Malena Mackinlay and Matias Requena Mackinlay - founders

Malena Mackinlay and Matias Requena Mackinlay - founders

The extended Buena Onda family

The extended Buena Onda family

About Us

In a humble home kitchen in 2014, Buena Onda was made from scratch, just like our empanadas. After relocating to California in 2002, our family longed for traditional fresh-baked empanadas. Feeling that our culture’s cuisine was lacking representation in our new community, we decided to take matters into our own hands. With a few hundred dollars and a passionate hunger for high quality empanadas, and with the help of our close friends and family, our small dream became a gastronomic reality. Buena Onda was born. 

From the inception of our idea of bringing a taste of Argentina to the Californian palate, we have always believed in our authenticity. We stay true to a classic approach with quality ingredients, while allowing flexibility of flavors to infuse our old culture with our new.

At Buena Onda we strive to bring diversity to the table, to educate about our country, and to dispel any misconceptions that may exist about the beautiful culture that we are celebrating. 

We stay true to a classic approach with quality ingredients, while allowing flexibility of flavors to infuse our old culture with our new

The future is now for Buena Onda, as we are actualizing our goals of creating an immersive cultural experience that brings Buenos Aires to Santa Barbara.

It will be more than just delicious empanadas, we plan to provide all that Argentina has to offer, including open fire asados, traditional yerba mate, and live music.

Our influence within the community is expanding, and we are humbled and excited to introduce our culture to so many new friends, and to establish an ambience that transports you across the world. At Buena Onda, it’s good vibes all the time.