When I'm at the mission, this is one of my favorite spots for pupusas. They can get quite busy…read moreduring lunchtime. When I arrived, several tables were already occupied. The lady who took my order was friendly and greeted me when I approached. The ambiance is unique, like a story centered around the mission. My order of pork pupusas and cheese pupusas came out perfect.

Great spot for pupusas. The combo platter comes with 2 pupusas, rice, and refried beans for $10…read more Can't get a better deal than that. The plantains here are some of the best I've had as well. They're sliced so long and thin. Every piece is a heavenly sweet, sticky, soft, crispy, caramelized morsel. The only downside is they don't give a lot of curtido. We were a group of 3, each ordering 2 pupusas each, and yet only got 1 small saucer of curtido.

This hidden gem in the Mission Neighbourhood on Valencia Street needs to be more talked about! Some…read moreof the best hoes I have tried without being overly greasy. It has a very authentic field to the food and environment. The places well decorated and from the outside sometimes it's hard to locate that it's a Salvadorian restaurant. The stuff is really nice and the only thing is to make sure you know their hours.

Cute place on Valencia. Unfortunately service was bare bones minimal. Seen a few customers leave…read morefrom nobody in attendance. Music is repetitive. A little warmer inside than outside. Pupusas and casamiento were dry. Cheese had no flavor. Tomato sauce tasted like canned tomatoes? Meh. Unfortunately this is a pass. Not all was a miss... Curtido and plantains were good

Here's a cIf I'm being honest, the only thing on their menu that lives up to any of the hype is the…read morepupusas. Everything else falls pretty flat. Even then, the pupusas are hit or miss. I'd give them about a 3.5 out of 5. On a good day, they come out with that perfect golden-brown finish. On a bad day, they look and taste undercooked to the point where I've had to throw them back on the stove at home just to make them edible. The ambiance doesn't do much to help. It's your typical Mission-style Latin restaurant, kind of sticky and worn-in, but in a way where you can't quite tell if it's part of the aesthetic or just a lack of upkeep. Now, let's get into why this leans closer to a one-star experience. The staff consistently come off like they'd rather be anywhere else. They don't smile and often come across as rude. Timing is basically a suggestion here. If you place a takeout order, plan well ahead, at least 45 to 60 minutes before pickup. Every single time I've called, I've been told 25 to 30 minutes, only to arrive and wait another 15 to 20 minutes. Without fail. And in a neighborhood where parking is already a headache, with limited meters and tight timing, you'll feel that delay. Your patience will absolutely be tested. Don't say I didn't warn you. Update: Today's order included a hit inside the cheese mixture of the Pupusas. Disgusting.

Sometimes you just want something comforting, simple, and real, you know? Balompié Cafe No. 3 on…read moreMission does exactly that. Food: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Ambiance: No rating, I ordered to go FOOD: 8/10 I ordered 6 "RF pupusas" (Pork, Beans, Cheese), and honestly, they hit the spot. They weren't the most stuffed or loaded I've had. I've definitely had more over-the-top pupusas elsewhere, but for what you pay, they feel totally fair. The dough is soft but has a nice chew, and the fillings are solid. You get that classic Salvadoran flavor with curtido (cabbage pickled salad) and their tomato sauce, which I always appreciate. Looking at their menu, they don't just sell Pupusas! They also sell tamales, yuca, combo plates, and more. SERVICE: 9/10 Super friendly staff. Since I was doing a to-go order, things were pretty smooth. Extra notes: - Prices are pretty reasonable, especially considering the quality is solid and the portions are good. - Location-wise, it's on Mission Street, so allow time for parking. Balompié Cafe No. 3 is a really solid go-to for Salvadoran comfort food on the run. The pupusas are reliable and tasty enough. Not a destination for "fancy Salvadoran," but absolutely a dependable spot when you want something hearty, cheap-ish, and homey.

This is my third time eating at this restaurant. We usually order a variety - zucchini, pork,…read morechicken, and garlic pupusas. All include cheese. Super filling and flavorful. Will be back to try the Yuka and Chicharron dish. I tried to order fried plantains this evening, but the hostess let me know the plantains weren't sweet/ripe yet and wouldn't be worth buying right now. The hostess/cashier is always super friendly, patient, and helpful. We never dine in because we live nearby, but I did see that the restaurant has a semi-open space in the back of the restaurant to seat more guests. Probably would be nice spot for a small intimate gathering of friends.

This is a really Salvadoran place in the Mission. Music was super loud. Atmosphere was Ok, not…read morevery fancy, but decent and clean. I ordered a poppies plate with chicharon and zucchini, but I think they gave me a cheese instead of zucchini. I didn't bother to complain. Overall, the pipusas were very large and stuffed, but just OK. I think the rice and beans were the best part of the dish. Horchata was also a bit expensive at $7, and kind of an average horchata. So overall, kind of an average restaurant, but also pretty popular and full.

Ordered for delivery. My niece wasn't feeling good and is staying with me. She wanted some thing…read moredifferent. She liked the zucchini & cheese very much. I like my flank steak as well, mixed it in with my pork & cheese pupusa and dip.

This place is fantastic! Come here for hearty portions, great service, delicious food and a big-ass…read moreMichelada. . . never disappoints.

Super good pupusas, stuffed with cheese and meat ! I have been coming here for years and they…read moreremain consistent

Soy una persona que tiene alergias a la lactosa y es la segunda vez que me envían una orden de…read morepupusas con Queso esto me parece una burla de mal gusto estoy muy molesto !!! Incluso llame antes de poner mi orden para explicarle a los empleados y les dio igual y me mandaron la orden de pupusas de Queso otra vez , jamás volveré a ordenar nuevamente en este lugar es una vergüenza

If you haven't tried pupusas, you don't know what you're missing!…read more This place hands down has the BEST pupusas in the Bay Area. It's a cozy, family-owned Salvadoran restaurant that makes you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. The food is authentic, fresh, and full of flavor--every bite tastes like it was made with love. The pupusas are perfectly crispy on the outside and packed with delicious fillings on the inside. I could eat them every day and never get tired of them! Don't sleep on the curtido and salsa either--they complete the experience. Whether you're new to Salvadoran food or a longtime fan, this spot is a gem. Support local and do yourself a favor--go try it!

Overall, I think the pupusas are over-rated:…read more 3.5/5: The chorizo y queso pupusa is good. A little too much cheese for me, so some cheese-scraping was required. Flavor is good. They seem a little thinner that at other places. 2.0/5: The chicharron pupusa is kinda bad; the filling is pasty, not so flavorful, and the texture is a little mushy.

I had the pork and cheese pupusa and it was BOMB. what makes it even better is that you hear the…read moreslapping sounds of them making pupusas fresh in the back. a single pupusa is $6 and generously sized. the server told me pupusas are only $4.50 on Fridays! on top of all this, you can get a free cup of coffee when dining in. yes this place is nestled in the tenderloin, but the food and service is worth it, and the bathroom is surprisingly clean

I've been going to Estrellita's since they were in the stall at the La Cocina space in the…read moreTenderloin (forget what that was called). My first visit there I wasn't sold on their pupusas but when their brick and mortar location here opened up I went again to see how it was since I love pupusas and now they are in my regular rotation. The space is big and service is friendly with the free coffee (which I don't actually drink since I'm not a coffee guy). While it's not the fastest, the food is terrific so I am fine waiting for my delicious pupusas! I usually get the pork, bean and cheese pupusas which are really good but mixed it up last time and got the jalapeno and cheese ones but felt like there wasn't quite enough cheese in those so I'll prob just go back to the pork, bean and cheese ones since they seem more balanced. I also love both Balompie locations for pupusas if you need a reference on the types that I like.