I have never been crazy about the Filipino ones until now — this is great stuff here at Josephine’s! The crust is perfectly delicate yet moist and tasty. The chicken ones have tender meat, hard boiled egg and very tasty. Shoot some Chulola onto it and it’s heaven. I have yet to taste the steak ones.
Now, I totally agree with another Unilocaler about terrible service. I have been there like 3 – 4 times and every time, the lady acts like she was doing me a favor; like, «…you’re lucky to have found my empanadas.» She is usually on the phone, in the back or doing something looking down or away. I would stand there patiently and wait. And when she does look up and sees me, she will not say hi, smile or acknowledge me in any visible way. She usually continues doing what she is doing and the most she would do is come over and just look nonchalant as though waiting for you to make the first move. I would wait patiently until I have an opportunity to say hi to her and then politely ask her if I could purchase something, at which point she seems to be friendlier and just a tad more enthusiastic.
Unfortunately, she does have the best empanada as afar as I have been able to find, and it’s addictive… so I don’t worry too much about any attitude or lack of service. I guess if you lived long enough, you would have experienced worse things (like beg on your knees to be let in a certain restaurant) — so this is just a small thing in the scheme of things. I figure life may not have been kind to everyone and selling food is back breaking work and not getting rich doing it so if she puts in the love in her empanadas and I get to enjoy it, that is more than I can ask for.

This star is for the service. I was standing at the cashier area looking lost because there isn’t a sign saying where the business is. In fact, there are two registers side by side– one for the turo-​turo restaurant and the other for Josephine’s. The cashier at the turo turo acknowledged me and when I began pointing at the empanadas she said said in a very snobby tone,“hindi sa Amin yan” which means, that doesn’t belong to us. All I wanted was to get some empanadas because my co-​workers were raving about it. However, when I proceeded to look for Josephine’s staff, one lady in the corner gave me a look and continued to talk on the phone never making any gesture to say that she’d help me. I stood there for a minute until I got fed up with all these workers attitudes… and filipino’s wonder why their businesses fail.

hmmm just had some chicken empanadas and they were DELICIOUS!
thank you!

empanadas are 1.75 an entire .50 more than the place two feet away but the empanadas taste .50 cents better.

I came back to try the Philly Cheese Steak Empanadas. I think the name is a bit of a misnomer though, I would simply just call it a Beef or Steak Empanada, there wasn’t anything in particular that was «philly cheese» about it. It costs $ 2, so a quarter more than the chicken empanada.
The empanada was good. I enjoyed the combination of meat and potatoes inside (photos uploaded). The cheese inside was very hard to discern and taste (could not tell if there was any really). The dough enveloping the meat and potatoes was excellent. Overall I liked the steak empanada a little bit more than the chicken empanada.
Next time I will try the Bibingka, which according to Wikipedia is a traditional Filipino dessert.
So far I’ve been happy with my experiences here and will come back whenever I’m in the area and want a quick snack.

I was on a mission. To try different things at a certain location so I don’t have to keep driving back. After sending my care package and eating lunch, I then went on to look for the infamous empanadas that my friend Vince V got so enamored about.
Not really reading any of the other reviews with directions, I ended up going to and loitering around Seafood City. Finally, I flagged down a guy and asked if he knows anything about a Josephine’s empanada. He asked a cashier who replied, «Oh, they are no longer located here. I don’t know where they are now.»
Hhhmm. I can’t stop now. I called the # and was answered after a dozen rings just when I was beginning to think they changed their #. The lady then told me that, no it is not Seafood City but Island Pacific.
Crossed the street and there I was. Inside Island Pacific.
Chicken empanada (3 stars) — you get a dozen for $ 20. It tasted like they mixed mayonnaise with the chicken filling. The dough was really good, flaky and so warm but the mayonnaise gave it a weird taste.
Philly cheesesteak empanada (5 stars) — a dozen for $ 23 and I say get this instead. Yum, yum, yum!
Fatty mission accomplished.

4.69 stars, quick, Cash-​Only, inside supermarket, tons of parking, nice guy
After seeings reviews from Unilocalers and recent check-​ins, this empanada was the object of my desire.
My parents are from Mexicali, the flavor infused with raisin’s reminded me of the tamales we used to make.
As you can see from the pictures, a soft but well-​textured coating. Soft tender on the inside. The chicken is very soft and goes great with the little veggies inside.
Reviews and opinions will vary, and I respect them all, from zero stars to 5++ stars. I view this as a solid 4 stars because my empanada was a masterpiece.
Song parody of Atlantic Starr’s 1991 song «Masterpiece»
Love to put you in my hands
And everything taste right
A Filipina so sultry
Want to eat all night
I love your subtle flavor, with tenderness and more
And now I thank you so, thank you so
The tender chicken warms my heart
I love in every way
The raisins that are plump and sweet
Make a lovely day
Your tasty Empanada, that is what I miss
And yes I need you so, and now I know
ooooh
I’ve found a masterpiece in you
My Empanada Boo
And I treasure you my love
ooooh
I’ve found a masterpiece in you
My Empanada Boo
And I treasure you my love
Today I thought I was carb free
Until I found you
A lost and hungry soul this world
Looking for something new
But now lunch is a canvas
Painted with your love
My empanada queen
We’ll always be
The two of us together
I ate you from the start
This joy that we are sharing
Is real inside my heart
Let me eat forever
Eat you till the end
I think your food is great
I love you more than cake
ooooh
I’ve found a masterpiece in you
My Empanada Boo
And I treasure you my love
ooooh
I’ve found a masterpiece in you
My Empanada Boo
And I treasure you my love
When I’m lost and have hunger
You fill me up and I am sure
That all my lunch will be allright
My love
My love
ooooh
I’ve found a masterpiece in you
My Empanada Boo
And I treasure you my love
ooooh
I’ve found a masterpiece in you
My Empanada Boo
And I treasure you my love

They changed the prices:
$ 1.75 chicken
$ 2.00 beef
$ 1.50 bibingka
For a dozen chicken empanada it’s $ 20 now. They take card. They still taste the same and it still tastes good cold as well.

I’m usually on the Seafood City side of Amar Road hunting for Filipino food that reminds me of home but I just decided to check out Island Pacific. At first I thought the place was closed because no one was in line and no one was attending the counter…
so I stood for a bit then *poof*… just like a genie hidden off to the right, getting up out of her chair, and putting her cell phone down– this lovely lady with such few words comes to my service and takes my order of 2 chicken and 2 beef empanadas.
…and omg its like an orgasm in your mouth. I almost get into an accident driving to class because of the overwhelming load of flavor… After reading the reviews, now I want to try the bibingka, but both the chicken and beef empanadas are the shizznit! Ill come back so I can bring some into work for everyone to enjoy. I didn’t see any Philly ones but ill ask next time.

This is my go to spot to get bibingka. They are absolutely delicious here! The empanadas are also pretty good and filled with a lot of deliciousness. I especially like the raisins they put in the beef empanada. The only thing I don’t like about this place is how cheap they are about giving you a box for the baked good you are purchasing. So word to the business owners, don’t be so cheap about packaging!

i honestly only came here because i was waiting for my auntie & was getting hungry… so i was looking for a quick snack to stem my hunger for a while. i am normally not a fan of filipino empanadas (well, not the typical ones since Ilocano empanada is my FAVORITE!), but like i said i was hungry & i wasn’t about to go & buy a big meal from the other side that served full on filipino dishes. all i have to say is… THANK GOD I CAME HERE! first bite into the beef empanada & i was COMPLETELY sold. WOW. have you ever had Potato Balls from Portos? well, the filling sorta reminds me of that plus a hint of Filipino Menudo & Ilocano Igado. wow wow wow. i had to instantly walk back to the register (with it still in my mouth) & tell Josephine how delicious it was. i couldn’t stop raving about it to myself i had to tell her! we got to talking & turns out she’s opening up another store in Glendora by HK Plaza… congrats! these are such a hit… i would love to see her business boom; i wish i had a loud enough voice to share this experience with everyone. if you’re ever in Island Pacific… DO NOT miss out on trying these… they are only $ 1.75 each! & if you get a dozen, you get a deal on the price! such a pleasant surprise since i don’t like these types of empanadas at all! now i keep craving them!!!

I tried the bibingka for the first time and it was also delicious! Now I have two must haves here!

Josephine’s Empanadas is in the Island Market at the hot food counter. I missed it the first time I went.
I totally agree with Maggie C… except for the service. You have to ask for service because the girls are usually chit chatting. It ‘s a put off, especially if you’re not Filipino. It makes you feel a bit unwanted. Once you get their attention, they are friendly and helpful.
Now the empanadas — they are very good. Someone sent them to my work and after that I searched out Josephine’s. The first time I ended up going to the bakery right next to the hot food area only to be very disappointed by their empanadas. Then I found out they were at the hot food area, but got there too early in the am. 0 for 2 — dud! Today I went after going to Home Depot and FINALLY!!! The empanadas were worth the wait (even with the mediocre service).
BTW — I think it may be Cash Only

This place is a great example of small businesses that know what they are doing.
Keeping it simple, Josephine’s only sells bibingka and Filipino style empanada.
Empanada beef ($ 1.75) and chicken ($ 1.50): I usually prefer chicken empanada but I like its beef better from this place. The dough is slightly sweet and its filling is pretty good. The only thing I dont like is the raisin inside empanada.
Bibingka ($ 1.35): small but it’s yummy.
They bake both empanada and bibingka fresh at the premise. My bibingka from here is always served hot.
This place is popular because people buy dozens of them. I only bought 1 bibingka the first time and 2 empanadas and 1 bibingka the second time. The service is always great and I always get the same friendly treatment from the worker. Too bad this is their one and only location.
I went back again and the service was great as usual.
5 stars! Upgrading this to 5 stars since this is my favorite bibingka place.
Josephine’s Special Empanada is yummylicious!

(NOTES: 1. Get the philly cheesesteak, not the regular beef
2. Dance to my review: Left hand out, right hand out, turn
left hand over, turn right hand over, grab empanada, eat,
shake booty.)
Da a mi cuerpo alegria EMPANADA
Empanadas de Josephina son cosas buenas
Da a mi cuerpo alegria EMPANADA
Heeeeeey EMPANADA
Aaaaaaah!
Some days I want to eat an empanada
Then I travel to West Covina
They’re not healthy! I’m not wealthy!
It’s a cheap fast food that is tasty!
Come with me! Drive with me!
Let’s all buy a dozen, we’ll eat them in a jiffy!
Da a mi cuerpo alegria EMPANADA
Empanadas de Josephina son cosas buenas
Da a mi cuerpo alegria EMPANADA
Heeeeeey EMPANADA
Aaaaaaah!
Go to the stall owned by Josephina
She’s sweet like the dough, she’s never really mean-​a
Steak or chicken, Finger lickin
Shake your booty ‘cuz these pasties so kickin’
Come with me! Drive with me!
Let’s all buy a dozen, we’ll eat them in a jiffy!
Da a mi cuerpo alegria EMPANADA
Empanadas de Josephina son cosas buenas
Da a mi cuerpo alegria EMPANADA
Heeeeeey EMPANADA
Aaaaaaah!

I am Filipino and have tried many empanadas. These were, by far, the BEST empanadas EVER. Yes the chicken empanadas have boiled egg in them, but it adds to the flavor. Other empanadas usually have really dried up, shredded chicken bits in them, but Josephine’s chicken empanadas are reminiscent of chicken pot pies. The chicken pieces are huge and actually looks like pieces of chicken breast. The crust is perfectly golden and flaky.
Hooray! The beef empanadas don’t have ground beef in them! Can you believe it? These have shredded beef. Also yummy!