Restaurante El Salvadoreno - A Revisit

It sure feels like I've been doing this for a long time. I remember doing a post on El Salvadoreno way back in August of 2005. A few months later, the restaurant moved into its new digs right next door. And though I've driven past the place dozens of times, I never took the time out to grab a meal until recently.

Here's what the "old" El Salvadoreno looked like back in 2005.

If you think that is a big change; check out the dining area.

Wow. Here's the old 7 table El Salvadoreno, which I thought had a nice quaint charm.

Wood siding, nice tile work, it really looks like a very nice and proper restaurant. A far cry from the greasy spoon decor.

About this time I started wondering if anything else had changed....like maybe the menu? If I had any doubts, one look at the menu told me otherwise. I noticed all of the dishes I'd had before. As with the everything else, the sticky two page laminated menu, had been replaced, "now with 100% more color photos!"

Since I had my first Pupusa at El Salvadoreno, I decided to stick with that. Soon enough the hot sauce arrived.

And instead of the usual "communal tub" of Curtido, the lightly pickled cabbage slaw. A bowl of Curtido was brought to my table.

Today the Curtido was crisp and fresh, with a nice oregano aroma, though not as "pickled" as I recalled.

I had ordered a Pupusa Revuelta Con Todo (a mixed Pupusa - $2.25), a Pupusa de Chicharron($2.00), and a Pupusa de Queso and Calabaza($2.00).

The Pupusas arrived steaming hot, and the fillings were molten. The texture of the exterior of the Pupusa was even better than I remembered, slight crunchy and crusty. As you got past the crust, a slight corn-masa flavor hit you, and the "tortilla" got a bit more chewy. The Revuelta was by far my favorite, a nice contrast of flavors, with the jalapenos adding a nice surprise zip now and then. I received the Chicharron con Queso, instead of de Chicharron. It was fine, nice and gooey, but came up short in the "porkyness" territory. The de Calabaza con Queso was very blah. I wasn't paying attention. I should have ordered the Pupusa de Loroco con Queso. In this case the Calabaza was plain and simple zucchini.

3 Pupusas were perhaps, 1 too many for me. Still, you can't beat the price, a filling breakfast for under $7. I've always received very nice and friendly service at El Salvadoreno. There are those who believe the area is on the "sketchy" side. But I've never had any problems in the neighborhood. All of the old favorites, like the fried chicken and the tamales are still on the menu. I need to make an effort to revisit other places that I haven't been back to in a while.

Restaurante El Salvadoreno
2845 Imperial Ave
San Diego, CA 92102

I keep forgetting to keep some room for this:

Right across the street. Maybe next week?

Comments

[mike]

Kirk - you keep reminding me that there is such a continually changing world of food in San Diego that I have not yet experienced. I need to do more local "road-tripping" when I get back home.

[nhbilly]

I'm torn between papusas and molitas it all taste so good but is their truly a difference?

[kat]

between you and Kathy, I have to try pupusas soon!

[Eileen]

I have never had a pupusa before. The picture reminded me of those Chinese pastry cake... that's filled with either pork, leek, or some other delicious thinging. Next time I see pupusa on a menu, I'm getting it for sure!

[ed (from Yuma)]

Yeh pupusas are great. Definitely do the loroco next time - those flower buds add a nice aroma.

[Michael]

Yummy. I am actually going to a Salvadorian restuarant I found in El Cajon tomorrow to try it out.

[Kirk]

Hi Mike - Yes, San Diego has some very nice eating establishments....be it ever so humble.

Hi Billy - I've had mulitas twice...the first time they were like puffy pupusas but deep fried(!), the second time, they were basically two tortillas folded over filling. So, based on that limited info...I'd say there's a big difference.

Hi Kat - Pupusas is good eatin'.

Hi Eileen - They sorta are the same...except made with masa. There are quite a few places in LA that make them.

Hi Ed - Yeah, I didn't see it during my first pass.....the menu looked so different from the original that I was thrown off!

Hi Mike - Good luck!

[_ts of [eatingclub] vancouver]

It's funny. I recently had a dream about pupusas. In my dream, there was a big one-story warehouse-sized building that was El Salvadorean and in my dream, supposedly had really good pupusas.

I've never actually had a pupusa before!

=D

[foodhoe]

oh what a great looking breakfast, I love pupusas and that zippy pickly coleslaw...

[Kirk]

Hi TS - You're dreaming about food you've never even had? Wow.....

Hi FH - For some reason Pupusas taste especially good for breakfast.

[the food ho]

One day I was trying to figure out where we were going to eat lunch, and I believe I read your first blogpost about El Salvadoreno. We went there, loved it, and I think we have been back 2 more times!

[Kirk]

Hi TFH - I need to eat here more often....

[Rachel]

Can't wait to try it! Haven't had a pupusa since my trip to El Salvador in 2001 (a long time ago!)

My friends and I have decided we will start making weekly trips to different ethnic restaurants in SD (last night was Latin Chef). Next on our list: El Salvadoreno!

[Kirk]

Hi Rachel - I'm glad you find what we have here of some use, and hope you have a great meal! How did you enjoy Latin Chef?

[James]

Interesting article. Have to try it soon.

And speaking as one of the friends that Rachel mentioned, Latin Chef was excellent. Highly recommend the lomo saltado.

[Kirk]

Hi James - Yes, I enjoy the Lomo at Latin Chef, it's too bad that they don't do the Tiradito any longer. The Pupusas at El Salvadoreno were pretty good, though the fillings sometimes fell a bit short.