Happened to stop in after an appointment nearby. Incredible food, warm, hospitable service and the atmosphere was everything you could hope for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas, Fried Plantains
Donovan Kelley
I traveled 40 minutes because I was craving pupusas and I was not disappointed! Not only was the food incredible, Sylvia is such a kind hearted, sweet and amazing person. Do yourself a favor and stop in here, get a few pupusas and the horchata drink. It truly tastes like I’m back in El Salvador and I couldn’t be more satisfied.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frederick Ortiz
Came here on a quick lunch break for the first time and was welcomed walking into the front door. Service was amazing and served with a beautiful smile. Will definitely go back soon.
Som Phene
A gem from El Salvador. Pilar's Tamales is where eating food is equivalent to receiving the caring love of a mother's heart that gets poured into the recipe and in the surrounding air. We had the best conversation about her life since El Salvador while enriching ourselves with pure healthy ingredients. With a sense of building community through serving food, this establishment has restored faith in human values. In vegetarian options, the suggestion was to have Jalapeno and Cheese Tamale, with Pupusa and Tamarind (which is home peeled) drink. My friend had the special Turkey and beef options. It was served efficiently with magnificent presentation and warm with all the cultural heritage that was preserved over lifetimes. We even exchanged ways of eating food and left with a renewed spirit just right to start the New Year. Being a small, cozy place the only disadvantage is that we cannot bring all our friends there together.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristi Hicks
The owner is warm and welcoming and the food was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas, Fried Plantains
M A
We just stopped in because we love Tamales after seeing the sign. We are from Ohio and we will drive just to get tamales. The best we have ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Missy Andrews
We just stopped in because we love Tamales after seeing the sign. We are from Ohio and we will drive just to get tamales. The best we have ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alice C.
Kind and compassionate people, quick service and wonderful food! Pilar's Tamales use of high quality and locally sourced ingredients set this family owned establishment apart from other Central American spots in Ann Arbor. I suggest grabbing and watermelon agua fresca and una papusa con frijoles y queso -- a comfort food of mine that, having moved from Texas two years ago, I have desperately longed for. You won't regret it! Though I am not accustomed to El Salvadorian food, their tamales hit the spot and were far from dry. I can't wait to try other items on their menu. Thank you :) Hopefully y'all will do another pop-up at Argus soon!
Michael Evancoe
Excellent. Incredible flavor and quality. The best tamales I have ever had in my world travel.
Danielle R.
The folks at Pilar's are SOOO helpful and the food is delicious! I have some unusual food allergies and they were so patient and accommodating. It's such a treat to be able to eat out without worrying. We had a variety of the tamales and pupusas and cannot recommend them enough!Vegetarian options: Lots of great vegetarian options!Dietary restrictions: They were super accommodating!!
I went here with a friend and it was phone orders/takeout only, although they had a little space to sit outside (perfect for us). Not the best view, but it's quiet enough and good for chatting. The owner was super warm and friendly, telling us to let her know if we need anything else and grabbing our trash after we were done.The pupusa I got was hot and fresh, had a crunchy exterior, and delicious blend of pork, bean, cheese filling inside.The chicken & cheese tamal was made with masa that was so soft, it cut like butter. The chicken and cheese filling was fresh and well proportioned. Pilar's salsa went very well with both the pupusa and tamales: its consistency was like marinara sauce, not spicy, and didn't have cilantro like a lot of Mexican salsas (cilantro tastes like soap to me).The horchata I got was outstanding: it had a lot of complexity with different spices. It was refreshing and delicious.The curtido (cabbage slaw) that came with my meal was okay, but not my favorite. It was pretty tart with the apple cider vinegar, but that did help cut through the heaviness of the other food items. I'm not a fan of raw onions.This is a fantastic local restaurant that I highly recommend!
Rosee
The folks at Pilar's are SOOO helpful and the food is delicious! I have some unusual food allergies and they were so patient and accommodating. It's such a treat to be able to eat out without worrying. We had a variety of the tamales and pupusas and cannot recommend them enough!Vegetarian options: Lots of great vegetarian options!Dietary restrictions: They were super accommodating!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas
J. Yun
All of the food and drinks here are delicious, and the owners are the loveliest, most community oriented people you can hope to meet. I’ll support this business for as long as I’m in Ann Arbor.
Jordan Wean
Really good food and ridiculously nice staff and owner. We really enjoyed eating here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas
Jacqueline Isaac
Delicious tamales! I also really enjoyed the slaw and salsa served with them. Several flavors to try from and the woman working there was so nice. The storefront was closed when we went - you had to call ahead to place an order and they brought it out to you. I would go back to try more flavors.
Happened to stop in after an appointment nearby. Incredible food, warm, hospitable service and the atmosphere was everything you could hope for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas, Fried Plantains
I traveled 40 minutes because I was craving pupusas and I was not disappointed! Not only was the food incredible, Sylvia is such a kind hearted, sweet and amazing person. Do yourself a favor and stop in here, get a few pupusas and the horchata drink. It truly tastes like I’m back in El Salvador and I couldn’t be more satisfied.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here on a quick lunch break for the first time and was welcomed walking into the front door. Service was amazing and served with a beautiful smile. Will definitely go back soon.
A gem from El Salvador. Pilar's Tamales is where eating food is equivalent to receiving the caring love of a mother's heart that gets poured into the recipe and in the surrounding air. We had the best conversation about her life since El Salvador while enriching ourselves with pure healthy ingredients. With a sense of building community through serving food, this establishment has restored faith in human values. In vegetarian options, the suggestion was to have Jalapeno and Cheese Tamale, with Pupusa and Tamarind (which is home peeled) drink. My friend had the special Turkey and beef options. It was served efficiently with magnificent presentation and warm with all the cultural heritage that was preserved over lifetimes. We even exchanged ways of eating food and left with a renewed spirit just right to start the New Year. Being a small, cozy place the only disadvantage is that we cannot bring all our friends there together.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The owner is warm and welcoming and the food was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas, Fried Plantains
We just stopped in because we love Tamales after seeing the sign. We are from Ohio and we will drive just to get tamales. The best we have ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We just stopped in because we love Tamales after seeing the sign. We are from Ohio and we will drive just to get tamales. The best we have ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kind and compassionate people, quick service and wonderful food! Pilar's Tamales use of high quality and locally sourced ingredients set this family owned establishment apart from other Central American spots in Ann Arbor. I suggest grabbing and watermelon agua fresca and una papusa con frijoles y queso -- a comfort food of mine that, having moved from Texas two years ago, I have desperately longed for. You won't regret it! Though I am not accustomed to El Salvadorian food, their tamales hit the spot and were far from dry. I can't wait to try other items on their menu. Thank you :) Hopefully y'all will do another pop-up at Argus soon!
Excellent. Incredible flavor and quality. The best tamales I have ever had in my world travel.
The folks at Pilar's are SOOO helpful and the food is delicious! I have some unusual food allergies and they were so patient and accommodating. It's such a treat to be able to eat out without worrying. We had a variety of the tamales and pupusas and cannot recommend them enough!Vegetarian options: Lots of great vegetarian options!Dietary restrictions: They were super accommodating!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas
Restaurantji Recommends
I went here with a friend and it was phone orders/takeout only, although they had a little space to sit outside (perfect for us). Not the best view, but it's quiet enough and good for chatting. The owner was super warm and friendly, telling us to let her know if we need anything else and grabbing our trash after we were done.The pupusa I got was hot and fresh, had a crunchy exterior, and delicious blend of pork, bean, cheese filling inside.The chicken & cheese tamal was made with masa that was so soft, it cut like butter. The chicken and cheese filling was fresh and well proportioned. Pilar's salsa went very well with both the pupusa and tamales: its consistency was like marinara sauce, not spicy, and didn't have cilantro like a lot of Mexican salsas (cilantro tastes like soap to me).The horchata I got was outstanding: it had a lot of complexity with different spices. It was refreshing and delicious.The curtido (cabbage slaw) that came with my meal was okay, but not my favorite. It was pretty tart with the apple cider vinegar, but that did help cut through the heaviness of the other food items. I'm not a fan of raw onions.This is a fantastic local restaurant that I highly recommend!
The folks at Pilar's are SOOO helpful and the food is delicious! I have some unusual food allergies and they were so patient and accommodating. It's such a treat to be able to eat out without worrying. We had a variety of the tamales and pupusas and cannot recommend them enough!Vegetarian options: Lots of great vegetarian options!Dietary restrictions: They were super accommodating!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas
All of the food and drinks here are delicious, and the owners are the loveliest, most community oriented people you can hope to meet. I’ll support this business for as long as I’m in Ann Arbor.
Really good food and ridiculously nice staff and owner. We really enjoyed eating here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pupusas
Delicious tamales! I also really enjoyed the slaw and salsa served with them. Several flavors to try from and the woman working there was so nice. The storefront was closed when we went - you had to call ahead to place an order and they brought it out to you. I would go back to try more flavors.