Bolivian Llama Party

The best!!!

Bomb! The lady at the register was super sweet and tried explaining & navigating the menu for me. There’s just no really good way to describe all the flavors involved in the Salteñas & Cholitas. You MUST try them. I had the triple pork cholita & a beef salteña. They were out of the pork salteña, which says how good they are! I now want those daily and will go there tomorrow. The salteña was a simpler flavor. Tasted like a calzone made from sweet potato, filled with beef in sauce and a potato wedge. Came with a side of green salsa of sorts. The cholita was much more complex, having pulled pork, bacon, cracklins, pickles, carrots, red onion, and a sauce, on a slider type sweet bun that reminded me of hawaiin rolls. So gooood!

First, for lack of better words, but sums up my feelings perfectly– This place is AWESOME! Now I know where to go for tasty salteñas, and probably the only place that serves salteñas in New York City. I discovered Bolivian Llama Party during a week long street food market near Bryant Park and I’m glad to see they’ve finally opened up a permanent location in Manhattan. Being of Bolivian descent, my family is always looking for good Bolivian eateries and a place that serves salteñas which is harder than you think. Luckily, this place comes around and now we are in our glory!
Plus they have a delicious veggie salteña so I don’t have to miss out since I’m vegetarian.
Love this place and I hope more people discover it to embrace this lovely place as well!

I am Loving The Bolivian Saltenas coming out of this place and as matter of fact let me just knock the ball on out the park and say this is hands down one of the best eateries that Turn Style currently has featued here.
Salteñas are savory pastries filled with beef, pork or chicken mixed in a sweet, slightly spicy sauce and contains a surprise egg inside. The outside of the pastry and inside of the pastry shell is slightly thick and tastes like it’s made from Sweet Yam’s. Ohhh Baby this here is just perfect; its got a little of everything going on all at the same time and pings off my sensory tastebuds for the little bit of sweet when I bite into it and the savory gravy and meat that comes oozing out, It’s just sick, I dump the green sauce inside of it every freaking bite I take because I like it Spicy. Awesome Food on the Go and priced right ! Your going to love these, I promise.
I have yet to get any of the sandiwches they feature here because I’m too busy loving the Saltena’s but I’m getting to it, I just feel the Saltena’s alone deserve an honorable mention right now, so bam there you have it, Go get one.
The juice’s are homemade and tastes very good, light and perfectly sweet too!
They’ve got a great team working here as the Customer Service is a happy bunch at this place and they share this energy with you, even better!
I’m Loving It, one of the better choices for stopping in and shopping at the New Underground Turn Style Station!

The pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches are insane. My daughter was pretty horribly behaved all day, and eating those sandwiches make it impossible to say that I had a bad day. So so so good.

Salteñas finally arrived to Manhattan. I stumbled into this place as I was running into the subway. Something familiar smelled good around the many food stands inside the Columbus circle station, I wasn’t sure where, so I went stand by stand trying to figure out until I saw the sign bolivia llama and immediately started to look for salteñas and sure enough, there they were.
I had a beef and a chicken one and were excellent, the dough sweet as it supposed to be and the filling juicy and full of flavor. Now for those of you have not had a salteña before, it is a type of empanada, baked and full of juice, best description is imagine having a slow cooked stew, inside of slightly sweet dough but with all the soup of the stew.
Both ladies were excellent with the service (including the barquisimetana)
So hope you all enjoy and this place sticks around so we can have our salteñas in Manhattan.

Ok, this place is awesome!
I got the pulled pork sandwich and it was delicious. Absolutely must try it!
I also got a few of the saltenas (don’t call them empanadas!) and they were pretty great — just a tad watery for my preference. Overall, really good though!
P.S — Who doesn’t LOVE the name?

I forgot what the name of my meal was. But it was a pork slider with great toppings. I’m really glad I finally stopped at the Bolivian Llama Party and certainly will be back!

I went with the Triple Pork sandwich, which comes with a medium sized roll piled with herb covered pork, smokey bacon, pickled vegetables, and a bit of tomato and cheese. The sandwich was reasonably filling with a great combination of different kinds of pork (fatty, smokey, pulled, etc.), and pickled vegetables.
The main knock for this sandwich is its price at $ 12. Comparable would be Num Pang with their pork sandwich at $ 8.50.

Y’all, the hype is for real. I’ve seen Bolivian Llama Party at Smorgasburg many times, but never actually got in the usually long line to get one. I didn’t even know what they specialized in — which happen to be these amazing things called Saltenas — a «savory & sweet amaretto flavored pastry encasing a juicy stew of beef, chicken, and quinoa. served with our housemade cheese and hot sauces».
Now, they have a brick and mortar store down in the Turnstyle at the Columbus Circle subway station — extremely dangerous since this is my home subway. Service was great — there was no line during a rainy Sunday lunchtime and the two guys working there were really nice — they even told me the proper way to eat their saltenas — a «Bolivian soup dumpling» as they called it. Yes, it looks like an empanada, but no it is absolutely NOT an empanada. It’s 23 894 729 times more delicious, if I’ll be real.
I got the beef saltena. Not knowing what to expect, I dragged the treasure back to my apartment and ate it vertically, as they had instructed me to do. The first few bites had no meat since it was tilted towards the bottom, but even then I could tell I was going to love the sweet and savory mix. The outer shell tastes kind of like cornbread — sweet, but not too sweet. Then, you get into the «gut» of the saltena — an ooey gooey beef stew-​like filling which makes your eyes roll backwards. Then, you get to the surprise — an egg! At $ 6, its definitely not the cheapest snack, but a couple of these bad boys and you could call it a splurgy lunch.
I will 100% be back for these things and maybe even try the other fillings as well. Delicious! Also — get the hot sauce — it’s not too much kick but it adds a nice flavor.

WOW!!! I just finished my first two saltenas, 1 beef, 1 chicken, and they are awesome. You know the food is great when you’re typing your review while your desk is still covered in sauce from the meal!
This is one of the new eateries that just opened at Turnstyle — the underground shopping and eating space beneath Columbus Circle. First the place smelled like the food would be good and I loved the funky street style, music playing and look of the place. They have take the look and feel of a street vendor and incorporated it into their overall design very nicely. The staff was super friendly and looked like they have a real passion for the food they are selling and it comes through in the quality of the food.
As others have stated saltenas are not empanadas they just have a similar look. The trick to eating them is to hold them upright, nibble the top corner and work your way down without spilling any of the hot juices to which I say Good Luck! Be warned these things are squirters! In addition to the tender meat and the juicy goodness you will also find a surprise inside — hard boiled egg! Totally caught me off guard but added such a nice taste and contrast. The outside of the saltenas is also much different as a little sugar is added to the flour to give a nice hint of sweetness to the pastry. This is all complimented by an incredible green hot sauce which I highly recommend adding a few drops to each bite!
I’ll add more as I will be back to try the rest of their menu!

And they are back!!! No longer at Smorgasburg and now in a permanent space at Turnstyle. I’ve been waiting for this all year. So excited I can now satisfy my salteña cravings all year round.
When I came on the 3^rd day of opening, they had the second longest line among all the vendors. The line was pretty manageable though. I got my two favorites: the Cliza (smoked oyster mushrooms, quinoa) and the Chimba (chicken). The salteña were as hefty as before and brimming with the saucy fillings. Best part is still the hard boiled egg. I couldn’t wait any longer to eat these so instead of taking them back, I found a little table at Turnstyle and demolished them in 5 min. I probably looked super messy and embarrassing in my haste, but it was a blissful moment. A few people even came over to ask where I got the salteña from. They look that good.
I came back two days later and got the Beni (beef). Previously, when they were at Smorgasburg, my favorites in order were the mushroom, chicken, and then beef. I think the beef is my new favorite one now.
I also tried to get the Toco (pork belly, smoked ham hock, pork shoulder) on Saturday, but that day they only had the Beni (beef) and the Chimba (chicken). They said since weekends are slow for them they made less variety, but will have all the varieties again on Monday. I guess I’ll just have to come back on Monday then.

The turnstyle location has just opened. Tried the triple pork sandwich was really good. Will definitely be back to try the brisket and the saltinas!

I must admit that I have never eaten Bolivian food before so today is for sure a record day for me. Was about to order the Saltenas (baked empanadas) however they were all sold out. Not really in a mood for sandwich, I grabbed the quinoa salad. Must say the crimini mushroom and dried cherries taste really great with the panka vinegar dressing. Kale seems to be charred so was also very flavorful. Now it made me wanna try their main dish even more!
Apparently there will be more pop-​ups opening up in the foreseeable future (e.g. Urbanspace at Vanderbilt), and I’m looking forward to more food options (and higher inventories)!

I f’n love these guys, absolutely expertly crafted meals, The sodas are must have, maracuya is a personal favorite. Support good food and always party on with these cool lamas.

I got the vegetarian saltena. It was way too soupy. I would recommend a different kind of filling.

The Bolivian Llama Party (stylized as LLAMA Party in person, perhaps to emphasize how you should feel after eating it) was tucked into a corner of the Brooklyn Shuffleboard Club. While waiting hours for our lane to open, my party of 12 or so decided to line our stomachs with some high carb fare ahead of a night of drinking.
Let’s start with the fries — the fries were damp, cold and clearly past their serve-​by time. There was some nice seasoning on time, but frankly there was no saving this turd. A couple members of our party had to wait about 10 minutes and were given fresher fries, but no one should be given what we were given.
The chola was much better. A gutbomb of multiple kinds of pork, cheese, onions and chiles, I imagine it as the perfect solution to staying energized at the high Bolivian altitudes. It also is O.K. to be served at different temperatures, which is key when dealing with the random crowds and demands of the shuffleboard life.
I hope the forthcoming Kickstarter and reopening will allow for better food across the board, because this is a solid idea.

These folks catered a holiday event and it was easily some of the best food I’d ever tasted. Everything is delicious– not one bad dish. Highly recommended.

Had my company holiday party at Royal Palms Shuffleboard last night. It was the monthly rotation of food and fortunately we were there to experience the Bolivian Llama Party. Wasn’t sure what to expect as I have several vegetarians and picky eaters among the group. The food was fantastic and the service equally as excellent! The Saltenas were outstanding, the pork sliders were one of my faves, the nachos w/​truffle aioli and kale salad were also huge hits! I highly recommend you find one in a location near you… you don’t want to miss out!
Thank you Alex for a great experience! My co-​workers are still talking about the food!

This place is incredible and the beef brisket sandwich melted in my mouth. I ordered it with medium heat and that was perfect (I don’t do «hot»). Only reason I went with 4 stars was because it was tough to find given the Unilocal location and there’s no dining area. I’ll Definatly be back soon! Great crispy French fries too.

Location: I normally do not have time to chase after a food truck. Thanks to Broadway Bite, I have the chance to take a look, enjoy a bite, and embrace the Nov.
Food: I had vegeterian Saltena. It is amazing, delicious and adventurious. I love the moisture, juciness of the juice coming from saltena. It is sweet, but not much, balanced with mushrooms, half boiled egg, and so on. When I asked if they have any sauces, they gave me their fantastic spicy sauces. OMG, best moderate spice combing with the juice, it is just a bless to have saltena for a late night bite.
Price&service: not much a service thing, but vegeterian saltena is 6 dollars. I think it’s pretty fair since I am pretty full after eating the saltena.
Overall: the best food among Broadway Bite. And yes, 5 stars! I will try something else if I do have time to chase this food truck!

Ordered fries today at the location over at Broadway Bites on 34^th street. At first glance they looked really good, however, upon tasting I realized they were soggy and wet. It wasn’t like they served me full on watery fries, but they were a little soggy and it was to the point where I couldn’t even finish them because I couldn’t stand it. They weren’t warm either, it was as if they were there all day (I arrived there around 1pm) and they dipped them in water and handed them to me. It was very disappointing. The green dipping sauce was pretty good though, but, it was the only positive part about this experience. I might go back again, maybe in the morning when they fresh.

Had the beef and pork sliders. Smells and tasted good for street vendor at urban space 3 4^th st. The pork slider was so juicy and the flavors lasted for hours in your mouth! Had to buy 3 more for family but it did not taste that good after hours. Great combination with pickles onion cheese & bacon.
Very friendly cashier and cook.
Overall: 2.8

The best thing at smorgasburg, don’t waste your time getting sweaty at other stands, come early and leave happy. We had the beef saltena (I called it an empanada and they looked at me weird, heck it looks like an empanada come on), It was amazing, like a Jamaican beef patty that got less dry and more flavorful while fattening up.

Oh my! Stumbled upon Smorgasburg on a hot and humid Sunday as I was sightseeing Brooklyn. Took a quick look at Unilocal and ended up at the Bolivian Llama Party stand with a craving for this thing they call the triple pork sandwich de chola that includes braised pork shoulder, pork belly cracklin, and home cured bacon.
I got the slider and it came out looking mostly like a pulled pork sammy but oh my porky baby jesus, I took one bite and was in heaven. Perfectly seasoned, juicy, greasy in a good way and just perfect, it was down the hatch in under 30 seconds.
If you are at Smorgasburg, don’t miss this treat, it is too good to miss!

The Maracuya Lemonade was Love at first sip. This place came highly recommended from a friend who is a chef and I trust his judgment.
If someone told me it was possible to pack that much flavor in a sandwich I would not believe. I am converted today. The sautéed pork is fresh and the pickled carrot, bacon and cheese is a beautiful marriage. You should attend.
I was not disappointed.

Tried a tasty sandwich from this great-​named spot at the short-​lived BK Night Bazaar.

«Wow, okay, did not expect that.»
My exact words when I bit into my triple pork sandwich de chola. Since it was my first stop at Sunday’s Smorgasburg, I did not expect to fall in love so fast — I mean, I just got here! I can say with 100% confidence that Bolivian Llama Party ruined my Smorgasburg experience because I just kept comparing the other food stands to this one. Not much else could really compare to their papitas with quilquina cilantro sauce, hibiscus lemonade soda and of course, sandwiches. These three things set me back $ 18, but I loved it too much to notice my wallet getting lighter.
Line was pretty long, but as reviewers had mentioned, it moved fast. I kept hopping on line for seconds and thirds, and at one point one of the chefs had recognized me and threw in a free rose lemonade soda on the house. The awesome vibes (they also have some side seating for 3 around their booth!) and chill music (old skool hip hop and KRS One) makes Bolivian Llama Party the highlight of my Smorgasburg experience.

The saltenas are amazing!!! They remind me of empanadas except the crust is sweeter and more crumbly. They quite hefty and filled with a delicious stew type filling. The chicken one was somewhat sweeter than the beef. Best part was the hard boiled egg in each saltena. Make sure you add hot sauce. It pairs nicely and it’ll cut some of that sweetness. Wish I got to try the mushroom one too, but they were all sold out. They have less of a line than the other stands, so try these before they get too popular. Each one is $ 6. Expensive, but in my opinion, still better than anything else you can get at Smorgasburg.
Warning: Eat w/​a fork or use a napkin. The sauce will spill out after a bite.

I’m not a soda drinker. I don’t like bubbles in my mouth unless they’re alcoholic and accompanied by someone saying, «Congratulations!» But I love the sodas here. The Maracuya Lemonade Soda is so tart and refreshing on a smoldering, NY summer day, and the Mango Maracuya Soda is its sweet, equally refreshing counterpart.

Delicious saltenas! I had the beef saltena which looks like a giant empanda but doughier. Inside was stuffed with beef packed with flavor and was so juicy! not to mention there was a boiled egg inside! it tasted sweet but with the hot sauce on the side it was perfect! The beef brisket sandwich was also delicious. There was a crunch to it and im not quite sure what it was but I loved everything about it.

I visited their booth at Smorgasburg and had to get both the triple pork and Bolivian brisket. The brisket is my favorite of these two. As I bit into it I had an internal struggle of just letting the flavor sit on my tongue or to continue eating. The flavor was so subtle and complex as is expected when you use 10 spices.
The guys there are a fun bunch and bring energy to the Smorgasburg. It’s a complete package with great good, and people who love crafting unique twists to street food.

Unfortunately for me there was no non-​beef/​pork option for their sandwiches.
Fortunately for me, that meant I had to go with a chicken salteña. At $ 6 a pop, you may think that’s a bit much for something resembling an empanada, but folks let me tell you there is way more to this than any old empanada.
First off all, the salteña is much heftier than it looks and that’s because it’s filled with a delicious flavorful stew, the juices of which will certainly be dribbling down your chin as you eat this thing. FYI, they do put a bit of hard boiled egg in the stew as well!
In addition, the outside «shell» is quite different from that of an empanada — it’s baked and way thicker with a doughier consistency. I actually kinda wished it wasn’t so thick or that there was more stew inside so that I could get a better filling to dough ratio, but at least it allowed the salteña to hold up really well.
I was also surprised to note the sweetness in the dough, but it went well with the spicy sauce and crumbled cheese they give you in tiny cups. Make sure to drizzle a bit of each on top of the salteña before each bite!
To wash it all down, I got a homemade rose petal soda, which had a good pronounced rose flavor but was lacking depth — it basically tasted as if it was only rose syrup mixed with seltzer. $ 4 for a small and $ 6 for a large.
Overall, this place is definitely worth a try!

Add some Bolivian sun, some heat, and whole lot of smile and you get this place. This place is without words a place where you can have mouth watering food with a side of great customer service.
I was here in smorgburgs, where they tret me like a king. Suggesting food based on my tastebuds. They have saltenas, which fire your taste buds with sweet and spicy kick and to finish it off work a coming rose lemonade. Definitely a place to go at least once.

My cousins and I decided to come to Smorgasburg to try out some foods. I’ve been to Bolivian Llama Party two years in a roll and they have never disappointed! We tried the chicken and beef saltena and each were full of flavors. I highly recommend tasting their Mango Maracuya and Maracuya-​lemonade soda! Would love to come back again for the third time next year!
Ramen Burger vs Bolivian — Bolivian all the way! You have my full support!