When you think of Denny’s, you probably picture pancakes, eggs, and the kind of breakfast you order when you’re either very hangry or haven’t been to bed yet. Empanadas? Not so much.
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But that’s about to change, thanks to a rather unexpected collaboration with Sofía Vergara and her son, Manolo González Vergara.
The mother-son duo’s food brand, Toma Empanadas, is teaming up with Denny’s to bring four empanada varieties to more than 240 restaurants starting October 28th. Two of the flavors have been created exclusively for Denny’s, including one that sounds like it belongs on the breakfast menu and another I’d happily order for dessert.
Unfortunately, the rollout is limited to California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida for now. So not everyone will be able to get their hands on them straight away.
What Are the New Empanada Flavors at Denny’s?
There are four varieties joining the menu, with a mix of sweet and savory fillings.
The Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Empanada is one of the Denny’s exclusives. It’s filled with bacon, scrambled eggs, melted cheddar, peppers, and onions, and comes with salsa for dipping.
I can see this working pretty well as a breakfast option. It’s essentially everything you’d expect to find in a breakfast burrito, only tucked inside an empanada instead. And there’s something appealing about a breakfast you can eat with one hand, particularly when you’re running late.
The other exclusive is the Guava and Cheese Empanada, which combines sweet guava filling with creamy white cheese and comes with vanilla cream.
This is the one that immediately caught my attention. I’ve always liked the combination of fruit and cheese, and guava with something creamy sounds lovely. I’ll admit, the empanada part threw me for a minute. But the more I think about it, the more I’m on board. Especially with that vanilla cream on the side.
Then there’s the Chicken in Salsa Verde Empanada, made with pulled chicken tossed in salsa verde and served with red salsa. If you’re more interested in something savory, this sounds like a fairly safe bet.
Finally, the Beef Empanada features seasoned beef with tomatoes, onions, and Kalamata olives, served with salsa.
How Much Are Denny’s New Empanadas?
If you’re eating at Denny’s, you can order two empanadas with chips and salsa for $13.99, or add a single empanada with dipping sauce to another meal for $5.99. They’re also available as part of the chain’s Triple Play Combo.
For takeout and delivery, there are two additional options: one empanada and a beverage for $8.99, or two empanadas and a beverage for $14.99.
I wouldn’t necessarily have expected Denny’s to be my next destination for empanadas, but I’m not opposed to the idea. I’d probably start with the Guava and Cheese, followed by the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese. Although at $13.99 for two with chips and salsa, I’d be tempted to try something savory first and save the guava one for dessert. Breakfast and dessert sorted in one order. Not bad.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!