Salvadoran Restaurants near South San Francisco, CA

“I don’t normally give 5 star ratings but feel this place deserves it. It’s a hidden gem in downtown South San Francisco that serves authentic, unpretentious Salvadoran (and Mexican) food. The pupusas (we had the ones with pork, cheese and beans) were absolutely delicious and inexpensive. They go well with the house coleslaw and the mild chili sauce. The Salvadoran enchiladas (more like tacos) were very good as well. The best part of this restaurant is the staff, who are warm, generous, and kind. They really make you feel this is neighborhood place. We will definitely return to sample more items on the menu.

Parking: Paid street parking in front of the restaurant“

“I came to El Zocalo to get some pupusas. I got some chicharron & queso and frijol & queso. The pupusas were delicious, but a bit greasy, I really enjoyed them. The staff is very friendly, I appreciate the great customer service. When I feel like eating a pupusa, I will be back.“

“The pupusas were perfect! Just as I remember eating them as a child in the Mission. Lovely memories were brought back eating pupusas with my daughter and grandsons.“

“The food is fantastic. Wonderful service.“

“One of my favorites! Great Chile Verde! Pork SO flavorful and satisfying. Miss their Chile Colorado, wish they'd bring it back! Great home-style service, easy take out or eat in. Parking can be tough at peak times, but oh well, definitely worth the occasional inconvenience. Everything is delicious, perfect rice and beans, great chips! Highly, highly recommend!“

“Friendly, casual lunch place with good customer service and a wide variety Mexican and Salvadorean comfort foods. I appreciated that they even have a snacks menu for a quick bite. I finished my meal with a sweet stuffed empanada with a plantain shell, which I heartily recommend.

Wheelchair accessibility: This restaurant is on the ground floor and is a single level with no height deviation in the dining area.“

“steak salad, Tilapia, pupusa, beef soup, their breakfast.“

“Been eating there for many years..La Soap de Rez is my go to.(Beef soup) with one zucchini pupusa..There wasn't a crowd that evening I was there and the servers were nice and polite.The home made tortillas are super good the next day too.“

“Restaurante Familiar! Has really great, pupusas. Plus their rice and beans are. Really good as well.“

“Olivio’s is an underrated hidden gem in SF.

This is an authentic Salvadoran/Mexican spot tasty, affordable food and some beverages. It’s bare bones & and in the Tendernob area of the SF, which is a sketchy area but has some of the best food in the city. It seems most people order takeover or delivery. It doesn’t appear they offer dine-in options anymore as there’s always a sign outside saying “para llevar” aka to-go, but I’ll double check on this for accuracy .

I’m a fan of their bean & rice pupusas and complementary fermented cabbage salad called curtido. They have also yummy fried plantains. I also recommend their Salvadoran style Horchata. I look forward to try to their beef soup next time.

Their owner seems pleasant, humble, hard working and appreciative of business. If you don’t want to venture in the Tenderloin area, don’t let that stop you from trying Olivio’s, they are available for delivery on DoorDash! Highly recommended.“

“Nice place. I came here with my friend and she shared her atol de elote drink with me and I’ve never had it before and at first I was taken back because of the elote but it was so good. I loved the pupusa de revuelta and will probably order from her again.“

“We went out for lunch after proctoring exams all morning. We wanted to go to a place that served typical Honduran food. We went to this restaurant that was close to our work place. It is still nice after many years of service. The pupusas and the carne asada were delicious.“

“buena comida las pupusas una delicia“

“todo está súper riquisimo 😋“

“This place has the best pupusas around! We ordered revueltas, they were delicious, and large with alot of stuffing. Yucca con chicharron was also delicious. I have been going to the wrong place for years to get pupusas. We will be ordering from here now on.“

“Muy buena comida, y las pupusas muy ricas. Pero como una pequeña observación en mi opinión la mesa que está al final en frente del sanitario sería de mucha ayuda si ponen una pequeña división de madera o de otro material porque cada vez que entra y sale alguien del sanitario,a veces se siente mal olor , imagínate!! y estás comiendo y sintiendo ese mal olor. Cómo que se quitan las ganas de comer.“

“Good atmosphere, the waiters are friendly and welcoming, good location, lots of variety in the dishes for my 3 Star Michelin ???

Vegetarian options: In salty corn atol pupusas mix

Kid-friendliness: Pupusas fries with corn atol tomato sauce

Wheelchair accessibility: Easy entry to the premises and adequate care for the elderly“

“Best Pupusa I had in this city so far. Try the one with flower in it you won't be disappointed.

Kid-friendliness: Hey, it's a Farmers market

Parking: Parking for Alemany Farmers market

Wheelchair accessibility: It's a tent with outside sitting area“

“Another incredible restaurant in San Francisco. The Mole here is one of the best we've ever had, full stop. The portions are immense, and I can say that this is full on "home cookin'". I also want to point out how patient and gracious the staff was with our questions, and our broken spanish. Breakfast here is really a treat!“

“Casimiento, mushroom & cheese pupusa soooooooooooooooooooooooo good!“

“TLDR: huge pupusas and friendly serviceWe ordered the best burger in the mission and a zucchini pupusa. The burger seasoning was distinctly Central American with the spices but it was a little overcooked for me. The pupusa was pretty big and very flavorful and packed with ingredients. They also gave us free chips and salsa… the salsa was fuego! Service was very nice, quick and efficient“

“Well I came in about 12:40. The place was empty. I ordered pupusas revueltas and tamal salvadoreño. Today they did not have the Regia beer that I love, but Pacifico is okay. Pupusas are great with Curtido and salsa. Authentic taste is so satisfying, reminds me of grandma's cooking. Tamales were delicious and fresh. The dining room was empty but I saw people come in and order to go. I ate so fast it was soooo yummy. Oh yes I almost forgot, it's cash only!“

“We ordered pupusas, plantains and beans with cream. Very good. Flat Salvadoran flavor. The place is clean and the atmosphere is calm.
The only problem is finding parking...and it took them a little while to serve us...otherwise it would be 5 stars.

Parking: We had to park about half a kilometer away...I couldn't find anything nearby.“

“Went today for lunch and had an amazing experience… I was craving pupusas badly, ended up getting it plus another plate with chicarrón and yuca and it was fire!First time I try a salvadorian plate that blew my mind and taste.Bathroom was clean, atmosphere was great!Also attention was amazing! Very kind and always checking on you! Loved this place!Definitely coming back!“

“muybonito rica comida byena atension muy familiar muy axesible muy ermoso lugar“

“I regularly bought from these folks at the farmer’s market so imagine my excitement when they opened a restaurant. Food is fantastic, service is warm. We loved the pork, bean and cheese pupusas as well as the chicken mole. Great passion fruit agua fresca and coffee is free. Very happy to support this business.“

“I have to say the Pupusas here are the BEST I'VE TASTED!! Just the right amount of masa (not too thick) and Cheese, soooooo yummy!!!! Oh and the Rice and Beans , so flavorful !! I'll definitely be coming back!!“

“Delicious!! Also a good place to eat casually and play pool. My friend and I were visiting the area from Seattle and this was our first the trying Salvadoran food. The food was great, I would get the Indian hen soup as comfort food if I lived nearby. The owners were also really nice, we ended up staying to play pool and they let us finish even though they were closing :) definitely worth going!“

“Relaxing patio and close to accessibility to ? train and without going so far from the mission district and Valencia Street

Kid-friendliness: Plenty of space in the special patio restaurant. And inside the restaurant.

Wheelchair accessibility: First restaurant entrance table for wheelchair ? ?️“

“And the waitress really friendly!“

“Balompié is a not so hidden gem in the mission. It has apparently been in the same spot of almost 30 years and somehow this is my first time visiting them. I went here because I wanted pupusas and I was not disappointed. Their pupusas were very tasty and a lot less greasy than some of the pupusas I've had at other places... And the server, Evaline(not sure if that's how you spell it) was very friendly. I will definitely recommend this place and I will return“

“The pupusas are really good and panes con pollo chicken sandwich salvadorean style ❤️❤️💙💙“

“I love your food , but last Sunday 8-28-22 I was so disappointed we waited 45 minutes for our food, when we arrive there was only on table with Costumers , in the hall restaurant ,I don't know why we waited so long“

“I ordered the daily special which is 2 pupusas and a chicken broth and the chicken didn't taste good... It tasted like chicken reheated in the microwave.
The delicious pupusas.
I haven't tried the entire menu.
But if the pupusas are original then the rest is delicious ?

Vegetarian options: There are options

Kid-friendliness: It is a family restaurant“

“Friendly neighborhood establishment with great food. Always fresh and delicious!!!“

“Everything is really good, I love the zucchini pupusas, but there is a lady who is always mad, I think her name is Cindy, I'm not sure but she is pissed every time you reach her and also I can't believe that you have to pay for a paper cup and even if you're eating there and if you want chips salsa or a little more cabbage salad, OMG YOU HAVE TO PAY EXTRA! I'm not finding it fair since you're paying and you're consuming at the place... so why you should pay extra ?? that's sad ?“

“food is great, the wait is not all that badd. well worth the wait..“

“This restaurant is truly a hidden gem. The food here is absolutely delicious and flavorful. You must try the pupusas, empanadas, bunelos, and many other Latin dishes. The pupusas are a huge hit. The pupusas are tasty, the salsa is fresh and the curtido hits the spot. Best Latin restaurant in the Bay Area.“

“This place is always my favorite to have a hen soup with its respective grilled hen and with its tortillas fresh from the griddle. and without missing their respective beer. The very friendly waiters are always aware of something that one needs. The place is small but very nice. and Generally they sometimes close an hour earlier than expected.“

“We just had an awesome vegetarian dinner of a chile relleno super burrito, a variety of vegetarian pupusas, and the plantain empanadas for dessert. All were delicious, I'm stuffed and we have leftovers. Service was friendly, the place was clean and roomy (we ordered to go but waited at a table for about 10 minutes for the food to be ready) and the prices were cheaper than the go-to mission burrito places. Will be back!“