Makus Empanadas

Durham, United States

4.1

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 919-390-7525
Website:
www.makusempanadas.com
Address:
1125 W NC Hwy 54 Ste 304, Durham, NC, 27707
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.2 miGCT1EA
0.4 miGCC9FC
0.9 mi022
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Bussiness info

Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Alcohol
No
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Durham) 11:27 PM Monday, July 14, 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Makus Empanadas specializes in bringing freshly baked delicious Argentinian style empanadas to companies and individuals in the Triangle area of North Carolina.

Our empanadas are ideal for lunch meetings, business presentations, dinner parties, social gatherings. Made with the freshest and highest quality ingredients, Makus’ empanadas are flavorful, healthy, convenient, and are fun to eat and share.

History

Established in 2015.

Hernan, Santiago, and Ricky were best friends growing up in Argentina. Inseparable since preschool, they did everything together: overturning their tricycles into a muddy ditch, battling each other in sports, exploring Buenos Aires’ nightlife.

Their list of memories is long, but two things remain constant throughout: the good company, and the empanadas. Whether going out with friends or gathering with family empanadas were always involved.

The guys have long dreamed of sharing their all-​time favorite food with absolutely everyone. More importantly, they want to share the strong sense of community that this little pocket of intense flavor seems to bring with it, wherever it goes. Their authentic recipes come from grandparents, passed down to the kids in their home kitchen. Makus Empanadas is built around the belief that good food doesn’t have to be complicated and that the best memories can be built around something as simple as a pack of empanadas.

Maybe also a good Malbec.

Meet the Business Owner

Hernan, Santiago and Ricky.

Business Owner

Hernan, Santiago and Ricky…

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20 reviews of Makus Empanadas

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Place rating: 5
Greensboro, NC
We love this place in Durham. Everytime we can we stop by here now. Sometimes they run out so get there early.
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
So delicious and the only place in the area to get original Argentine empanadas. I love the chicken as well as the bacon and cheese. The staff could not be nicer. And, wait for it, they are ONLY $ 2.50 each. Great place to take the kids too! I can’t wait to go back.
Place rating: 3
Raleigh, NC
The empanadas are really good, but I still prefer Cala Vela or Sarah’s Empanadas in Raleigh for two reasons:
1. Size matters — Makus empanadas are really not that big compared to the others and thus you need to order more
2. Price — For the size, it’s a bit on the pricier end.
Place rating: 3
Durham, NC
This is a good little place, but I wouldn’t rely on it to really fill you up, unless you’re 10 years old or maybe don’t eat much… ever. I ordered the Makus Meal which is 3 empanadas, 1 side (rice or beans), and a sauce. At $ 10 it’s a little pricey for what amounts to more of a snack than a meal. I probably could have eaten 2… more like 3 since I’m pregnant. but that’s my own problem.
The empanadas were really good though! They tasted like they were made fresh. They were a little smaller than the standard I’ve seen in the area. I tried the sweet corn, chicken, and ham & cheese. All very good.
I would maybe pop in here for a bite if I was already stopping at Harris Teeter or someplace else in the shopping center but I don’t know if I’d go out of my way to return.
Place rating: 5
Madrid, Spain
I’ve been to Makus Empanadas twice in the last 10 days. The place is nicely decorated and has a great/​cool ambiance. The staff is very attentive and friendly. Food comes out fast. The empanadas are delicious. Loved the crust. Cheese and Spinach is my favorite being a vegetarian :).
I’ve had plenty of empanadas in my life and these rank among the best. I have eaten empanadas both locally and in Spain, Argentina, Chile… I find the size perfectly normal. They’re not calzones!
Side options are rice, coleslaw or chips. While good, a little more variety would be nice. Maybe a salad?? The rice with chimichurri was a great recommendation.
Also try the cochitos (coconut and dulce de leche cookie). To die for.
Overall, a great experience. Will be back!
Place rating: 4
Durham, NC
It’s hard to compare Makus to other empanada places in town (namely Luna) because it is a totally different concept, but I will try. The space is inviting and when I stopped in my friends and I were the only people there. The staff was very welcoming– they told us all about the empanadas, how they stamp them and the owner even told us about the photos of his family on the wall and the history of the business. I was definitely impressed with the customer service. The food is also extremely fast and comes out right away.
The empanadas are good– slightly smaller than Luna’s and with simple flavors, but delicious. They have almost an almost identical special with 3 empanadas, a side, a drink and a sauce for $ 9.95. I was not impressed with the diversity in sides (it’s only cole slaw, rice or chips– they could add black beans or plantains) nor was I impressed with the dry chipa bread or boring empadog (a hot dog wrapped in empanada dough… I had to try it). It is much more of a fast-​food empanada place (in a good way) and I would definitely come back here if I was in the area looking for a quick lunch that wouldn’t fill me up too much.
Place rating: 3
Durham, NC
This is a nice independently owned fast casual Empanada place. The ambiance is very basic, though there are cute pictures of the owner and his family and business partner as kids adorning the walls. The menu is very easy, as the name suggests they have empanadas and not much else.
The meal deal they promote is 3 empanadas (with a sauce), a side and a drink for 9.95. I find it odd that a sauce is normally .50, especially considering one of them is just a basic hot sauce.
I got the beef, chicken and sweet corn. They were perfectly good empanadas, the chicken option was especially good I thought. The side options disappointed me. You can choose between plain white rice, a bag of chips (which yes, both additional empty carbs) or a very standard cole slaw (which I got). I really wish there was something more interesting there. Rose L mentioned a bean side in her review and unfortunately they are not an option, though I would love some black beans.
The staff and owner talked to our group and were quite friendly. I was torn on what to rate this but I had to think about it objectively. While a 10 dollar dinner is not expensive, there are other places in Durham I could have a 10 dollar dinner that I would chose to go back to before here. I would probably bypass the meal option and just get 4 tasty empanadas with a water, probably the best way to attack this restaurant.
But yes, a nice local option to pick up some quick and very tasty empanadas, but not a place I would personally go out of my way to come to.
Place rating: 2
Durham, NC
This place was just ok. My friend and I each got a meal with different empanadas so we could share and try most of the flavors. We liked the chicken and the bacon/​cheese flavors the best but the others were just ok. The empanadas were really more like a snack than a meal, very small! The side of cole slaw was in desperate need of salt and pepper and overdressed. We wished they had other sides like beans, vegetables, or fruit, since chips and rice make for a very carb-​heavy meal. They are really missing an opportunity by not having dessert empanadas. I would have gotten an apple one in a heartbeat!
Overall, it was just ok but very lack-​luster for the price. Too small of portions and not enough options. They need to fix either the price or the size if they want my business.
Place rating: 5
Benson, NC
Very good empanadas. They taste and look like the traditional empanadas you get in Argentina. Some reviewers are complaining about the size, saying they are too small but keep in mind that American portions are the largest in the world. We tried a variety of empanadas and they were all great but the meat and the chicken empanada were a bit spicy for me which surprised me because Argentine empanadas are well seasoned but never spicy. The chips bread was delicious. The wait wasn’t bad at all and the service was great. The place is nice and clean. The owners keep catering to the American market but don’t forget about all those Argentine expats (myself included) who like more of s traditional taste. I would recommend eliminating the rice as a side option (I’ve never seen this in Argentina) and offer salad instead. I would also love to see alfajores de maicena as an option for desert.
Place rating: 4
Durham, NC
Very tasty! The beef and chicken are very good. The ham and cheese and pepperoni are also good, but are too reminiscent of hot pockets to me. A meal is ~$ 10 and comes with 3 empanadas, a side (chips, white rice, or Coke slaw), a sauce (chimichurri or hot) and a fountain soda. Filled me up for lunch, but it seems a tad pricey. Staff was friendly, and décor was modern and fresh.
Place rating: 4
Jamaica Plain, MA
Stumbled across this empanada place while I was grocery shopping next door. Their signage was what caught my eye.
The restaurant must be new because you can still smell the residue of fresh paint. There is plenty of seating and simple, yet captivating, décor.
The woman at the register was quite friendly and sociable. She explained the different types of empanada fillings and that they were baked instead of fried. We ordered to go: two beef, two chicken, 2 corn, and 1 veggie. Each empanada is $ 2.50, or you can do a combo «Makus Meal» for $ 9.95: 3 empanadas, 1 side, 1 drink, and 1 sauce.
We waited for literally 2min and someone from the kitchen came out to give us our order and explained that each one is specially branded for the type of filling it contained aka GENIUS.
I really liked the beef and corn empanadas. The empanada was completely stuffed, the filling wasn’t dry, and the corn was sweet. The veggie empanada was a bit sour and bland.
This place is great if you need a quick bite!
Place rating: 5
Durham, NC
Last night was my first time there and I have to say that the empanadas are delicious! The seasoning of the beef is just right and the empanada dough is just right. I am from Florida and living in NC is a bit difficult when I am trying to find an authentic latin spot. I recommend this place and I will be back !
Place rating: 2
Durham, NC
The food was ok. Mediocre. My husband and I went for dinner with our toddler. We spent $ 34 on two Makus meals, a kids meal, and a side of chipa bread. We left hungry.. The empanadas we THE TINIEST empanadas I have ever seen. The sauces also weren’t anything special. The chipa bread, although tasty, was $ 3 for 5 pieces!!! 5 quarter-​sized pieces of bread for $ 3. They’ll have to do better on price and/​or portion size if they plan to stay in business.
On the positive side… The people were friendly and the place looked very clean.
Place rating: 4
Durham, NC
I’ve been on an empanadas-​reviewing kick, so I had to check out Makus. It’s a small but bright store front near Harris Teeter, with a simple menu of various empanadas, an empanada hot dog, Chipa bread (think cheesy bread a la pan de queijo), some basic sides, and two sauces. I ordered 7 empanadas and Chipa bread to go, with the chimichurri sauce — which ended up being a decent amount of food for two people. The food was ready super quickly, and I actually reheated everything in the oven after running errands and getting home, and the texture seemed good still.
The empanadas ($ 2.50) were really good! Small and filled with simple flavors, but the empanada dough is buttery and light and addictive. My favorite was the sweet corn, though the beef and chicken were very hearty and flavorful. The others were more cheesy (in a good way, think pizza roll), and my least favorite was the veggie one that just tasted like onions. The Chipa bread was less interesting — too dry on the outside, not as chewy/​light on the inside as I wanted, so not worth $ 3 for 5 little pieces.
I’d come back for a fast and simple meal, or take out. I can see this being good for a casual catered affair too, though would need more side options.
Place rating: 5
Durham, NC
If you’re in the mood for a clean, quick, delicious bite to eat, then this is the place. Stopped in for lunch after seeing an ad on Facebook. Food was hot and fresh and presented before we’d even filled our drinks. We will definitely be coming back when in the area.
Awesome job, guys! Finally a great little empanadas spot that isn’t Sarah’s empanadas (re: dirty old restaurant). This is anything but!
Place rating: 5
Mebane, NC
The empanadas were delicious! I found the vegetarian options just as tasty as the meat options. My favorite was the ham and cheese and the sweet corn. The chimichurri sauce was great on both the empanadas and the side of rice. The chippa bread was a good complement to the meal. The restaurant is clean and everyone working was helpful and very welcoming. The empanadas are baked and not fried so they feel light but at the same time they are filling.
Place rating: 4
Durham, NC
Great empanadas but I felt they could be a bit bigger. While they filled me up a bit more than expected I could have easily eaten 5 or 6 (just got the three empanadas combo). They were delicious though and the cole slaw was a nice complementary side. I was slightly disappointed with the Chipa bread that was overpriced at 60 cents per ball and was rather dry. Didn’t get a chance to try dessert. I’ll definitely be back to try more and see if the start making them a little bit bigger.
Place rating: 5
Washington, DC
Back for my second visit this week. Makus is a nice place to bring your family, friends, or just enjoy empanadas on your own. The décor is modern with clean lines and lots of open seating. Owners are helpful and hospitable. And the empanadas are delicious! They are made in house — the shells are baked flaky and fresh, the filling is plentiful and nicely spiced. My favorites are the chicken and onion and cheese (who would have known — sooo cheesy and good). The sauces are a great boon to the empanadas — chimichurri has nice flavors of oregano, olive oil, and herbs. My favorite is the hot sauce, which adds a bite. The sizes are small, so I like to order 3 to try multiple flavors. They are filling, but not greasy or overwhelming. Great experience.
Place rating: 5
Clemmons, NC
My family and I had the pleasure of eating today at the new restaurant Makus Empanadas — I cannot say enough for the VERY AUTHENTIC empanadas right here in the Triangle. They were delicious — the ham and cheese superb but I want to try them all. The décor and service was excellent — great location!!! I would definitely give Makus Empanadas 5 Stars
Place rating: 3
Durham, NC
Solid empanadas but more of a snack than a meal. This is fast food at its best, you’ve got options, but only three options [empanadas, empanadas dogs and cheese bread]. You won’t find a healthy option here, although the empanadas are baked never fried, it’s still full of delicious breads, but it’s quick and tasty.
If you’re headed here for a «full meal» you can pay $ 9.95 for a meal deal: three empanadas, one sauce (sauce is regularly an additional $.50), drink and one side (options: bag of chips, beans or rice). To breakdown the empanadas for you (regularly $ 2.50 for one) they are better in flavor then Sarah’s Empanadas but smaller. About the same size as Calavela’s but more ‘ordinary’/traditional favors (sans free sauces). From the four I tried, the chicken was the tastiest (but also the hottest, could’ve made a difference). The chicken tasted a lot like the beef, but obviously different proteins. Both reminded me of my mothers Shepard pie recipe (minced onion, carrots and spices, no potatoes). Loved the cheesiness of the bacon and cheese and the onion and cheese was good. Good «breading» to filling ratio.
Overall, Makus is a competitive option in the Empanadas marketplace but I don’t see myself going for full meal. I think they are hurting themselves by not offering their sauces as a free option, something that could really enhance meal. It’s not a place I would go out of my way to visit again, but would revisit if convenient. Could make for a very easy catering food for a party!