Pupusas Express- Salvadorean Food (El Cajon)

mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog, welcomes you back for another exciting post.  Cathy is writing today; Kirk is preoccupied.

I've written about this tiny East County restaurant in 2009 and again in 2010, with the most recent post in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 shutdowns began. The name has changed, prices have increased, it's been painted inside.  There are new menu boards. 
 Otherwise, the same comfort foods, quality and flavors abound.  The traditional Salvadorean 'fruit salad' beverage (large, $3.50) is available right there on the counter with the other aqua frescas.  Finely diced red and green apples, pineapple, mango (or was it cantaloupe?) mixed with orange, lemon (or lime) juice; basically a mix of sweet and sour fruits and some water. Not too sweet, very refreshing.
 
 Two pupusas, made fresh when ordered (you can hear the dough being slapped in the kitchen).  One is cheese and chicharron and the other loroco and cheese ($3.85 each).  The thick griddle cake is stuffed with a cheese that ends up being gooey and tasty with whichever other filling you choose. The salty chicharron is very good, as is the flowering vine of loroco (you can buy loroco fresh or frozen or pickled at any Mexican Market; it has a unique flavor and slight aroma of 'green').  The curtido (a cabbage and carrot relish made with vinegar and sugar) is a perfect compliment to the almost sweet corn cake pupusas.   
 The menu on the wall is always a good place to select another dish. Pictures!


 The chicken soup ($12.99) arrives 'disassembled', as you can see.   The broth is rich, filled with zucchini and potato and herbs.  The freshly fried chicken leg has a bit of delightful skin attached.  Rice is eventually needed in the soup, but I opted for the hand made corn tortillas ($1.50) and tore those into the broth at first.  The tortillas were different than the pupusas, which were lighter (a different type of corn flour).  The refreshing salad completed the meal. 

Again, another local restaurant that survived the pandemic!

Pupusas Express 1207 East Main Street El Cajon 92021 (619) 447-2501 Mon-Sat 10-7, Sun 10-3
 

Comments

[kat]

what a great variety of food!

[Cathy]

There are still 'taco shop' foods on the menu, Kat. IT's all quality and unpretentious.

[Phuong]

This one near K Sandwiches also opened up recently!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/cuscatl%C3%A1n-san-diego-san-diego?osq=hot+and+new+restaurants

[Cathy]

Pupusas Express seems to like being in its small shop in El Cajon as well as some Farmers Markets, but it's not expanding, Phuong; (doesn't even have a website). There is a Custcatlan Comida Salvadorean in Escondido (and it's very good, too): https://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2015/05/cuscatlan-salvadorian-cuisine-escondido.html Thanks for the information. This Cuscatlan web page has the same "what people are saying" as well as pizza on the menu; same as the Escondido location; now I must do some 'research.

[caninecologne]

I first heard of pupusas in one of Kirk's old posts from way back when (sometime in 2007?). It's nice to see that they are found more easily nowadays..even at local farmers markets. I always get the revuelta which is like a combo of the different offerings. Loroco with cheese is also a fave of mine. This is now on my 'must visit' list!

[Cathy]

You'll like it, cc! Made to order and friendly people.