Where It's At: Julia's Empanadas

On August 30th, 2005, my then boyfriend and I traveled to Washington, DC from State College, PA ("We Are!") to pick up our friend Jared and his then girlfriend and head to Merriweather Post Pavilion to see Green Day during their American Idiot tour.  (Jimmy Eat World opened.  It was a great show in case you were wondering...)  At the conclusion of the concert, we headed back to the District and were staying with Jared at his place.  En route, however, he had a hankering for a late night snack.  "You guys want empanadas?!" he asked enthusiastically.  We shrugged and said, "sure."  Our indifference was a stark contrast to Jared's enthusiasm for savory pastry wrapped goodness.  He had us stop at Julia's and he and I popped out to acquire our late night bites.

Fast forward six years.  Jared still lives here (well, actually, he lives here again, a phenomenon that I've come to learn is also *so* DC).  Recently, I was at a party at his house and someone was bad-mouthing Julia's, suggesting that these were far from authentic empanadas.  Not more than 30 seconds after she made this claim, Jared's head spun around and he immediately sprang to Julia's defense.  Having an Argentinian friend who makes her own homemade empanadas, I'll admit, Julia's isn't exactly the same, but it does definitely have a distinctive place in the DC late night/quick/cheap food scene.  For less than $4, one of these delicious pastry wrapped delights can be yours.  As a vegetarian, I appreciate that they always have a spinach and cheese empanada as well as a daily vegetarian special (which is actually typically vegan).  My friend, Joel, is partial to the Chilean empanada.

Julia's has four locations within DC for your eating pleasure:

• Adams Morgan (2425 18th St NW)
• Brightwood (6235 Georgia Ave NW)
• Columbia Heights (3239 14th St NW)
• Dupont Circle (1221 Connecticut Ave NW)

Of the four, I've been to all but the Brightwood location.  I patronize the Admo one the most frequently since it's only about a half mile from my place.  Scoutmob recently had a deal for a free empanada at the Dupont location and I've certainly popped into the Columbia Heights one for a post-band practice meal once or twice. 

What's your favorite empanada?  Leave a comment!

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)