From Argentina to Bondi: Meet Pedro, Argentum's Founder

Pedro is the founder of Argentum Empanadas, a small empanada kitchen based in Bondi Beach, Sydney. He grew up with empanadas in Argentina, learning the recipes from his family, and moved to Australia carrying those flavours with him. Argentum is his way of bringing the empanadas he ate at home into Sydney kitchens, offices, and parties.

Some food memories stay with you forever.

For Pedro, it was Sunday afternoons in Argentina. His grandmother at the stove, crimping empanadas by hand. The smell of beef, onion, and cumin filling the kitchen. The sound of family gathering around the table.

That's where Argentum started. Not in a business plan. In a memory.

The empanada that travelled

Empanadas have always been travellers. From Spain to Latin America, across borders and oceans, adapting to new places while keeping their soul intact.

Pedro's journey followed the same path. From Argentina to Australia. From family recipes to a Sydney kitchen. From tradition to something new.

But the question was always the same: how do you bring something authentic to a place that's never really tasted it before?

Why frozen, why Sydney

Australia has one of the most adventurous food cultures in the world. Sydneysiders don't just accept new flavours, they demand them.

But empanadas weren't showing up in the right way. Too heavy. Too greasy. Too far from what they should be.

Pedro knew empanadas could be better. Lighter. Balanced. Made with care, not shortcuts.

Freezing wasn't a compromise. It was the solution. Customers receive empanadas frozen and bake them at home in under 25 minutes. No preservatives, no waste, and empanadas that taste as good as the day Pedro made them, whether you eat them tonight or next month.

It meant quality you could trust, delivered to your door, ready when you needed it.

From the family kitchen to yours

Argentum empanadas are made the way Pedro's family made them. Folded by hand with the traditional repulgue crimp. Real ingredients. Respect for the process.

But they're designed for modern life. For beach picnics in Bondi. For dinner parties in Surry Hills. For office lunches in the CBD that don't taste like an afterthought.

They're for people who want something real, but don't have time to make it from scratch.

The five flavours Pedro shaped

Argentum's range is intentionally small. Five flavours, each one earned its place on the menu. Pedro tested every recipe in the Bondi Beach kitchen before it went out the door.

• Carnivore. Slow-cooked beef with onion, paprika, and the classic Argentinian spice profile. The benchmark flavour.
• The Athlete. High-protein chicken with green olives and herbs. A lighter option people order on repeat.
• The Classic. Ham and cheese, the empanada Argentinian kids grow up with.
• Patagonia. Slow-braised lamb, inspired by the south of Argentina.
• Habibi Yalla. Pedro's Middle Eastern-inflected empanada. Spiced lamb, a nod to Sydney's food culture.

See the full range on the Our Empanadas page.

What Argentum means

Argentum is the Latin word for silver. It's where Argentina gets its name, from the silver rivers that Spanish explorers once sought.

For us, it represents something valuable. Something worth seeking out. Something that doesn't cut corners.

It's empanadas made the right way, for people who care about what they eat.

Why this matters in Sydney

Sydney is a city built by people who travelled. Who brought their food, their stories, their traditions, and made them part of something new.

Empanadas belong here. Not as a novelty. As part of the fabric.

Just like tacos found their place. Just like banh mi became a lunch staple. Empanadas are the next chapter in Sydney's food story. Read more about Argentinian food in Sydney and where to find the best empanadas in the city.

And we're here to write it properly.

What's next

We're still a small operation. Still making empanadas in Bondi Beach. Still obsessing over the details.

But we're growing. New partnerships. New ways to bring empanadas to more people across Sydney, from frozen delivery to catering and market pop-ups.

Because this isn't just about selling food. It's about sharing something that matters. Something that connects Argentina to Bondi. Tradition to innovation. Family to community.

One empanada at a time.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Argentum Empanadas?

Pedro founded Argentum Empanadas. He grew up with empanadas in Argentina, learned the recipes from his family, and built Argentum in Bondi Beach to bring those flavours to Sydney.

Where is Argentum Empanadas based?

Argentum is based in Bondi Beach, Sydney. All five flavours are folded by hand in a commercial kitchen in Bondi Beach, then delivered frozen across Sydney.

What is Argentum Empanadas?

Argentum is a Sydney empanada kitchen specialising in Argentinian-style empanadas. The model is frozen delivery (customers bake at home in under 25 minutes), with catering and market pop-ups alongside.

How did Argentum start?

Argentum started from Pedro's memory of empanadas at home in Argentina, his grandmother folding them in the family kitchen on Sundays. He moved to Sydney, saw a gap in how empanadas were being made locally, and opened the Bondi Beach kitchen to do them properly.

Why empanadas?

Empanadas were the food Pedro grew up eating. They are also one of the few iconic Argentinian dishes that hadn't been done well in Sydney. Pedro wanted to fix that with real ingredients, traditional folding, and the right recipes.

What flavours does Argentum make?

Five flavours: Carnivore (beef), The Athlete (chicken with green olives), The Classic (ham and cheese), Patagonia (lamb), and Habibi Yalla (Middle Eastern spiced lamb). Vegan and Halal options are available for catering on request.

Where is Pedro from?

Pedro is from Argentina. He moved to Australia and founded Argentum in Bondi Beach, bringing his family's empanada recipes with him.

What does the name Argentum mean?

Argentum is the Latin word for silver. It's the root of the name Argentina, from the silver rivers Spanish explorers once sought. For Pedro, it represents something valuable, something worth seeking out.

Perfect for any occasion: Catering | Corporate Events | Birthday Parties | Boat Parties | Picnics & Outdoor Events