At the Spanish Bakery & Café in St. Augustine, Florida, empanadas fly off the shelves quickly. According to bakery manager Carol Miller, customers eagerly await fresh batches. On busy days, trays of 16 empanadas can be sold within moments.
“There are times when we’ll sell through three trays within an hour,” Miller said. “These empanadas are popular and disappear fast.”
The bakery’s empanadas are no stranger to St. Augustine’s culinary scene. They have been a staple since the bakery’s launch in 1965. Miller emphasized the handmade process involved: “We actually make everything from hand ourselves – the doughs, the mixes, pressing them, everything.”
The Spanish Bakery & Café has become a viral sensation for its empanadas.
In the past, hand-rolling the dough for 10 trays took about eight hours. With a new rolling machine, this time is cut in half to roughly four hours, allowing the bakery to produce 160 empanadas per batch.
Many patrons discover the bakery while exploring St. Augustine, while others arrive due to recommendations from social media or news articles. Miller noted visitors mention seeing TikTok and Instagram posts as reasons to try the empanadas.
Located in St. Augustine’s historic district, the bakery captures the city’s Spanish charm. Miller explained, “We are mainly Spanish culture in the colonial quarter, so it’s nice that we reflect our Spanish roots. We offer a healthier version since our empanadas are baked, not fried.”
During Florida’s warmer months, this baked option is appealing to those touring the city or visiting the beach, offering a hearty choice without the heaviness of fried food.
Customers sometimes hesitate, fearing the filling might be spicy. Miller reassured, “The bakery tries to make its food welcoming to the diverse visitors in St. Augustine.”
Not everyone visits due to buzz. Alexis Rapchak, a 12-year-old from Ohio, tried her first empanada, saying, “I didn’t hear about it. I just showed up.” She found it delightful: “I really like the dough and the inside. It’s perfect.”
Peter Burke, a lifestyle editor with Fox News Digital, covers a range of topics with a focus on food and drink.
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