Horacio Cambeiro · CC BY-SA 3.0Empanadas
Fried or baked empanadas filled with beef, chicken, sweet corn or ham and cheese: the city snack.
What it is
In Asunción the empanada is the ultimate grab-and-go food: people order two or three at a copetín counter at any hour. Fried ones are the most traditional, and beef, chicken, sweet corn, and ham and cheese are the most common fillings. Some places specialize in big empanadas of 160 to 250 grams with gourmet fillings. They are cheap, generous and easy to find.
Ingredients
History
They arrived with Spanish cooking and adapted to local tastes. El Bolsi, opened in 1960 in downtown Asunción, built much of its reputation on them, and the Lido Bar, from 1953, counts them among its signature dishes.
Did you know…?
A good test for travelers: compare the empanadas at El Bolsi and the Lido, two institutions just a few blocks apart.
When
All day, year-round.
Where
El Bolsi and Lido Bar (Asunción); Sabores de mi Tierra (Asunción); Po He (Villarrica).
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.