History Snapshots Argentina Empanada Sign Mendez boys Basket of Empanadas

Story Behind the Mmoon

The history of the Mmoon starts with family. Two brothers came to America from Argentina in the late 1970s, settled in the Bay Area and started families. While growing up, the brothers found inspiration in experimenting with unique combinations and flavors in food. Like various cultures around the world, food and community go together. While Argentina is known for many things: great wine, top-quality beef and the passion of tango, this family’s focus has always been the empanada. The Mendez family brings with it rich traditions of enjoying good food with family and friends.

The empanada, pronounced em•puh•nah•dah, is a flaky, freshly baked turnover that can be filled with beef, chicken, vegetables and more. This concept of stuffing a pastry or dough is known across the continents. In Argentina, each of the 23 provincial regions has its own empanada and local culture associated with it.

The concept of the Mmoon originated with the creation of a college business plan in 1980 by Mike Mendez. Inspired by a multi-generational family tradition of cooking, the plan provided a simple menu with quality ingredients that would introduce a popular Argentine food to mainstream America. Today, the concept remains the same: simple quality, family recipes passed down for generations, love of new traditions and passion to provide a great quick service gourmet restaurant experience.