From Pop-Up Tables to a Bigger Vision — Lada Nada Empanadas Takes a Seat on Almost The Weekend
On this week’s episode of Almost The Weekend, Besa sits down with someone whose journey is just as flavorful as her food — Leah Hernandez, founder of Lada Nada Empanadas. If you’ve tasted her empanadas at a pop-up, then you already know: they’re unforgettable — and for Leah, that reaction means everything.
Before Lada Nada became a name people look for at events, Leah wasn’t planning to start a food business at all. She moved from South Florida to Seattle during the pandemic to care for her mother, and like many people navigating a new chapter, she had to pivot. “I thought I was going to get into interior design,” she shared. “But whose houses are you walking into right now during Covid?”
While settling into her new role caring for family, another thought hit her — Seattle didn’t have the flavors she grew up with. People were spending money on food that wasn’t memorable or rooted in culture. So she did what many great food entrepreneurs do — she started with what she knew: “I just thought about what I made really, really well — and that’s one of them. Empanadas is one of them.”
What came next? A leap of faith.
Leah reached out to a friend who owned a coffee shop and asked if she could try selling her empanadas there. She laughed as she recalled it: “Everything that I had invested into creating that day got back within an hour.”
From that moment — she became “the empanada lady.” Seattle embraced her quickly, and not just because the food is good — but because it tastes like something familiar, comforting, and made with love.
Why Her Pop-Ups Hit Different
Lada Nada isn’t just a table and a menu — it’s creativity in rotation.
She offers everything from beef and chicken to tofu and black bean, plus bowls and vegan options. And yes, she even created a seafood boil empanada after seeing Chef Lynn’s seafood boil on Almost The Weekend, because “I was like, you know what — I’m gonna put mine in an empanada.”
Reactions? Priceless.
She told the story of someone taking a bite and dancing in the street — another hugged her with genuine emotion because the flavor reminded them of home “That’s why I do this. Sometimes people give me a hug… they feel all good about it.”
More Than a Kitchen — It’s a Mission
Beyond the food, Leah also teaches cooking programs — providing tools for people navigating behavioral health challenges and learning how to care for themselves in the kitchen. “I wrap up community inside of Lada Nada Empanadas… I teach how to cook food. I buy their food. I teach them how to shop.”
And looking ahead? Her goals reach beyond a traditional restaurant:
She plans to expand through distribution and wholesale — empanadas in restaurants, stores, and new spaces across the PNW and beyond.
Where to Find Lada Nada Empanadas
Follow @lada_nada_ on Instagram for pop-ups, catering bookings, and real-time pull-up locations — sometimes planned, sometimes spontaneous (because opportunity meets hustle). You can also check out her website at ladanada.co
Seattle’s food scene is growing — but it needs more voices, more stories, more culture, and more flavor. Lada Nada Empanadas is all of that — folded, seasoned, sealed, and delivered with purpose.
If you haven’t tapped in yet — this is your sign.
See new episodes of Almost the Weekend on Thursdays at 9pm on Converge Media.
Photos by Erik Kalligraphy
