Non-chain empanadas at PVD, right in the Main terminal
In the Main terminal at Rhode Island T. F. Green (PVD), Half Moon Empanadas is one of the few stops that isn’t a national brand and focuses almost entirely on handheld empanadas. It runs on the usual airport schedule, opening early alongside the morning departures and staying open into the evening bank of flights, so you can grab something warm before a 6 a.m. hop or a 7 p.m. return.
Figure on mid-tier airport pricing: a couple of empanadas lands in the $10–$15 range, so not cheap, but one Google reviewer notes it still undercuts sitting at a bar for a full meal. The format is counter service with pre-made pastries that get reheated, which keeps the line moving fast even when three or four people are ahead of you.
Order the beef or chicken empanadas first; multiple reviews call those the reliable options, with crisp, flaky dough and filling that actually has some seasoning. Several vegetarian eaters flag the meat-free versions as bland by comparison, so treat those as backup only if you see them fresh in the case. Portions run small, closer to a snack than a full plate.
What regulars do: they buy 2–3 empanadas and call that a meal, often grabbing a small box to take to the gate or onto a 90-minute flight. That lines up with a Google review praising them as “hot and flaky and perfect to take on the plane,” especially if you don’t want a messy tray-table situation at 30,000 feet.
Watch out for late-day stock issues: several travelers report showing up after 7 p.m. and finding only one or two fillings left. Others mention that some pieces feel “small for the price” with more dough than filling. Tip: if you see a fresh batch come out while you’re nearby Gate-side, jump in then and pick beef or chicken before the options thin out.