Before the FIFA World Cup came to North Texas, Empa Mundo was already serving the world — one delicious empanada at a time. Photo: Greg Castillo
Tucked between a nail salon and a tax office in an Irving strip mall, a small family restaurant is serving the best empanadas in North Texas.
Empa Mundo doesn't look like much from the outside. But step inside and you'll find a family that has been feeding the world long before the FIFA World Cup came to town. Open since 2010, they've built something special in a neighborhood where Nepalese, Japanese, and Middle Eastern restaurants are all within walking distance.
Argentine Raul Gordon and his Indonesian wife Miming opened it together, and the result feels like a portal. When you walk in, the first thing you notice is the walls. They're lined with real currency from customers who have come from all over the world. Then the smell hits you. Freshly fried dough, stuffed with rich fillings like the picadillo-packed criollo or the Chilipanzinga, loaded with ham, cheese, and three kinds of hot peppers.
Raul has stepped back due to his health, but the restaurant is in good hands. Walk in on any given day and you'll find Miming behind the counter, laughing, greeting regulars by name, and somehow already knowing your order.
"I'm so happy," she said. "This is my second home. Sometimes people show up and they don't speak English. I explain things to them. They end up coming back because I make them feel comfortable."
Her son Ariel traded engineering school for the family business, and he's not looking back. He's focused on what comes next: a possible second location and a growing catering operation. "If you can do something that'll last, and people can see the value in what you can bring to the world, I think you'll go a long way," Ariel said. "This is just the beginning."
There are 18 options on the menu, and each one earns its spot. The Mimi Special is a nod to Miming's Indonesian roots, filled with eggs, potatoes, carrots, green peas, and warm spices. It eats like an Indonesian samosa.
New for the World Cup is the Argentina Chorizo, stuffed with spicy chorizo, potatoes, serrano, and bell peppers. It comes with a heat warning. Take it seriously. I like spicy food, and this would make Messi sweat.
They've also made themselves at home in Texas. The brisket empanada, stuffed with tender meat and potatoes, and the Texas Twinkie, packed with beef brisket, jalapeño, serrano, and cream cheese, are pure North Texas on a plate.
This is the kind of place that makes Irving so special. A family from Argentina and Indonesia, building something together in one of the most diverse zip codes in Texas, one empanada at a time. Grab a dozen, find a screen, and watch the World Cup the right way.
Empa Mundo World of Empanadas
3977 N Belt Line Rd, Irving, TX 75038
(972) 746-4516
