where can i get PUPUSA?

just learned about pupusa's, an el salvadorian special... sound really good but where can I find the BEST ones and which flavors..how to eat them?

[peppermonkey]

If you're not afraid to go to East LA. Los molcajetes. I think beverly or 3rd and atlantic

[phant0omx]

I've only learned about Pupusa's also and the only place I've had it is at El Cerro Verde in Hawthorne. Tasted good to me, but I can't compare to anything else.

www.elcerroverde.com

[DrBruin]

I usually get it at my local farmer's market in Torrance on Sundays. Cheap eats.

Although I've seen many pupuserias driving about LA, I've only eaten at one restaurant that served them, and it was a Honduran restaurant. Hey, same neck of the "central american" woods, right? The food was reasonably priced and tasty. I haven't been there in a couple of years since I moved.

Lempira Restaurant
4848 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, 90027

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/498063?tag=post-box-content;3482217#3482217
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lempira-resta...

[purplescout]

If you are located in the San Fernando Valley, I recommend El Carrusel at Reseda and Vanowen. They make great pupusas and the slaw that accompanies them is great, too. You can also get fried plantains stuffed with beans, Salvadorean horchata (which is different from Mexican horchata) and other Salvadorean delicacies. Did I mention it's super cheap? The pupusas are $1.50 each!!

[Jwsel]

There is another El Carrusel at the corner of Victory and Kester. I've enjoyed their pupusas, but don't recall every receiving curtido with them. Maybe they only give it if you ask.

[fernandao]

A good place is in Highland Park...Divino Salvador. It is on York & Ave 58....real good pupusas...good other salvie-food as well. How to eat them? with your Hands! Trust me I am Salvie I know.....and Salvies think that people who eat pupusas with forks are wussies. Jaja, not that harsh but yes. If you are new to the pupusa world I'd suggest getting them Revueltas...

A Pupusa is essentially a very thick masa harina patty in the shape of a tortilla that is patted, stuffed and then grilled. Traditional fillings are cheese (deliciously salty), the aforementioned cheese and loroco (which adds an herbal character), mashed beans with cheese and lastly the famous revueltas (cheese, mashed pork cracklings and at times beans). In LA you can get a myriad of fillings including shrimp and mushrooms at some places, but these are not considered traditional.

Pupusas are always accompanied by curtido, a vinegary cabbage slaw that is meant to be placed on top of each pupusa to each persons liking. I find that the quality of the curtido varies greatly and is important to the overall taste.

As for places to go, some people favor Atlacatl on Beverly Blvd. This is one of the nicer Salvadoran restaurants; A sit down place with good service and a full selection of pupusas, as well as a wide range of typical salvadoran dishes. The type of place where you will see families and groups out for a dinner. The pupusas are basic and good. The horchata drink is excellent here.

My current favorite spot is Maria's Restaurant on Figueroa in Highland Park. This is a more informal take out type of place that makes fresh, reliable and consistently good food at low prices. Each pupusa is a buck here.

-------------------------

Atlacatl, 301 N. Berendo St., L.A., [phone]

Maria's, north side of the street, next to the middle school, Figueroa and Cypress

A little known gem is La Paz, on Echo Park Blvd., north of Sunset. Everything I've had there is good and CHEAP. They have a few different kinds of pupusas.

I like this place too. I find their curtido (vinegary cole slaw-like stuff which comes with pupusas) to be especially good. I like their reveultas and queso y loroco (cheese and loroco) pupusas.

Tasty entrees too, though sometimes a bit salty for me. Sometimes the entrees come with macaroni salad -- I'm not into this, so I always ask for regular salad instead.

Cafe La Paz
1320 N. Echo Park Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90026
[phone]

Not sure exactly where you are located, but I have two places that I really enjoy.
La Caravana in Pasadena. 10 different types of pupusas. They also have a plate of mini-pupusas for $11.95 and you get 9 different kinds. It is a lot of food! I like the queso, chicharron, frijoles con queso, revuelta (chicharron, beans and cheese), pepperoni con queso (not such a fan of the loroco (Salvadorean flowers).
La Caravana
1306 N Lake Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91103
626.791.7378

Another place that is really good is located in Mission Hills and called Mestizo. They only offer 4 types, beans, cheese, chicharron, loroco but are very good as well. They also have very good fish dishes, but looked like most tables had the pupusas on them.
Mestizo Restaurant
15418 Lassen St
Mission Hills, CA 91345
818.893.8896

There is also a place on Broadway just east of Brand in Glendale (S side of street) whose name escapes me. They also serve pupusas. I think I like their salsa and cabbage salad the best.

Go, enjoy and report back!! ;-)

You can find alot of threads on this topic on this board. My favorite pupusas ara at La Arca on Figueroa in Highland Park, next to the Highland Park theater. They are all good but I recommend especially the loroco con queso (a distinctive central american herb and cheese).

POLLO MASTER
2131 W 6th St
[phone]

Also, the cole slaw that comes with the papusa is very tasty.

How to eat them? As quickly as you can and as many as you can. :-)

[andytseng]

I second this in that you should just go to the area where all the El Salvadorean's live... around MacArthur Park.

I don't know if they're the best, although friends with El Salvadoran backgrounds recommend the place --

Con Sabor Club Tropical is a full service El Salvadoran restaurant in East Culver City, on Washington Blvd. a couple blocks east of the Helms Bakery Building (home to the much maligned Beacon and the always reliable La Dijonaise). They also have an additional restaurant further east on Washington, west of La Brea, in a mini mall, that is more of a family atmosphere than the "club." But families are entirely appropriate at both.

They not only have a variety of pupusas, but really good (albeit occasionally too salty, but that might be my taste) shrimp and chicken dishes, and a full bar. ON Mondays and Thursdays I think they do live jazz.

Service is slow.

My fave restaurant popusas (nothing beats homemade ;) ) are at El Salvador Con Sabor restaurant. It is located at 5105 Venice Blvd. in a minimall about 3 blocks west of La Brea on the North side of the street.

They make all the food to order and so there is usually a LONG wait to get your food. I have phoned in both takeout and eat-in orders to avoid the delay.

Service is friendly and the atmosphere is decidely casual. Prices are reasonable.

My favorites include cheese as well as chicken popusas.

sunday farmers market in hollywood, the best i have had, the family that runs the stand does an awesome job. would love to know other gems here in la also.

Now that you mention it ... will there be a Sunday FM this week due to the holiday?

I think they will do on Saturday, they did tht last week I believe.

Yes, Saturday Dec. 31, regular hours.

[ns1]

Place is still good...