Andrea Hall is renovating the former Lichtenberg’s Jewelry store to open a second Empanada Madness specializing in South American cuisine.
Empanada Madness moves into former jeweler’s space
By Jill Draper
A local restaurant that specializes in South American cuisine will open a second location in early November near West Blue Ridge Boulevard and State Line Road. Their grand opening and ribbon cutting is November 3.
Empanada Madness, a favorite of Salvador Perez and other Royals ball players, will be located in the space formerly occupied by Lichtenberg’s Jewelry store and Pita!
Mediterranean Grill. Andrea Hall will run the restaurant along with her parents, Marcial and Patricia Trujillo.
Hall, a South Kansas City resident who attended Center High School and lives in the Verona Hills neighborhood, says the menu will be identical to the original Empanada Madness at 906 Southwest Blvd. Many of the dishes are variations of fried cornmeal patties or tamales stuffed with combinations of meat and vegetables and served with a choice of three sauces ranging from mild to hot. Fried yuka and plantains are popular side items.
“Our cuisine is just like what you would find in Venezuela, and we’ve devoted time to learning other South American recipes as well,” says Hall. She says one of the restaurant’s most famous platters is a Colombian dish called bandeja paisa that features sirloin steak, crispy pork belly and rice and beans, topped with a fried egg and served with plantains.
Hall expects the restaurant to be busiest at lunchtime when she offers a three-item combo special for $7 to $10, but she also will be open for dinner and eventually a brunch buffet on Sundays. During the morning rush hour she plans to sell bakery goods—sweet Mexican conchas, Cuban guava pastries, croissants filled with ham, freshly squeezed orange juice and green juices.
The new Empanada Madness location will have plenty of six-top booths around the perimeter with tables in the middle. Hall plans to serve beer, wine and cocktails, including a special passion fruit mojito. Soft drinks will include international cream sodas.
“Lots of people travel to our Southwest Boulevard location to eat, so we figured this area is a good central point for our customers who live in South Kansas City, Raymore, Leawood and Overland Park,” Hall says. She hopes to open on Sept. 3 on the anniversary of the opening of the original restaurant four years ago.