Popular Latin restaurant closes Daytona location for a new spot in Bunnell

A beloved Latin eatery bid farewell to its Daytona restaurant, but, luckily, its flavor-packed menu is here to stay at a brand-new location.

Melina’s Empanadas began welcoming customers to its new Bunnell location several weeks ago, after announcing on social media earlier in October that the frequented Daytona Beach restaurant would soon be moving.

The Latin-flair restaurant officially closed its doors in Volusia County in November, before opening shop in Bunnell earlier this month.

For owner and Flagler County resident Melina Sanchez, the relocation to Bunnell not only feels like a natural next step for her ever-growing business, but has long been the goal since the eatery’s initial Daytona opening in February.

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“I’ve always wanted to be here when I was first looking for a place. Daytona was the first option for me, and the demand that I was getting from the customers — you know I started very small — the demand was overwhelming. So, I needed a place,” Sanchez explained.

“So, I located to Daytona, and it upset a lot of my customers, because I have a lot of my day one customers here, you know? So that was my goal — I need to come back to where I originally started and bring those flavors back over here to everybody.”

Holding the culture close: What to expect at Melina’s Empanadas

For some, an empanada is a tasty snack, nothing more than a casual bite to be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner. For Sanchez, the traditional pastry-like dish connects her to her Puerto Rican roots — roots she holds close, boldly embraces and seeks to bring to neighbors, friends and all who walk through her restaurant’s doors.

After moving from New Jersey to the Sunshine State over a decade ago, Sanchez recalled an undeniable drought in authentic Puerto Rican cuisine — a juicy, flavor-packed variety of foods she had long been accustomed to. After frequently traveling to and from Orlando for the closest-to-authentic Latin meals she could get her hands on, Sanchez knew there was an opportunity in front of her.

Combining the use of thoughtfully crafted, years-perfected family recipes with her love for authentic, Puerto Rican cuisine and the art that is creating empanadas, Melina’s Empanadas was born.

“My family is originally form Puerto Rico. I was never born or raised there, but we hold the culture very close to us. Empanadas — they’ve always been a thing that I’ve loved, so I kind of wanted to think outside the box and bring a different variety of empanadas here,” Sanchez said.

“Where we live here, there’s really nothing in the area. So, I was like you know what? We’re going to bring that Latin flavor — but wanted to bring it with a twist. So, we have all different kinds of flavors, not just your traditional beef and chicken and things like that. Like, we have chicken alfredo, we have chicken bacon ranch, we have cheesesteaks, spinach and cheese — tons.”

Why are empanadas so delicious?

According to Sanchez, the deep-fried, golden-brown delights make for the perfect snack, meal or party platter, known for their savory, layered and complex flavor profiles, warm center and subtle crunch that leaves a lasting impression.

“An empanada is like a pastry-style dish that’s loaded with flavor. Like, you have to taste it to know. Our beef — our really authentic ones — they really stand out because they have those flavors from Puerto Rico,” Sanchez said.

“They’re hot, they’re easy, they’re mess-free, you know? It’s easy if you’re on the go and you don’t want anything heavy. It’s good for lunch, it’s even good for parties, for dinners — however you want it. It can be a snack or a meal. Two or three of them, and you’re good.”

The eatery’s unique menu of made-fresh-daily selections ranges from the hot honey chicken, spinach and cheese, and beef, cheese and sweet plantain empanadas to the popular chicken alfredo, shrimp, chicken bacon ranch and vegan empanadas. Several dessert offerings include the guava and cheese, strawberry cheesecake and caramel apple pie empanadas, while sides like onion rings, mozzarella sticks and yuca fries are also available.

The restaurant’s sought-after, flavorful selections — the beef empanada taking the top spot — are pastry-like meals made possible through Sanchez’s dedication to quality. And while Melina’s Empanadas certainly has no shortage of menu options, one thing you will never find at the local eatery is frozen food.

Why? That’s not the Puerto Rican way.

Empanada prep — a routine that takes hours each morning — is how Sanchez's scratch-made creations come to life. The young restaurateur prides herself on her use of only the freshest ingredients, as well as her own family-born recipes, culinary techniques and scratch-made sauces.

“It’s all the secret ingredients (that make the food so good). Our other (empanada) that always stands out is the chicken alfredo. That one catches people by surprise. It's chicken breast, cheese, homemade sauce, because, you know, everything — I make everything fresh,” Sanchez explained.

“Nothing is pre-packaged. It’s a full scratch kitchen, so everything on that menu is freshly prepped, freshly made. I do it all … and the empanadas are deep fried. An empanada, it’s just not the same if it’s not fried. You need that crispy crunch to it.”

Melina’s Empanadas is here to stay

Ever-growing in popularity, the quaint Bunnell restaurant invites customers new and returning to stop in and enjoy a meal at one of the eatery’s few indoor or outdoor tables — and even grab a drink next door at 1405 Saloon.

Ultimately, the frequented restaurant’s successful move to Flagler County is one Sanchez notes has been made possible through both the endless support from her loyal customers and the help of her husband, Joey.

“He’s a big backbone to this company,” Sanchez said of her husband. “He’s been my number one supporter in getting all of this up and running. He has his own landscaping out here in Palm Coast, so after hours, he comes to help me out.”

Offering dine-in, takeout and catering — with 72 hours advance notice — Melina’s Empanadas is ending the year on a high note, bringing an authentic Latin flair to the Bunnell community.

“I really take pride in my empanadas,” Sanchez said with a smile.

“I’m very confident that everyone who does try them is going to love them and enjoy them. I put a lot of love in, you know? I make sure they’re done with a lot of flavor, that they’re authentic and freshly made every single day.”

Melina’s Empanadas is located at 1403 E. Moody Blvd. in Bunnell and is open 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. For information, call 386-263-8340 or visit Facebook.com.

Helena Perray is the restaurant and dining writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be contacted at hperray@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Support local journalism by subscribing

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Melina's Empanadas closes Daytona location, but reopens in Bunnell