About Marini's Empanadas

The Marini Family History

Long ago, around 1971 Marcello and Pelusa Marini opened their first restaurant named "Marini's Empanada House." It was located on 1517 Westheimer in the Montrose area. For two decades, the Marini Family grew in business, friends, and fame and were well recognized for their empanadas as being "the best empanadas in the world," made from scratch, and fresh everyday.

In 1985, on Good Friday, the original business located on Westheimer went down in flames, and the Marini Family lost everything. Years passed and Marcello with his employment at Telemundo 47 and his wife Pelusa with her beautiful and delicious alfajores artesanales (stuffed cookies) and bombones (bonbons) continued with the same optimistic strength collaborating in many events in the Houston community. Since 1976 the Marini Family has participated on most of Houston's culinary events, including the famous Houston International Festival, then called "The Main Street Festival."

But they never forgot that they would one day reopen their business that made them famous with the Houston community. In 2004 one of their sons, Sergio Alejandro Marini, with the help of the family opened the Original Marini's Empanada House in Katy, Texas.

In 2007 Debbie Marini with the help of her parents and siblings opened the second location at 10001 Westheimer in the Westchase district.

Aside from our old favorites, Houston empanada lovers can rejoice now with our new attractions like Churrascos sandwiches and a variety of Argentinian wines, the famous green tea called "Yerba Mate," and of course, the famous Pelusa's Alfajores Artesanales, or the exquisite Alfajores with dark, white or hazelnut chocolate filled with dulce de leche, all made fresh from scratch daily.

Today, all members of the Marini Family are working hard to keep this unique tradition alive. So, come join us and be part of our family at The Original Marini's Empanada House.