What Maria Empanada does

Maria Empanada is a Denver-based restaurant company founded in 2011 by Lorena Cantarovici, an Argentine immigrant from Córdoba who launched the business with $300 in a garage. The company specializes in handcrafted, baked-fresh-daily Argentinian empanadas, available in savory and sweet varieties, sold individually (~$5.49), in bundles ($15–$60), and via catering. It operates five company-owned retail locations across the Denver metro area — Riverview (Platte St), Stanley Marketplace (Aurora), South Broadway, City Park (Colfax), and Denver International Airport (Gate A24) — employing 51–100 people.

The underlying product technology is craft-based rather than software-based: traditional family recipes from Córdoba, Argentina, executed through daily in-store baking with a freeze-and-reheat compatible format that extends shelf life and supports at-home consumption. The company leverages standard restaurant commerce infrastructure — Popmenu for online ordering, Toasttab for catering and POS — alongside a dedicated Empanada Making Master Class ($60/person) led by the founder at the South Broadway cafe that functions as both experiential revenue and brand marketing.

Maria Empanada monetizes through three primary streams: (1) direct-to-consumer retail food sales across owned storefronts and online ordering (including free delivery on orders $150+), (2) corporate and event catering via Toasttab, and (3) the ticketed experiential master class. The company raised $3.5 million from The Colorado Impact Fund in 2017 and has generated significant earned media, including a Food Network Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives feature, a 2018 Breakout Brands designation from National Restaurant News, Colorado Small Business Person of the Year, and a 2021 visit from Vice President Kamala Harris.

Name

Maria Empanada

Legal name

Maria Empanada

Website

https://mariaempanada.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Maria Empanada is a Denver-based, founder-owned restaurant company that operates five retail locations selling handcrafted Argentinian empanadas via dine-in, online ordering, catering, and a ticketed cooking master class led by founder Lorena Cantarovici.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Restaurant

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Chef/Restaurant Meal Boxes & Marketplace Prepared Meals (CRAHAJAI)

Keywords

• Argentine empanadas
• Handcrafted baked goods
• Restaurant catering services
• Experiential cooking classes
• Specialty ethnic restaurants

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Food Sales: Direct consumer sales of freshly baked empanadas at company-owned restaurant locations, available for dine-in, takeout, and online ordering. Empanadas are sold individually, in bundles (3-pack, half dozen, full dozen), and as catering quantities. The company emphasizes the ability to freeze and reheat empanadas for at-home consumption, extending the product's shelf life and driving repeat purchases.
2. Catering Services: Corporate and event catering services offered across all five locations, with dedicated catering ordering pages via Toasttab integration. Targets office events, gatherings, and special occasions with bulk empanada orders.
3. Empanada Making Master Class: In-person experiential event hosted at the South Broadway café, led by founder Lorena Cantarovici. Participants learn authentic empanada-making techniques, enjoy Argentine wine pairings, and take home their handcrafted empanadas. Ticketed at $60 per person, creating a premium, experience-driven revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Maria Empanada is a Denver-based restaurant chain that handcrafts and sells authentic Argentine empanadas through five company-owned retail locations across the Denver metro area. The company sells empanadas individually and in bundles (3-pack, half dozen, full dozen) for dine-in, takeout, online pickup, and delivery. It supplements retail food sales with corporate and event catering services and an in-person empanada-making master class taught by founder Lorena Cantarovici.

Product overview

Maria Empanada operates as a single-brand restaurant concept offering handcrafted Argentine empanadas as its core product. The company provides its empanadas through multiple channels: dine-in at five Colorado locations, online ordering via Popmenu for pickup and delivery, and catering services through ToastTab. The product portfolio centers on empanadas available in various sizes and bundles, supplemented by an experiential offering—the Empanada Making Master Class taught by founder Lorena Cantarovici. The company has produced over 5 million empanadas since its founding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handcrafted Argentine Empanadas Core product offering of savory and sweet Argentine empanadas available in regular or cocktail sizes, featuring traditional flavors such as Argentina (steak, red bell pepper, green onions, green olives), Roasted Corn & Cotija, and Miso Chili Crisp Steak. Sold individually or in bundles, baked fresh all day, and freeze-and-reheat compatible.
• Fresh Baked Empanada Bundles Pre-packaged empanada bundles including Three Pack ($15) with one dipping sauce, Half Dozen Bundle ($30) with two sauces, and Full Dozen Bundle ($60) with four sauces. Optional non-alcoholic beverage add-on for $2.
• Empanada Making Master Class with Lorena In-person, ticketed cooking experience at $60 per person where participants learn authentic Argentine empanada-making techniques from founder Lorena Cantarovici, enjoy hand-selected Argentine wine pairings, and take home their handcrafted empanadas. Includes all materials and instruction; cancellation policy applies.
• Catering Services Event and corporate catering service featuring bulk empanada orders for office events, private parties, and large-group gatherings. Available across all five Denver-area locations with customizable menus and online ordering via ToastTab integration.
• Online Ordering for Pickup and Delivery Direct online ordering channel available across all locations (excluding Denver International Airport) via the company's website using Popmenu and Toasttab integrations. Customers can place pickup orders at any location and qualify for free delivery on orders over $150.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 million+ empanadas produced and consumed by customers

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CAVA: Large fast-casual Mediterranean chain with national footprint. Comparable as a broader ethnic fast-casual concept demonstrating the scale potential of the category Maria Empanada operates in.
• Pollo Tropical: Latin Caribbean fast-casual chain. Comparable as a broader Latin-themed quick-service restaurant offering ethnic flavors at scale.
• Sweetgreen: National fast-casual salad chain that scaled from a single location to hundreds. Comparable as a successful multi-location fast-casual concept that built a recognizable brand around a focused menu.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill: National fast-casual Mexican chain. Comparable as the dominant fast-casual ethnic restaurant model, illustrating both the scale opportunity and competitive dynamics Maria Empanada faces.

Regional players

• Café Argento: Argentine café and empanada concept operating in select U.S. markets. Comparable as a regional Argentine food concept offering empanadas within a broader café experience.

Emerging players

• Tango Empanadas: Smaller-scale empanada concept with limited locations. Comparable as an emerging competitor in the same niche empanada category.
• Patagonia Empanadas: Smaller regional empanada retailer offering frozen and ready-to-eat Argentine empanadas. Comparable as an emerging direct-to-consumer empanada brand leveraging the freeze-and-reheat use case.

Direct peers

• Buenos Aires Grill: Argentine restaurant concept in Denver serving empanadas, grilled meats, and traditional fare. Comparable as a Denver-area Argentine restaurant offering empanadas within a broader menu.
• Empanada Mama: New York-based quick-service chain specializing in empanadas with multiple locations. Directly comparable as a multi-location empanada-focused fast-casual concept competing in the same product category.
• Sullivan's Empanadas: Texas-based empanada chain offering baked Argentine-style empanadas. Comparable as a multi-location empanada concept targeting takeout and catering customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maria Empanada