Empamamas - Cuban Restaurant in Tampa, FL

2016

A rustic kitchen scene featuring glass jars of sourdough starter on a wooden table, with a notebook filled with handwritten recipes, a brown bowl of flour, and a beige fabric apron, illuminated by soft natural light from a window.

Started With A Dream.

We moved to Tampa with a big idea, a lot of grit, and a love for handcrafted empanadas. Before there was Empamamas, there was a dream to create something different. The food truck became our starting line. We learned fast, worked hard, and served empanadas anywhere people were hungry for something not so basic.

2016

Started With A Dream.

2016

Started With A Dream.

2017

A rustic outdoor market stall displays an array of fresh produce including vibrant tomatoes, leafy greens, and a variety of olives, set against the backdrop of a picturesque rural Italian village.

Early Growth

Keep On Truckin’. Long days, late nights, and plenty of trial and error—but the truck kept moving and so did we. Tampa started noticing.Making Some Noise. From festivals and local events to loyal regulars and growing buzz, Empamamas became more than a food truck—it became a community.

2017

Early Growth

2017

Early Growth

2018

A person in an apron uses a wooden peel to place a freshly baked loaf of artisan bread into a rustic, wood-fired oven, with a flickering fire visible inside, set against the backdrop of a sunlit kitchen.

Armature Works

We Found Home. When the opportunity at Armature Works came along, we jumped. What started as a rotating vendor quickly became something bigger. This is probably where your team photo goes.

2018

Armature Works

We Found Home. When the opportunity at Armature Works came along, we jumped. What started as a rotating vendor quickly became something bigger. This is probably where your team photo goes.

2018

Armature Works

We Found Home. When the opportunity at Armature Works came along, we jumped. What started as a rotating vendor quickly became something bigger. This is probably where your team photo goes.

NOW

A rustic outdoor dining table set with wine glasses, cutlery, bread, and olives sits amidst lush vineyard rows, with a historic Tuscan villa in the background under a serene sky, capturing the essence of a picturesque Italian countryside landscape.

Today

Still Not So Basic. What started with one truck has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of—handcrafted flavor, loyal fans, and plenty more to come.

NOW

Today

Still Not So Basic. What started with one truck has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of—handcrafted flavor, loyal fans, and plenty more to come.

NOW

Today

Still Not So Basic. What started with one truck has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of—handcrafted flavor, loyal fans, and plenty more to come.

Meet Our Founder

Stephanie Swanz

Man in apron stands in rustic kitchen, hands dusted with flour.

After graduating from the University of Florida, Stephanie began a career in the hospitality industry which turned into a marketing career in country music. As a way to bring acts together, Stephanie would prepare empanadas for shows. One day, a friend called out "Hey Empamama" and the next day she secured the social accounts for the brand knowing that one day she would make something of the Empamamas' brand.

In August 2015, she quit her job and moved back home to Tampa where she began to put a plan together for Empamamas. What started as a Food Truck dedicated to 'Not So Basic, American Made Empanadas' quickly grew into a permanent location at the newly desired, Armature Works Food Hall. Empamamas prides itself on their signature, award winning empanada, the Tampa Girl which has won over 5 awards in the past year alone. Stephanie looks forward to continuing to grow her brand and expand on a National level in retail as well as in distribution.