Fans of fun and creative food served in a festive atmosphere (count us among them) have found a home at Buena Onda Empanadas on Santa Barbara’s Lower Eastside.

Offering artisan empanadas, salads, side dishes, desserts, and carefully selected wines and beer, it’s also the gathering spot for the local Argentinian community.

It’s almost like the embassy Argentina doesn’t know it has, co-owner Matias Requena Mackinlay says. 

“I feel like an ambassador, representing the Argentine culture here, and I take a lot of pride in that,” he said.

Seating for Buena Onda is on its nicely decorated outdoor patio at 724 E. Haley St., a block and a half west of North Milpas Street.

The restaurant frequently hosts dance nights that allow guests to show their skills at the tango and milonga, under the stars, on a dance floor that’s brought in for the occasion.

And soccer fans, this could be your place for major events. It was packed for Argentina’s early morning victory over France in the 2022 World Cup — a celebration that lasted all day long and into the evening.

“We turn the restaurant into a mini-stadium during the World Cup,” Requena said, “with big screen TVs, empanadas, wine, beer.

“It’s a big party.”

We confess that to date we’ve not been avid viewers of televised soccer, but apparently we’ve been going about it all wrong.

Empanadas, in case you’re unfamiliar, are half moon-shaped pastry shells stuffed with savory meats, chicken, vegetables and/or cheese.

Buena Onda’s offerings also include stuffings like caprese, quinoa and sweet potato.

Enthusiasts know that you can tell what’s inside an empanada by the way the dough is shaped on the outside. For novices like us, Buena Onda provides a handy guide both in the restaurant and on its website.

Our suggestion is, if you’re going with a group, order a variety of them and cut them into pieces, so everyone can try everything.

These days Buena Onda makes and sells between 7,000 and 11,000 empanadas per week, but when it first opened there were times when the place would only sell a dozen a day.

“I thought we’d never make it,” Requena said, “but my wife encouraged me, told me to keep going and persevere.”

Smart woman.

Buena Onda, which means “good vibes,” is co-owned by Requena’s mother, Malena Mackinlay, and got started in the family kitchen.

“We moved here from Argentina in 2002, and I really missed it a lot — the culture, yes, but most of all the empanadas,” he told us.

“There was no way to buy them here in Santa Barbara,” he added.

Someone needed to do it, “and my mom and I said, why not us?” He recalled.

So they began making small batches and sharing with friends, who immediately could tell they were special.

“From the beginning we said we’re not going to make just any empanada, we’re going to use organic fresh ingredients,” Requena said.

His mom, with no formal culinary training, but having cooked for her family of seven for many years, knew the secret to success would be to “really fill them up,” he added.

Word spread, and soon they partnered with a local commercial chef and opened as a pop-up in Goleta in 2015. Shortly after that they moved into the current space, initially focused on catering.

In 2018 Buena Onda, now with chef Lupe Don Juan running the kitchen, opened a patio for in-restaurant dining, and along the way added a wholesale business.

Today Buena Onda ships to cafés and coffee shops from Isla Vista to Ojai, and the empanadas are also available at Mosaic Locale, 1131 State St.

It’s worth pointing out that the empanada experience is much enhanced by the correct beverage accompaniment, so Requena curates a uniquely suited wine list.

“When you pair a good Malbec with a carne empanada, it’s heaven,” he said, smiling broadly.

Extensive testing by the Let’s Go Eat Team confirms this.

Locals Only

Ask for the Milanese, which is not on the menu yet. And in addition to the chimichurri sauce that’s included, Buena Onda has other sauces and dips but you have to ask for them.

When You Go

Buena Onda, at 724 E. Haley St., is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Empanadas are also available fresh or frozen for take out.