THE EMPANADA SHOP
The Empanada Shop is a single-location Mexican food retailer in Redondo Beach, California, founded in 2014, selling authentic empanadas, tacos, and tamales to walk-in consumers, online delivery customers, and corporate catering clients across the South Bay Los Angeles area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersRedondo Beach, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What THE EMPANADA SHOP does
The Empanada Shop, LLC is a single-location Mexican food retailer founded in 2014 by Ruben and Charlene Frias in Redondo Beach, California, operating at 1908 1/2 Artesia Blvd. daily from 9am to 6pm. The company produces and sells empanadas as its primary product line, with a current SKU set spanning Birria empanadas (with Real California Oaxaca cheese), Chicken Ancho empanadas, Mexican Caprese empanadas, Mexican Chocolate empanadas, and an Apple Pie Churro breakfast empanada, complemented by tacos, tamales, and a 6-Pack Variety pack for events. All products are made locally with Real California Cheese credentials and are positioned for grab-and-go individual consumption as well as group catering.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market through three channels: walk-in retail at the Redondo Beach storefront, online ordering through ToastTab and ChowNow, and direct catering sales for parties, office events, and game-day gatherings. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and transactions are one-time purchases with no subscription or membership layer beyond a points-based Empanada Shop Rewards email program. The company has no disclosed funding, no parent organization, no franchise system, and operates within the 1–10 employee band.
The differentiation thesis rests on a hybrid Mexican-California recipe approach (traditional Mexican fillings with Real California dairy), validated by the 2023/5th annual Real California Milk Excelerator Innovation Award sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board and VentureFuel. The founders leverage Ruben Frias's Creative Director background from Disney, Live Nation, and Warner Brothers as a brand-narrative asset. Distribution remains geographically constrained to the South Bay Los Angeles area with no disclosed wholesale, licensing, or expansion plans beyond the existing unit and catering book.
THE EMPANADA SHOP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- THE EMPANADA SHOP
- Legal name
- The Empanada Shop, LLC
- Website
- https://the-empanadashop.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Empanada Shop is a single-location Mexican food retailer in Redondo Beach, California, founded in 2014, selling authentic empanadas, tacos, and tamales to walk-in consumers, online delivery customers, and corporate catering clients across the South Bay Los Angeles area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
THE EMPANADA SHOP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Quick-Service Mexican Restaurant
- NAICS
- Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mexican/Latin QSR (Tacos, Burritos, Bowls) (THAFAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Artisan & Specialty Bakeries (Sourdough, Heritage Grains) (THAFAFAD)
Keywords
Where THE EMPANADA SHOP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redondo Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
THE EMPANADA SHOP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retail Food Sales: Direct sales of empanadas, tacos, and tamales to consumers through online ordering and physical storefront. One-time purchase transactions for food products.
- Catering Services: Catering services for parties, office events, and large gatherings. Empanadas designed for convenience at events, parties, game day, and catering occasions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
THE EMPANADA SHOP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Empanada Shop is a quick-service Mexican restaurant that prepares and sells handmade empanadas in multiple flavors (including Apple Pie Churro, Birria, Mexican Chocolate, Chicken Ancho, and Mexican Caprese), alongside tacos and tamales, using authentic Mexican recipes and Real California Cheese. It also offers packaged 6-Pack Variety Empanadas for retail/off-premise consumption and provides catering services for events and gatherings.
Product overview
The Empanada Shop is a single-location restaurant offering authentic Mexican empanadas as its primary product, complemented by tacos and tamales. The core product line centers on specialty empanadas in various flavors including Birria Empanadas, Chicken Ancho Empanadas, Mexican Caprese Empanadas, Mexican Chocolate Empanadas, Apple Pie Churro Empanadas, and 6-Pack Variety Empanadas. All empanadas feature Real California Cheese and are made locally in Redondo Beach, designed for grab-and-go dining suitable for parties, catering events, and quick meals. The company operates through online ordering platforms including Toast Tab and ChowNow.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Empanadas
Companies that use THE EMPANADA SHOP
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
THE EMPANADA SHOP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
THE EMPANADA SHOP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- California Milk Advisory BoardcoreStrategic partnership through the Real California Excelerator program. The company was recognized for using Real California Milk seal and Real California Cheese in their products, gaining credibility and brand validation for their quality ingredients.
- Venture FuelcoreCo-organized the Real California Excelerator innovation program. Provided accelerator support, mentorship, and platform for The Empanada Shop to pitch their innovative dairy-based empanada products to industry experts and dairy enthusiasts.
- ToastTabminorOnline ordering platform partner enabling direct-to-consumer sales through their platform. Customers can place orders directly through ToastTab for pickup and delivery.
- ChowNowminorSecondary online ordering platform expanding distribution reach to additional customer segments looking for catering and delivery options.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
THE EMPANADA SHOP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Empanada Mama: Multi-location empanada specialist offering a broad flavor portfolio and delivery; directly comparable on category, portability, and catering/event use cases.
- Holy Empanadas: Independent empanada-focused concept with multiple locations and catering — the closest direct specialty peer on product format and catering/event focus.
Broad incumbents
- Qdoba Mexican Eats: Mexican fast-casual chain with online ordering and catering programs; competes for the same grab-and-go Mexican food dollar, especially among office catering and event buyers.
- El Pollo Loco: California-rooted fast-casual chain with catering programs and broad Los Angeles footprint; comparable GTM motion via owned locations plus digital ordering and catering.
- Del Taco: California-anchored Mexican QSR with strong Southern California presence, late-night hours, and value-tier pricing — a relevant Southern California comp on price and footprint.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill: National Mexican/Latin QSR chain serving tacos, burritos, and bowls with strong catering and digital-ordering infrastructure — directly comparable cuisine category and likely the dominant competitive benchmark for The Empanada Shop's expansion ambitions.
- Rubio's Coastal Grill: Southern California Mexican coastal grill chain with catering and counter-service model — a regional incumbent competing for the same SoCal Mexican-eating occasions.
- Taco Bell: Mass-market Mexican QSR with extended hours and aggressive catering/late-night positioning; sets the floor on convenience and value expectations for any Southern California Mexican concept.
Emerging players
- Salazar: Los Angeles Mexican-inspired restaurant; comparable as a creative-led, Mexican-heritage culinary concept with strong brand positioning in the LA market.
- Guerrilla Tacos: Los Angeles-based modern Mexican taco concept with a chef-driven, premium-positioning approach — a useful comp for how a creative-led Mexican brand can scale in LA.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
THE EMPANADA SHOP social profiles
Digital presenceTHE EMPANADA SHOP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
THE EMPANADA SHOP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
THE EMPANADA SHOP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
THE EMPANADA SHOP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about THE EMPANADA SHOP
What does THE EMPANADA SHOP do?
The Empanada Shop is a quick-service Mexican restaurant that prepares and sells handmade empanadas in multiple flavors (including Apple Pie Churro, Birria, Mexican Chocolate, Chicken Ancho, and Mexican Caprese), alongside tacos and tamales, using authentic Mexican recipes and Real California Cheese. It also offers packaged 6-Pack Variety Empanadas for retail/off-premise consumption and provides catering services for events and gatherings.
Is THE EMPANADA SHOP a public or private company?
THE EMPANADA SHOP is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was THE EMPANADA SHOP founded?
THE EMPANADA SHOP was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is THE EMPANADA SHOP based?
THE EMPANADA SHOP is headquartered in Redondo Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does THE EMPANADA SHOP make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Retail Food Sales are the primary driver. The others are catering Services.
Who are THE EMPANADA SHOP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Empanada Mama and Holy Empanadas. Broad incumbents are Qdoba Mexican Eats, El Pollo Loco, Del Taco, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Rubio's Coastal Grill and Taco Bell. Emerging players are Salazar and Guerrilla Tacos.
Does THE EMPANADA SHOP have an API?
No public API is recorded for THE EMPANADA SHOP.
What industry is THE EMPANADA SHOP in?
THE EMPANADA SHOP's product category is Quick-Service Mexican Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAAAE, Mexican/Latin QSR (Tacos, Burritos, Bowls), with a secondary code of THAFAFAD, Artisan & Specialty Bakeries (Sourdough, Heritage Grains). Its NAICS code is 722513 and its SIC code is 2000.