Empanada Express Grill Review

By Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer

Ground beef and potato empanada with Tequenos (Venezuelan cheese sticks).

Photo by Madelynn Loring

I discovered Empanada Express Grill in the same way I have discovered a number of restaurants: I was planning on going somewhere else (Himalayan Spice to be exact), but something came up. In this case, the Himalayan Spice kitchen was closed for maintenance. So, I turned to my best in a decision-making crisis, Google Maps, and just five minutes north was a quaint-looking Venezuelan restaurant. We decided to give it a shot, and, as is often the case on Tennyson Street, Empanada Express Grill did not disappoint.

In my experience, you can tell how good the food at any restaurant will be by the decor, and the traditional clothing and artwork lining the walls prepares you for exactly how delicious the food will be. The plates are huge, and loaded with beans, rice, and a Venezuelan entree of your choice. Regardless of whether you go for an arepa or an empanada, you will not be disappointed. The filling is beautifully seasoned, and the dish is cooked to perfection. 

Shredded beef arepa with beans and rice

Photo by Madelynn Loring

Additionally, they have a large vegetarian selection, so most anyone will be able to find an absolutely remarkable meal that fits their dietary needs. The only exception to this is if you are a lactose intolerant person who actually respects their lactose intolerance. Each dish is filled or topped with cheese, which is delightful if you are a dairy lover like myself. However, if a spoonful of ice cream sends your stomach into fits, you might want to skip out on this grill in favor of something less dairy heavy. But who am I to tell you what to avoid? For a more relevant opinion, I consulted my lactose intolerant friend who says that Empanada Express Grill is worth the stomachache. 

Chicken empanada with beans and rice

Photo by Madelynn Loring

Should you choose to embark on an empanada expedition, here are some tips to make your Express Grill experience go smoothly. As it is “where the locals eat'', the staff primarily speaks Spanish. Thus, it is a good idea to brush up on your restaurant vocab before you go, or go with a Spanish-speaking friend, as I did (though neither of us knew she was going to be translating for us). Secondly, the cost of a good empanada is often oil stains, something I learned the hard way through the marring of my favorite cream-colored sweatshirt. Dark clothes are likely the better choice for your meal. Finally, the restaurant prefers you pay in cash, so it is worth stopping by an ATM on your way to avoid the hassle, especially if you do not have a card that you can tap to pay. 

Overall, my experience at Empanada Express Grill left nothing to be desired, except for perhaps that Regis’s global section could compare to this absolutely delightful restaurant. Though it may be unassuming at first glance, Empanada Express Grill is sure to impress regardless of whether you planned to end up there or not.  

Little known local eats near Regis

(Photo: Tyler Delgado)

By: Jack Adams, Staff Reporter

Denver has quickly become a hub for food aficionados, as an explosion of trendy and tasty eateries continue to make their way to the Mile High City. Due to their delicious nature though, many of these local restaurants are consistently packed with hungry patrons. If you are on a tight schedule and don’t have a ton of time to wait around for a delicious lunch or dinner, which is usually the case for any college student, then this guide to lesser-known delectable dining spots is the perfect way for you to find quick good eats.  

While this establishment is typically a bit more crowded than the other restaurants on this list, primarily due to it being located in a compact space, Buchi Cafe Cubano is still a fantastic breakfast and lunch spot for students looking to bring a little culture into their lives. Buchi Cafe Cubano remains true to its name, serving up mouthwatering Cuban food at an affordable price that will work on even the most meager budgets. The restaurant features incredible traditional Cuban coffee and espresso, a number of hearty Cubano-style pressed sandwiches and vegetarian offerings which includes one of my favorite items on the menu–the avocado salad. The low prices make it easy to enjoy a tasty meal for under ten dollars, and the speedy service allows for Buchi Cafe Cubano to be a viable option when you only have a tight window for lunch.

For the less adventurous folks looking to stick to a category of cuisine they are familiar with, I would suggest the low-key Italian joint Dolce Sicilia Bakery. Dolce Sicilia is a quaint Italian bakery that offers a variety of tasty Italian sandwiches, substantial slices of pizza, and a multitude of decadent Italian sweets. The food here is always fresh and flavorful, and the service is extremely quick and pleasant. The best part about the restaurant though is that it is almost never crowded, and oftentimes I have been the only person in there. Only a short drive from Regis, and with breakfast and lunch options starting at under five dollars, Dolce Sicilia is a great option for students looking for an expeditious and delicious lunch option. Dolce Sicilia may be the best-kept secret for divine Italian food near Regis, but a close second goes to Carbone’s Italian. Although the original location for Carbone’s has been closed, the famed Italian sandwiches can still be found at the Monkey Barrel Bar during lunch. The Monkey Barrel is only a short distance from Regis and is much less crowded during lunch than the original Carbone’s location ever was. Carbone’s at the Monkey Barrel is a bit more on the pricey side than the other options listed here, but the massive Italian sandwiches will keep you full for the entire day.

Some honorable mentions for other tasty and discreet lunch spots near the Regis campus include, Vital Root (a great vegetarian option), Thai Bao Vietnamese, and Salt & Grinder. Any of these restaurants will leave you with a full belly, a full wallet, and a fully freed up schedule–truly the best case scenario for any college student.