The Original Marini's Empanada House, Houston TX

This place is incredible! Such an incredible variety of empanadas from savory to sweet. Each pie is handmade and made to order, so you will need to have a seat and wait for your tray of magic to arrive.

The empanadas arrive rocket hot fresh. They reheat nicely for those you decide to take home.

The restaurant is filled with Hispanic decor and welcomes graffiti to put your mark on the walls showing off you've truly dined on the finest Argentinian pies ever.

Don't be surprised if you do what I did. Go in three days in a row because you simply have to March your way thru the extensive menu.

A local Houston gem and the best empanadas.

Since every empanada is made homemade and fresh give yourself a few extra minutes to allow them to finish cooking your order.

The menu can be a little bit overwhelming- If you don't see what you're looking for on the menu, you can pretty much ask for anything in your empanada.

Dissatisfied with food ordered take out no sauces offered with combo meals no salad dressing not even salt on fries. Definitely not worth money. Mama Ninfa would be mad. 1rst time and last time customer don't believe any of these reviews. Bland food so disappointing

While they have a wide variety of empanadas, the authenticity of the food is lacking. What you receive here is more of an Americanized idea of the Empanada. Their dough is chewy and dense. Authentic empanadas should be light. I did enjoy some of their varieties like the mole chicken empanada, but I just can't get over the chewiness of the crust.

Try Argentina Cafe for a more authentic take.

I saw this place on the news earlier this week & thought, "Oh, I Just Have To Visit".

AMAZING! AMAZING! AMAZING!

From the courteous staff, to the warm & welcoming ambience of the restaurant & the food, like OMGGGGGGGGG.the food is fresh & savory seasoned, as well- the desserts just are simply delectable.

(if you're looking for a sign, THIS IS IT- GO EAT!)

I’ve been eating these empanadas for over 15 years and they are always delicious! Chicken Linda and spinach and cheese is my favorite

Have lived in the Houston for over 5 years now, and hands down this is the most memorable restaurant by-far! Beyond amazing staff, extensive menu that is unique, delicious and nutritious. Highly recommend!

The owners and staff are some of the kindest people you hope to meet in hospitality. The food is ALWAYS made fresh! Great location

Marini's is the only Empanada place in Houston! I mean the #1 best family oriented restaurant you wil find in Houston. Everything is so personalized from the art on the wall to the children cancer donation box of art, to the I was here.names of customers who have ever visited, to the family pictures! Each Empanada, sandwiche, soup, salad, dessert will have your mouth watering with so much flavor goodness. And the Fries are my favorite curly real potatoes made to order! Everything seems made to order! Patricia (thank you. Ken) is the best if you have an issue which is very rare they will take care of you. Don't try to bash them on media this family is just to amazingly, kind to do that. If you ever stop to visit us Houstonians make Marini's your must stop you won't regret it!

The food was great but the waitress made the visit very unpleasant! She splattered ketchup all over my granddaughters face and shirt and it was everywhere! She apologized but was not sincere about it! If they cannot serve ketchup in a bottle then they should be trained on how to serve it those tiny paper cups! It ruined our day together!

Good food, friendly staff, had the daily combo with salad, Hot Tia Maria empanada: slow cooked beef, sauteed onions, poblano & serrano peppers in a spicy tomato sauce. Las Pampas empanada: ground beef, sauteed onions, hard bailed eggs, olives, avocado, & mozzarella, they where very tasty

When you woke very hungry and craving sweet and savory you should come here the staff very nice and thank you for my delicious birthday empanada

I always get the Lindas chicken and the macho nacho so good and I love their bittersweet dressing they give for their salad and their soups. Love going to Marinis when I want something thay has a home cooked feel. The owners are very nice people too.

Update* My first review was done 3 years ago. I started to see a decline in food freshness, and today I was told that they are no longer making soup. I haven't seen the owners either. Does anyone know what happened to them?

Was staying at a nearby hotel so we were able to walk here for dinner. I ordered the combo and had the Texas BBQ, the Humita, and the bananas dulce de leche. The BBQ was my favorite, as I want a fan of the way the cheese settled inside the empanada. The desert one was good, too.

Definitely a must try for anyone looking for something delicious and authentic. The options are endless and everything I tried was delicious. The staff is very friendly and service is quick. The green sauce was amazing!

I’ve been coming to this area for a long time and came here with someone who’s not local but was recommended this place.

Plenty of parking available.

Gift boxes are also available. Wide selection of drinks as well.

Great service great management and excellent food, been coming here for years it's always great and it's a good treat for everyone. It's a must try for anybody that has not, and if you have tried you have probably been back.

Our favorite place for empanadas. The fusion of flavors and variety of choices are fantastic. An institution of flavorful empanadas beyond compare.

The staff is friendly but they confuse the orders, the decorations of the place are nice but the walls have graffiti that makes the place look bad. The empanadas are good, the chicken sandwich is not good, the chicken has no flavor at all.they did not bring the complete order, first they brought my plate and then my husband's plate, a good restaurant brings the complete order so that all the members of a table can eat together. The alfajores are very good.

One of my favorite places to eat! I have been eating at Marinis since they had the old house in the Montrose and the quality is still excellent! Try the Beef Gaucho and the Tres Leche empanadas! Awesome!