OBRA HandBakery Verified listing

OBRA HandBakery is the undisputed king of baked empanadas in Long Beach. They’ve done so by building up a decade-long patronage and online following, generating genuinely viral moments for the space.

Owners Luz Torres and Chef Cesar Villarreal have long been dedicated to their work. OBRA HandBakery was originally Cesar’s Bistro, which opened in 2014. At the time—and, to be frank, to this very day in a particular sense—Latin American food beyond Mexican cuisine was widely panned or outright nonexistent. In a sense, Cesar’s Bistro helped Long Beach to discover the foods south of the Mexican border—but when the pandemic hit, the entire idea of a bistro had to immediately shift, prompting Luz and Chef Cesar to focus on easy to-go items. And that meant empanadas.

For their empanadas, they offer a variety of options, including a Cuban version, a ropa vieja-stuffed one, jalapeño with queso, BBQ pork, and a magnificently seasoned chicken curry empanada that was originally a special but has become a regular menu item. You can purchase them baked and ready to enjoy or frozen to bake at home, which is convenient for baking as needed. (However, if it’s during the holidays, be sure to plan ahead—hundreds of orders come through over the weeks.) Plus, you’ll always receive two free empanadas with every dozen you buy.

The OBRA balls, massive rounds of stuffed mashed potato balls that are breaded and fried? Far superior and crispier than some in the market. OBRA’s version is also deeply savory and, perhaps best of all, happily oozes with melted cheese.

For Brian Addison's full feature on OBRA HandBakery, click here.