Dominican restaurant with 3 tasty empanada options is now open in east Charlotte

The dish wasn’t what I expected to try at the two-week-old Latin American restaurant, but it’s a family recipe, Ami tells me. It’s darn good, too.

The big picture: The counter-serve restaurant is family-run through-and-through with a focus on cuisine from the family’s native Dominican Republic.

• The name, AmiMya, is based on the names of owners Jose and Andris Dominguez’s two daughters, Ami and Mya.
• Andris is the brains behind the menu, serving the dishes her friends and family have raved about over church dinners for years.
• Ami, meanwhile, was manning the phones and the counter on the day I visited.

The menu: The menu has Dominican and Mexican influences, including dishes like burritos, burrito bowls, tacos and empanadas.

• Protein options include chicken ($7.95), steak ($8.95), stew beef ($9.50) and veggie ($7.95). Go with stew beef.
• Empanada options include chicken (the most popular), carne (my favorite) and cheese (Ami’s favorite). You should order all three. They range in price from $2.50-$2.90 each.

Drinks: You have to try the pineapple-milk ($6.95), which is a mixture of milk and pineapple juice with whipped cream on top. It’s not quite a milkshake because there’s ice at the bottom, but it’s a close cousin.

• The other specialty drink option is called “Chocomya” ($6.95), which is a hot chocolate-like drink that can also be served cold.
• There’s also fountain soda, sweet tea and lemonade.

Location: AmiMya is located in the new-construction Oakhurst Commons shopping center next to Anytime Fitness and across the parking lot from Swirl Cupcakes. The exact address is 1610 Oakhurst Commons Dr.

Hours: The restaurant is open 11am-8pm every day except Sunday.