our story
A Kitchen Tradition, Passed Down with Love
Mama Empanada was born from something deeply personal. Juana Dias, our founder, grew up watching her Puerto Rican father fill the kitchen with the warm, savory aroma of freshly made empanadas. Everything she knows about the craft — the dough, the seasoning, the soul of it — came from him.
When she married her husband, a Jamaican-American with his own rich culinary heritage, something unexpected happened: two cultures found each other in the kitchen. Caribbean spices met Puerto Rican technique, and a new tradition was born.
Today, Mama Empanada is the story of a family passing on what matters most — great food, cultural pride, and the belief that a single bite can carry a whole history.
A Modern Twist
Traditional methods, contemporary flavors. Every empanada honors where it came from while being made for right now.
Jamaican Influence
Caribbean spices and flavor profiles from her husband's heritage give our Premium selections their distinctive, unforgettable character.
Puerto Rican Roots
Every recipe begins with the technique Juana's father taught her — authentic, time-honored, and made entirely from scratch.
The Team
The People Behind The Food
Juana Dias
The heart of Mama Empanada. Juana developed every recipe from the ground up, drawing from the culinary tradition her Puerto Rican father passed down to her. She leads the kitchen, drives the vision, and is the face of everything the brand stands for.
Shawn Dias
Shawn manages the day-to-day operations and leads all corporate client relationships. His Jamaican heritage directly influences the flavors that set Mama Empanada apart. He is your primary point of contact for all catering inquiries.