From Passion to Plate
Cooking was never just a career for our founder, Anissah Sanchez — it was a calling. Raised on the bold, vibrant flavors of Puerto Rico, she learned early that food is more than sustenance. It's love. It's identity. It's family gathered around a table sharing something made with care.
Before opening our brick-and-mortar location in downtown Erie, Anissah spent more than six years sharing her cooking with the community through a local kitchen incubator. She built a loyal following by blending traditional Latin culinary influences with American tastes — always rooted in family recipes and a passion for her culture.
The menu is anchored by her greatest love — empanadas. Hand-folded, fried golden, and offering over a dozen varieties of sweet and savory creations. And then there's the mac & cheese — a recipe she refined for 15 years, quietly building toward the day she'd share it with the world.
In November 2025, that dream became a reality when Empanissah's officially opened its doors on North Park Row. Walk in hungry, leave full — and not just from the food.
🏆 Ranked #3 — BusinessRate January 2026 Award Winner
