If I could give them 0 stars I would. I came to pick up my order and I saw a rat walking around inside of the restaurant. I asked the waitress if I could speak to the manager and she told me that he was too busy to talk to me! DONT COME AND EAT HERE! ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY DON'T THINK THAT SANITATION IS IMPORTANT!! read more

Had lunch there today. We ordered the jalapeño poppers and they were delicious. Nice size and a little thicker coating than most that I've had before but they were excellent. I think that there were eight of them. Also had the portobello mushrooms. They were filled with mozzarella cheese and came with a side of marinara sauce. You get three of them and they were also delicious. Lastly had the papussa lunch special. You get two of your choice along with cabbage slaw with a mild vinegar and water dressing. I got a shrimp and cheese and a carne asada and cheese. Both were delicious. Less than $40 with food, a beer, and an iced tea. Just sorry that we hadn't gone there a long time ago. Will definitely be back soon. read more

We tried this place last year and the Pupusas were good, this time they were awful, the Tamal de pollo was as dry as it could be. Something change and is not for the better. read more

Great food and excellent service. We have never tied Salvadoran food before and our server was so kind and helped us choose a great dish!

First time dining in, absolutely loved my experience! Great food, great service. Calm and easy going environment. I had never had a pupusa before but now I'm hooked! The plantains were so moist, cooked perfectly. The fried tamalito with crema was so simple yet so well executed and delicious. The surprise hit was the pepperoni and cheese pupusa! Overall 10/10 would recommend. Great to have international options on Grand! read more

The pupusas were great - I'd get them again. We also ordered a dish that had rice, a salad, and beef from a stew. That one was okay, not bad but didn't seem as special. read more

So I tried this place for the first time today, on behalf of most of my salvadorian friends recommending it on Facebook. I was craving pupusas and we came here to get brunch. I would rate this place based on food, most of it was good except the chicharron pupusa. They have two type of salsas and I personally liked the spicer one. I also order coffee and I wish they would have sweet creamer option instead of half and half because I don't like that option as I have to pour a lot of sugar into my coffee to make it sweet. My friend order the mojarra, which by the way we had to ask for extra limes because they were very dry and had no lime juice. The mojarra itself was decent and well cooked. As far as my pupusas were all good, once again I was not very happy with the chincharon. My friends said this is as close as it will get to salvadorian food In escondido so I hope I try the real deal eventually to know the difference. Many of of my friends have pros and cons to this place so I thought to give a a try myself. Orders do take about 25/30 min to get your food after you order, so please order accordingly if you are working with very little time. I think I'll come back to try something else and discover more of the salvadorian cuisine. read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

I have ate here several times in the past 2 years since I've lived in Escondido and have always gotten the same order. 1 pupusa with cheese. 1 pupusa with cheese and pork Everything about my order today was just off. First was that their prices went up, which I didn't mind because I knew the quality of the food was good 2nd, once I got home and see my plate, the pupusas are smaller. I open up my container of curtido and see that I have such a small amount basically 1/4 filled. 3rd, I don't know if they hired a new cook but the pupusas did NOT taste the same at all. Either too much masa was used, or it wasn't cooked all the way. AND my cheese with pork pupusa was so dry I looked in to see that they had also mixed it with beans. I HATE beans. Very disappointed with my visit, I really hope that this was a one time thing, and I wanted to post the review on here because I want to know if it was just me or do they really taste different to anyone else. read more

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What a pleasant surprise to find this place. Menu shows a large variety of Salvadoreño cuisine. Pupusas, Chorizo, fried plantains and enpanadas de leche for dessert. Delicioso! read more

Swung by for a midweek lunch with a friend. The weather was really nice so we opted for one of the outside tables. Our server was friendly and gave us a few recommendations since the menu was VERY eclectic for a Salvadorian spot. We're talking a mix of pupusas, tamales to deep dish pizzas, pastas and Philly Cheeesteaks. But since I could get the other items nearly anywhere else, I opted for the lunch special of 2 Pupusas that was served with pickled cabbage and came with a drink for $6.95--great deal! I also ordered a side of fries because, fry not? For the pupusas, I chose Chicharron con Queso (Pork with Cheese), Queso con Jalapeno (Cheese & Jalapeno). They both were larger than I expected and came out piping hot. I first tried the pickled cabbage that came on the side. Although the veggies were nice and crisp---it wasn't nearly as pickled as I would have liked and lacked seasoning. As for the pupusas, they were both ok. Fresh, doughy, cheesy---though they too, lacked seasoning. The fries although crispy and fresh were also not salted. Maybe just an off day in the kitchen? I wish I had enjoyed everything more as the service was nice and others seemed to really enjoy the food. But unfortunately what I had just didn't meet the mark. read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - Pupusa Lunch Special! Queso con Jalapeño and Chicharron con Queso - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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I'm not a Salvadorean food expert, but I can say that I enjoyed my visit here. Since I'm mainly vegetarian, this type of food is not the best option as almost everything has meat, but there are a few items (besides the 'pasta', which I wouldn't get here anyway). I ordered 4 pupusas, 3 bean & 1 calabaza (zucchini & tomato). Although they have cheese included, I asked for the cheese on the side. Yes, this is weird and not the intended way to eat them, but I'm particular about the type of cheese (and the possibility of melting), so I wanted to be cautious to ensure I would enjoy it better. Turns out it worked, and I was pleased. So props off for having my request done. I also ordered a KolaChampan, which is like a trademark drink that identifies with El Salvador. It has an orange-vanilla taste, slightly like a cream soda, but not like orange crush. read more

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June 2021 Service **** Pupusas ***** House Tortillas **** - consistently good pupusas, regardless of your you order - the Service is constantly on par for this type of eatery. Canned Beans *** Eggs (typico) *** - as a Central American traditionalist, " bad form and representation of the cultural norms. No Denny's type of eggs should be served, ever (typico). The beans - don't disappoint your followers, show your audience how you do it when preparing for your own families during the holidays - no cans allowed. Quesadilla (bread) ** Horchata (El Salvador) ** Quesadilla has been on a down turn lately. My 1/4" high square is, way below the norm and does not allow for the buttery moisture of traditional quesadilla bread - it is not a pancake. Horchata aka "dirty water" should never look like the Mexican version (that's why do many Salvadoran Americans call it dirty water), not be made from powder. In the end, it appears you are taking short cuts and not highlighting true "blue and white" cuisine. A competitor will almost certainly come along and see what/how you are doing and force you to up your game (don't let it happen). However, at this time, people of Escondido are not seeing (some) of the authentic ingredients used in traditional Salvadoran cuisine. Please make an effort to show the amazing true "blue and white". Thank You read more

This is some of the best, most authentic Salvadoran food you can find around San Diego! If you're willing to make the drive up to Escondido (which you should because it's worth it!), and are in the mood for bomb pupusas, this is the place to be! As a full Salvadoran, the food here tastes like they are making it in my kitchen back home. If you are new to Salvadoran food, or don't want to commit to just one dish, definitely get the "combinación cuscatlan". It comes with a bit of everything! Every popular Salvadoran dish all in one combo deal. Can't recommend this place enough. Come by and transport yourself to El Salvador over a meal. read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - Combinacion Cuscatlan (2 pupusas, 1 tamal de elote, 1 tamal de pollo, plátanos fritos, yuca frita, y frijoles con crema!) - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

Omg I'm so happy I found this place on yelp!! It was sooo good & I will definitely be coming back soon. I had two pupusas, one queso con jalapeños and the other was queso y frijoles & they were both delicious!! I was so hungry I ate them right away so I didn't get any pictures but trust me they are amazing. Even though I was stuffed I had to try the dessert, the empanadas de leche were also really good for those who have a sweet tooth :) also look at how cute this pint glass is 10/10 recommend & I can't wait to be back! read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - The cutest pint glass I've ever seen - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

If you are looking for some BOMB papusas, this is the place! I had the chicken and cheese papusas for the first time and it did not disappoint. They are a palm sized, so not that big for other papusas I've had in the past but still. Also they are priced at a really good price, 1 for 3.95. So I got 6 for 25 and I wished I got more because my gf and I finished it QUICK. read more

2 stars just for the good service. Im not sure how the reviews are so good. Maybe we came on a bad day, but all of our food orders were overcooked. My chicken had dried, hard pieces all around the edges. The carne asada was very overcooked, and tasted burnt. The food all around was also lacking in flavor. I was eating a tortilla and there was a rock hard piece of something in it. Thankfully I didn't break a tooth! I brought a guest here because of the reviews, but felt embarrassed that everything was so bad. I just apologized and took them for gelato around the corner. Unfortunately I would not come back, even if it were free. read more

From the beginning of entering this place It was bad. The staff was rude and kept smirking. Next thing you know I bite into a heavy duty stapler that was in the tamale we ordered. What's even worse is that when we told one of the girls that was sweeping she acted super nonchalant about it. I quickly grabbed it to take the picture because this is clearly a safety hazard ! I asked for the manager and the waitress came claiming to be the manager. (A super skinny petite brunette with blacked framed glasses) she gave me and my date a terrible attitude as if she didn't care. This place should be shut down! I could've bitten into this and hurt myself very badly. Or a child could've had serious damage. They still charged us for the food which was pathetic and bottom of the barrel on their part. We have contacted the Health department and will continue to take action on this. I've never in my life heard of a heavy duty staple being inside of food esp a Tamale ! Keep in mind that there will be "funny" ratings on this and those are obviously the ghetto waitresses and staff that work in this dirty Escondido dump. read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

Came here for the Yuccas Fritas, which is fried yucca. They were very good and hearty. I got a tamale as well and it was wrapped in a banana leaf. The Massa of the tamale was so soft. Its a good deal for $2.59 for a chicken tamale. You can also get the yucca fries as a side if you don't want to get the yucca plate. The side is under $3.00 read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - Yucca Fritas Plate $7.95 - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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The food is delicious we had the Combinación Cuscatlan.... all the Salvi flavors are in that dish... also the service was excellent, the waitresses are very helpful and friendly.... definitely will be going back read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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We ate dinner with friends on a Friday night two weeks ago for the first time since the pandemic. It was during "Cruisin Grand", and it was very busy. Glad we had a table since we had a comedy show to attend after. We were 3 couples and we shared an assorted plate of appetizer which was delicious. Our dinners were tasty. Our server was very nice. We will definitely come back again. read more

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Came by at 4p on a Sunday. Broadway was quiet and I didn't count on any dinner activity so early. Inside was pretty packed. And hot. No AC on and Esco was clocking 88. I opted to sit outside as there was a nice breeze sweeping through. Ironically, they were out of chicken and pork...and Blue moon, which was partly a good thing because I was able to try Suprema, which was a perfect combo. (Salvadorian beer with Salvadorian food:) ) Got the bean and cheese pupusas, mojarra frita. All was perfect, even the rice. Service was kind and appreciated. Ill be back. When it's cooler:). read more

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Spot was really good! Only thing I'd prefer next time would be if they weren't so stingy with the cheese. I got mostly tortilla, kinda dry. I had cheese and frijoles and the cheese con calabaza Pupusas. Overall good. Going back In hopes for juicer ones pupusas. read more

This place is a hidden gem for deep dish pizza and their antipasto salad is also great!

Came in for lunch with a recommendation from a coworker. This quaint Salvadoran restaurant is a hidden gem. There wasn't a busy lunch crowd and plenty of indoor seating but we opted to people watch and eat outside. We ordered a little bit of everything. I highly suggest trying a papusa ! We had the cheese mushroom papusa and I could have eaten more. At $3 each, it's worth it to try more! We ordered the morraja fried whole fish dish, plantains and a chicken tamal. I didn't care for the tamal but everything else was great. Menu has a little bit of everything and reasonably priced. I'd definitely come back. read more

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My second visit: Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña "Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More" with my co-worker after work!!! (^p^) Salvadorian food is different from Mexican food, of course!!! LOL Ensalada (fruit cocktail drink) Cuscatlan Sampler (Fried Plantains, Fried Yuca with Fried Pork, 1 Corn Tamale, 1 Chicken Tamale, 2 Mixs Pupusas, Beans and Sour Cream) Pollo Guisado (Chicken stew) Viva El Salvador!!! Yummy!!! (^p^) I would love to go back there sometime soon!!! \(^-^)/ DINNER Food : 5.0 Stars (1=taste bad, 5=taste really yummy) Service : 4.5 Stars (1=bad service, 5=great service) Price : 3.0 Stars (1=very cheap, 5=very expensive) Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña Menu in English: http://cuscatlansalvadorian.com/menu.php read more

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Definitely does Salvadoran food the justice it deserves, with the perfect vibe to the place that made me feel like I was in someone's home. Try the papusas if you have never tried one yet, definetly worth the measly 3 dollar price tag. Overall food was greatly priced and tasted amazing, if I'm ever in Escondido again this place will have my business. read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - Carne asada entree and fried yucca - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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$15!!! First time was a success!!! New fav place? Looking forward to next time! This was the first item on the menu called "combinacion cuscatlan" 2 papusas 1 sweet corn tamale 1 chicken and potato tamal Plantains Fried pork Fried yuca read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

It's been a while since I've had Salvadoran food but it was so delicious. I've tried plenty other places and this has to be my second favorite Salvadoran restaurant. Our server was so kind, we didn't get her name but she was definitely very attentive and kind. I ordered 3 pupusas but their pupusas are pretty big, I ate 1 and a half, so I ended up having left overs. They are so filling. We also shared the fried plantain and they were also very good. Definitely a place I would recommend and try again! The parking is limited, it's street parking but you can always walk there. read more

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine and More - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

I love this restaurant. The food is very tasty and their Sangria is the best. Anything you order is plenty if food and very tasty. I particularly love the Pupusas. Service is also very friendly. We will definitely return to this spot on regular occasion. read more

We ordered the pan relleno, 2 papusas, a 12 inch philly cheesesteak sandwich, and tried their Ensalada. Everything was just ok- their papusas were pretty good though. It comes with coleslaw. We were disappointed that they ran out of their house made hot sauce. Couldn't they make more?! Prices were super cheap and service was decent. I was expecting much better authentic food.... :( read more

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Had the chicken and pork tamales and the pasteles pollo and was so happy! My boyfriend ate the pickled cabbage as I do not like cabbage and he loved it. The pasteles are my new favorite craving and we will be back for more take out soon! The only thing is that it took a little bit too long to get the food but it's ok because it was so worth it! read more

Came here on a Friday night for dinner, it looked pretty empty but once inside, there were a number of tables taken. We were greeted and seated promptly. Our drink order was taken as we looked over the extensive menu. They have a large variety of options, we opted for the salvadorian specialties! I ordered the Pollo En Crema and my beloved ordered the Bistec Encebollado a la Plancha. We also ordered two pupusas to share, they have a few pupusas to choose from, we chose the pollo con queso and a Revuelta. They have two salsas to choose from, a spicy one and a not so spicy one. Everything was DELICIOUS! Everything was fresh, made to order and came out hot! Definitely recommend, can't wait to return and try out different items on their menu! I might even call in an order of pupusas, as they are reasonably priced! read more

Allen and I needed sustenance to fuel us for the Kizomba/Salsa/Bachata Halloween House Party we were enroute to. Of course I went to my trusty Yelp App to search restaurants in the area. Once I saw there was a Salvadorean restaurant in the vicinity and with 4+stars no less... I knew we had to stop by! The food and service didn't disappoint. The food was amazing, the plantains were heaven, the pupusas, pork were tasty and filling. I enjoyed the yucca and pork tamale. Allen gave me a high five for this selection....he does not give them out willy nilly you know !!! I will definitely stop by if I am in Escondido again!! read more

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Wonderful family restaurant. Food was made to order and all was both distinctive and delicious. No complaints except we ordered too much. Will be bringing many family and friends to this unique restaurant! read more

Came in on a Saturday night around 8:30. There's a sign when you walk in that says wait to be seated. 3 servers walked past us while we waited without even acknowledging us. We stood there for more than 10 minutes until we decided to sit ourselves at one of the many empty booths. We sat and waited again for a good while until a server asked if we had been helped. When we told her we hadn't she pretty much blamed us and said "Well thats why you should've waited to be seated because now it's confusing for us" ok sure? We also saw another couple sit at the door for a long duration of time before being seated so expect to do a lot of unnecessary waiting. Ordered our food which was ok at best. The only perk was the affordable prices. read more

This is a great little place! Seems totally random for downtown Escondido, but then again, I came here because Mama Lita's was closed, so maybe it's not so random. I love Salvadorean food, and this place was pretty tasty. My friend and I came here pretty late on Memorial Day evening, and although it was already 830 pm, and they close at 9, they seated us and served us up some piping hot, fresh pupusas. They were delicious! We each ordered 2 of the revueltas, which were filled with cheesy, beany goodness. I also ordered a passion fruit juice, which is one of my faves, and a chicken tamal. The chicken in the tamal itself was a little dry, but the masa around it was so, so good. I could probably sit and eat a bowl of the masa alone and be happy. Super moist and flavorful. I think if they put dark meat inside the tamal, it would be insanely good. The ambience is a little deceptive-- it's kind of got an outdated feel. Like walking into your grandma's slightly barren, deserted country cabin entry way. To be honest, the first time I stopped in this place a few months ago, I just walked through it from the parking lot in back to the street in front and didn't end up eating here because it was empty and the ambience put me off a bit. I'm so glad I ended up giving this place second look though, because our meal was very satisfying. Looks can be deceiving! If they brightened up the place a bit, I think it would have more appeal to the general public. Prices are very reasonable- filling dinner for 2 for less than $15. Very kind, warm staff. I would come back here again. read more

Really underwhelming after visiting based on the yelp rating and reviews. Perhaps Escondido doesn't afford for much variety and so places like this get more credit than due? I can't help but compare to my favorite Salvadorian place down south - and my favorite restaurant in general - El Salvadoreño, and this place comes up short on so many aspects. - Interior is very outdated and downright depressing. - Tamales were 80% masa. No exaggeration, I ate 2/3 of one before I reached any meat, upon which there was two little chunks of filler followed by more masa. - Refried black beans tasted almost burnt. - Passion fruit juice seems very watery/watered down. - Pickled cabbage for the pupusas was overly vinegary and served in what seems like a communal container (as in just refilled for the next table and not replaced). The hot sauce was nice, with that back burner scorching taste I like, and portions are large as everyone mentioned. But the quality is not on par and a lot of mediocre food isn't a redeeming trait in my opinion. Shouldn't have put my faith in a place that serves pasta, pizza, and sandwiches as well. Only visited due to proximity as I now live in north county, but will drive the trek to grant hill/Logan heights for my tried and true. read more

I can not sing anymore praises about this place!!! Truly a hidden gem in Escondido. My husband was one over by their outdoor patio and delicious micheladas so he decided to make me one day. Since then we frequent this place! The food here is absolutely delicious. There hasn't been one thing on their menu that I haven't tried and everything is so flavorful, cooked to perfection and mouthwatering delicious! Their Micheladas have made me a believer in Micheladas and beer. I hate beer and was never a fan of the Micheladas but this is a great place to try one. The staff is super friendly and helpful with all the different menu items. I didn't know what a Papusa was until this place! Try them they're delicious. This restaurant is always super clean, like so clean you would feel comfortable eating off of the table clean. I wish they would paint their over hang that bright blue and do their lettering in white on their store front so they could stand out more and get noticed! This place deserves to be noticed! read more

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I love the food here! I've been coming for a few years and it remains one of my favorite places to eat at. I've tried most of the dishes and there haven't been any I didn't like. I usually get the platter and some additional pupusas though. read more

My family of 3 decided to check this place out and we ordered the combination cuscatlan, 2 pupusas and 2 horchatas and it was delicious. The atmosphere is relaxing, the waitress was kind and the food was authentic saldadorean food. I will be returning with my parents when they come to visit from L.A. because my mom who is saldadorean will enjoy it! Glad we decided to try something new for family night because it was a nice experience! read more