An empanada concept from Georgia has comes to Texas: Called Belén de la Cruz, it's a small chain from Atlanta that has opened its first Texas location across from Dallas' Inwood Village, at 5601 Lovers Ln. #120, in a former massage spot.

The eponymous concept was founded by Belén de la Cruz, an Argentinian entrepreneur who began selling her pastries out of her Atlanta home while teaching others how to prepare traditional Argentine recipes. She opened the first Belén de la Cruz Empanadas & Pastries in 2020; there are now five locations in Georgia.

The Dallas store is from Leticia Stortoni, who partnered with Belén to open the new store. They are both from Argentina and share a passion for empanadas, a staple of their food culture.

“Dallas is a vibrant, diverse city with a strong food scene and a growing appreciation for unique and flavorful cuisines. We are so excited for this new adventure, and we are thrilled to serve the Dallas community," Belén says.

Leticia was already empanada-savvy: She launched her own brand of empanadas when she moved to Dallas from Argentina in 2023. It was called 3 Empanadas, and she had it for about a year, operating from a commercial kitchen and selling via third party apps.

But she had a dream of owning a physical store. She learned about Belén de la Cruz as she was looking for a space to call home. After she and Belén met, Leticia realized that their methods, ingredients, and dough were similar, following traditional elements of Argentinian cuisine.

“It was turnkey for us to partner with Belén de la Cruz as an established brand and offer their empanadas here in Dallas. I love the product, the aesthetics of the store. And I want to sell something I know is good," Leticia says.

While most empanadas found in Dallas are deep fried, Belén de la Cruz offers baked empanadas, which makes them healthier, lighter, and less greasy. Savory fillings range from meat options such as beef, chicken, bacon, and ham & cheese to vegetarian fillings like caprese, spinach, corn, and butternut squash. All empanadas are $4 each, and they're as pretty as they are tasty, with a pale golden crust and the filling names heat-branded on top.

In addition to empanadas, there are cakes and pastries including dulce de leche alfajores, brownies, dulce de leche, tres leches cake, and lemon mousse, prepared in house by Leticia.

They are open Tuesday-Sunday from 11 am-7 pm, closed on Monday. The store follows the pristine, minimalist model set by the locations in Georgia: all white with black accents and a couple of tables and chairs. This Dallas store is labeled as takeaway and delivery only, so the seating space is meant for waiting only, not consuming at store.

"We've received such an amazing reception — we are very friendly just as our culture is, and I think people respond to that," Leticia says.