Some foods work best precisely because they don’t need much ceremony. An empanada can go with your first coffee of the morning, become a savory snack while exploring Las Vegas, or make for a quick lunch when you don’t want to slow down your day for too long.
For anyone wondering where can I get the best empanadas in Las Vegas, Cortadito Coffee House brings this Latin classic to its location on the Strip, inside Flamingo Las Vegas. There, empanadas are part of a menu that brings together coffee, breakfast, and bakery favorites with Cuban and Latin-inspired flavors.
The best part? You can choose from different fillings and discover which one pairs best with your coffee.
Empanadas: a simple idea that traveled across cultures
Although today we associate empanadas with much of Latin America and the Caribbean, their history began much earlier. Their name comes from the Spanish verb empanar—to wrap in bread or dough—and the preparation traveled from Spain to the Americas, where each country adapted it to its own ingredients and traditions.
The basic idea remains recognizable: dough wraps around a savory or sweet filling, is sealed, and then cooked until the outside turns golden.
Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Chile, and different Caribbean countries all developed their own versions. That’s why there is no single recipe that can represent every empanada.
In Cuba, empanadas also found a place within a food culture where small savory bites naturally go hand in hand with coffee. That connection is especially relevant at Cortadito: Cuban empanadas, bakery favorites, and Cuban-style coffee can all be part of the same moment.
Four fillings, four ways to choose your empanada
Cortadito offers four varieties: Beef, Chicken, Spinach, and Ham & Cheese Empanadas.
- Beef Empanada is a natural starting point for anyone looking for a classic savory option. It’s a good choice when the empanada is meant to be more than just a small bite alongside your coffee.
- Chicken Empanada offers another meat-filled alternative.
- Spinach takes the choice in a meat-free direction.
- Ham & Cheese brings together two flavors that work especially well inside warm dough, ideal for anyone who prefers a creamier, familiar profile.
That variety is one of the reasons empanadas in Las Vegas can work for different moments of the day: you don’t have to choose the same thing for breakfast as you would for an afternoon break.
Breakfast empanadas: savory works in the morning, too
Las Vegas often starts early, especially when the day includes conventions, sightseeing, shopping, or hours of exploring the Strip.
An empanada fits naturally into that rhythm because it’s handheld, easy to eat, and doesn’t require a formal breakfast. Cortadito itself highlights empanadas as a grab-and-go option thanks to their portable format.
For breakfast empanadas, Beef or Chicken can work when you’re looking for a more savory start. Spinach keeps things a little lighter, while Ham & Cheese connects naturally with flavors we already associate with breakfast.
Order just one if you want something quick, or combine different varieties to turn them into a more substantial breakfast.
And then comes the other half of the pairing: coffee.
Coffee and empanadas: what should you order?
The combination of coffee and empanadas works through contrast. Savory dough and filling meet an intense, aromatic, hot drink on the other side.
To experience the pairing through Cortadito’s signature identity, the Cortadito is a natural choice. If you prefer something with more milk, go for a Café con Leche. The Las Vegas menu also includes different Cortaditos and Lattes.
With Beef or Chicken, a bold coffee helps keep the pairing simple. Ham & Cheese can be paired with Café con Leche for a creamier combination. And Spinach can work with either one, depending on how much you want the coffee to take center stage.
There is no single right formula. In fact, ordering two different fillings with a Cortadito can be a much more interesting way to discover your favorite combination.
Not just breakfast: an option for any moment on the Strip
Empanadas don’t have to follow a schedule either.
Their compact format makes them a convenient option for a mid-morning snack, a quick lunch, or an afternoon break. In a city where the itinerary often moves from one activity to the next, being able to grab coffee and something to eat without turning every stop into a long meal has an obvious advantage.
Cortadito in Las Vegas is open daily from 7 AM to 6 PM, so the combination can fit into different moments throughout the day.
And if you’re with friends, you can turn the stop into a small tasting: Beef, Chicken, Spinach, and Ham & Cheese to share while everyone chooses their coffee.
A taste of Latin food on the Las Vegas Strip
Part of the appeal of looking for Latin food in Las Vegas is discovering dishes that work both because of tradition and practicality. The empanada is a perfect example: it traveled across cultures, adopted countless fillings, and still maintains a surprisingly simple structure—dough, filling, and a shape made to be eaten by hand.
At Cortadito Coffee House, at 3555 Las Vegas Boulevard South, you can make it part of an equally simple ritual: choose your empanada, order a Cortadito or Café con Leche, and enjoy them together.
So, where can I get the best empanadas in Las Vegas? If you want to discover them alongside Cuban-style coffee right on the Strip, start by trying Cortadito’s four varieties and find your favorite.
Explore the Cortadito Coffee House Las Vegas menu.