Salvadoran in Phoenix

10665 W. Indian School Rd. Avondale

623-249-4481

Salvadoran

Tucked into a Fry’s Shopping Center on the west side, Cristina’s Restaurant is a reliable source for home-style Salvadoran cuisine. Come for the pupusas – the hand-patted griddled corn patties, stuffed with a molten core of melted cheese and other ingredients, are irresistibly good. The bean, cheese and pork variety are especially good. But there’s more to Cristina’s than pupusas. The sprawling menu also includes tamales, grilled fish, yucca frita, fried plantains, and a smattering of enchilada and burrito options. You probably shouldn’t leave without an order of the very good sweet-savory banana empanadas in your hands.

Eliana's

1627 N. 24th St. East Phoenix

602-225-2925

Salvadoran, South American, Recommended, Menu

Eliana’s Restaurant was one of the first Valley restaurants to introduce Phoenicians to the flavors of central American cooking, and this family-owned restaurant remains one of the best places to sample pupusas, yucca frita and other Salvadoran specialties on the east side. Try the pastel de carne, a half-moon turnover filled with slightly spicy pork, mashed potato, string beans and carrots. The Salvadoran-style chile relleno, stuffed with savory muddle of pork and veggies, is also delightful. Plus, you’ll find a nice Salvadoran-style carne asada, served with a side of chimol salsa. Don’t skip the drink menu, which is where you’ll find refreshing concoctions like horchata and a traditional refresco de ensalada, a frothy, fruit-filled drink.

2 articles

Guanaquito

1434 E. McDowell Rd. Central Phoenix

602-257-9053

Salvadoran, South American, Recommended, Menu

Guanaquito, a tiny Salvadoran joint in central Phoenix, serves scrumptious homemade dishes that are easy on the wallet. Don't miss pupusas (thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese and other goodies), served straight off the griddle, or stick-to-your-ribs entrées like carne asada, fried fish, and pollo encebollado (chicken in a luscious onion cream sauce). A plate of hot, doughy Salvadoran tortillas gives you a good excuse to clean your plate.

5 articles

Reinas De Las Pupusas Restaurant

2308 W. Northern Ave. West Phoenix

602-612-4347

Salvadoran, Best Of, Menu

2 articles

Restaurante Salvadoreno

303 E. Southern Ave. #113 Mesa

480-835-1038

Salvadoran, Latin American, Best Of

This family-owned place is doing more to bring Salvadoran treats to the Valley than anyone else. Pupusas -- stuffed griddled tortillas -- are a must-have, especially revueltas con frijoles, chicharron y queso, with ground pork, beans, and cheese. The all-day menu runs the gamut from traditional Salvadoran breakfasts like scrambled eggs with chorizo, to seafood dishes and carne asada. Even the aguas frescas are delicious, from homemade tamarindo to horchata made with ground morro seed.

5 articles

Salvadoreño Restaurant #3

8911 N. Central Ave. #101 North Phoenix

602-870-2955

Salvadoran, South American, Best Of, Menu

When you’re tired of Mexican tortilla-based meals like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, mix it up with a specialty from El Salvador called pupusas. Somewhat of a combo between a burrito and a stuffed pita sandwich, the pupusa is made with thick corn masa patties filled with cheese and other flavorful ingredients. Carnivores will enjoy the chicarron, revuelta (pork with cheese and beans), carne asada, chicken, and shrimp varieties. But everyone, especially vegetarians, should order at least one pupusa con loroco. Stuffed with the edible flower native to El Salvador and Guatemala, they have a delicate flavor similar to broccoli that’s balanced with rich queso. Two pupusas could easily make a meal, but Restaurante Salvadoreño also has entrées like ceviche de camaron, mojara frita (fried tilapia), tamales, bistec encebollado (steak with sautéed onions), lengua guisada (saucy stew of beef tongue), and salpicon con sopita (chopped beef with radish, mint, and onion).

5 articles

Salvadoreno Restaurant

7333 W. Thomas Rd., #88 West Phoenix

623-846-6100

Salvadoran, South American

When you’re tired of Mexican tortilla-based meals like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, mix it up with a specialty from El Salvador called pupusas. Somewhat of a combo between a burrito and a stuffed pita sandwich, the pupusa is made with thick corn masa patties filled with cheese and other flavorful ingredients. Carnivores will enjoy the chicarron, revuelta (pork with cheese and beans), carne asada, chicken, and shrimp varieties. But everyone, especially vegetarians, should order at least one pupusa con loroco. Stuffed with the edible flower native to El Salvador and Guatemala, they have a delicate flavor similar to broccoli that’s balanced with rich queso. Two pupusas could easily make a meal, but Restaurante Salvadoreño also has entrées like ceviche de camaron, mojara frita (fried tilapia), tamales, bistec encebollado (steak with sautéed onions), lengua guisada (saucy stew of beef tongue), and salpicon con sopita (chopped beef with radish, mint, and onion).

3 articles

Seydi’s Pupuseria & Grill

2625 E. Greenway Parkway, #107 East Phoenix

602-404-7634

Salvadoran, Latin, Best Of, Slideshow, Essentials

Fast-casual north Valley eatery Seydi's Pupuseria & Grill has Phoenix hooked on El Salvador's most famous dish: the pupusa. This mother-and-son-operated pupuseria is run by Usulutan, El Salvador-born Seydi Flores and her son Jose Flores. At the straightforward ordering counter, you can choose from 12 pupusas — some with shrimp, some with green peppers, and some with jalapeños or beans, all with melted queso and tucked inside soft, grill-kissed, handmade enclosed sandwiches the size of a compact disc. We recommend the pupusa heavy with loroco — an edible flower common in El Salvador and Central America, sourced from a Spanish market in Los Angeles. Before you envision a weed, we're here to tell you it's more like artichoke, which vibes well with the cheese, jalapeño and corn dough. Other menu items are already favorites at Seydi's, such as the fried yucca, banana-leaf tamales and coconut water.

3 articles

Salvadoran in Phoenix

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