La Fresa - Popayán

This is definitely a 'No-Frill' hole in the wall 'Kiosk. There is no menu, they only sell empanadas de pipian and so. There is no service, you need to go to the counter and order, or get the attention of the staff. But the empanadas are delicious, and the sauce with which it is served is also very good. As a price reference there were 6,000 pesos for 14 empanadas and a small coke. The empanadas come in a portion of 7 and are a little larger than bite size. They are cooked to order but served quickly. I went back several times during my stay.

You can see people waiting for tables to be available in this small place. It is not difficult to find as it is right next to the door to an Arepa place that seems to be open all the time. The two ladies here make batches of fresh little empanadas, literally still hot as they come to the table. They can therefore wait a bit if they are very busy and depending on whether they have just made a fresh batch. You order as many as you want, for example we have 6 at the first time we went and 12 ordered the second time and they bring them to your table with a small bowl of spicy peanut sauce. My husband said that was the best he ate in all Colombia! They are pretty tasty, wait and it's not easy to eat them....

They only make potato empanadas. They make them to perfection. Handmade.In the sparkling clean kitchen at the back of this simple joint in the centre of Popayan , you can see the whole process. You can wash them down with beer or sodas. Enjoy!!!!

Mary has been making this emperor for 48 years and Leucia has been helping her for 21 years, they know what they are doing! Bare tables and no sign in front of the door, but let us hope that it will stay like that. The peanut and Chile dip is fantastic, but also without the dip the mixture of maize, potato, onion, Chile and herbs gives the Empanadas a wonderful taste. Marys Empanadas probably reach many corners of Popayan, but why not to the place where they come, it deserves a UNESCO venerable mention for the contribution to gastronomy on itself!

The first bite you think: This is a fair Empañada, the transfer to the second bite you discover developing flavors. The second bite enriches everything and while you start the next Empañada, you will ask for more. So tasty, so beautiful, so cheap. I highly recommend it!