647702 Wed Aug 26 12:38:13 -0700 2009 12 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 4980118 I'm planning to go out w/ some friends for pupusas on Friday night in the City and we're still up in the air as to where to go - have been to Balompie and El Zocalo, which seem to be two of the places that come up predominately when I searched for pupusas on the board -- is there anything better? If there are other notable dishes at the restaurant, that would be helpful to know as well, but the focus is definitely on pupusas. Thanks a bunch in advance! Wed Aug 26 12:38:13 -0700 2009 22714 dickie d. 1 4980161 It's a tough call. I had some good ones recently at Balompie #3 in the Outer Mission. The pupusas here come in fancier varieties than at most other places (for example, shrimp and fish pupusas) and they also have decent beer on tap. But were they head and shoulders above the ones I've had at El Zocalo? Hard to say. The service is definitely faster, though. I've also had some good ones at Los Panchos down the block from El Zocalo. Wed Aug 26 12:46:39 -0700 2009 4980118 77441 bigwheel042 2 4981281 I finally made it to Balompie #3 last week and loved the pescaditos with fried yucca. But the pupusas I've had there and on Capp were only okay, with serviceable curtido. It is a really nice place--spotless, and friendly chefs and servers. And I agree, better than El Zocalo. The pupusas I had at Los Panchos were leaden. However the best pupusas I've ever had are at the New Spot on 20th Street off 3rd in Dogpatch. They're ethereal. Now I'm craving one. Wed Aug 26 19:23:59 -0700 2009 4980161 10966 Windy 3 4983331 New Spot sounds great, but I don't think they are open for dinner, right? Thu Aug 27 12:21:55 -0700 2009 4981281 22714 dickie d. 4 4983480 I had dinner there, but it was early, around 6. Not sure what time they close. Thu Aug 27 13:06:31 -0700 2009 4983331 10966 Windy 1 4980332 I like Los Panchos too. It's not at all a place I'd go for a celebration (more like a place to stop in on a week night when I don't feel like cooking) But Olivos on Larkin and Sutter makes really nice pupusas--and menudo! Wed Aug 26 13:36:35 -0700 2009 4980118 11577 Pei 1 4980758 We stopped by Panchita's #3 on Saturday after getting shut out at the Street Food Festival. I really enjoyed the pupusas there, as well as the plantains. Wed Aug 26 15:56:18 -0700 2009 4980118 17452 tvham 1 4984567 I've resisted the lure so far (usually having just eaten) but Elsy's seems to beckon me when I'm in the vicinity of 25th and Mission. Has anyone sampled her pupusas? Thu Aug 27 19:55:34 -0700 2009 4980118 131118 Xiao Yang 2 4990333 I really wanted to like Elsy's; the ambience, the dough rising in the window, all signs pointed toward delicious pupusas. Sadly, the resulting pupusa meal was bland and came with heaps of boring rice and beans. Filling, but there are better pupusas very close to Elsy's imo. Sun Aug 30 10:21:30 -0700 2009 4984567 461898 beerandpork 3 4992560 And for a differing opinion, I love Elsy's. I never get rice and beans, just pupusas for a snack for me and my kid. And they make really good fried chicken too. The owner is a sweetheart. Mon Aug 31 08:59:36 -0700 2009 4990333 10658 Atomica 1 4990468 Anyone know the name of the place on Persia just off of Mission? I recently tried some of their takeout pupusas and they were excellent. Sun Aug 30 11:47:45 -0700 2009 4980118 13300 Civil Bear 2 4990560 Yes, Los Planes del Rendero. Their pupusas are good. I'm surprised no one has mentioned La Santaneca. There are two: Mission and 24th and Mission past Cortland (I can't remember the cross street) up the block from Lelenita's Cakes. Sun Aug 30 12:52:21 -0700 2009 4990468 14374 Mari 3 4990715 The second La Santaneca is located at 3781 Mission. Richland is the cross street. Sun Aug 30 14:06:38 -0700 2009 4990560 12456 Euonymous