The people working here add to the positive atmosphere. The position and ambiance complement each other. The staff display genuine enjoyment of their work. The food always meets expectations. This restaurant clearly merits top scores. read more

I find pure happiness in the simple act of eating here. The service team was outstanding! No nearby option provides better value. The meals taste genuine and the staff treats you well. I'm exceptionally happy with everything. read more

You're going to tell friends about this place. The menu features original culinary ideas. These workers focus on service while maintaining food quality. The place combines strategic location with attentive service. The ratings match the actual experience. read more

Really good pupuseria in the heights - we ordered to go as it was close to closing, but there's a large seating area for dining in. Pricing was reasonable, service was just okay. read more

This is a hidden gem! We went in and quickly grabbed a table in such a busy area! I came in wanting pupusas but decided to order a quesadilla and they quickly let me know they could not make the quesadillas. I was in a rush and knew they would have great pupusas and I was not disappointed. These were the best pupusas I've ever had ! Realising they were also only $2.50, allowed my choice to be done quickly! I wasn't starving so 2 filled me up. They estimated it would take 15 minutes to cook and it took a little under that. They do speak Spanish so if you don't speak Spanish you might have to look up photos & point at the menu but it is worth it! Pro tip: add the sauce on the table that looks like ketchup to your pupusas. read more

See all

This a odd little place. You'll find a TV playing soccer, reminiscent of a sports bar. You'll find dimmed red lights, reminiscent of a old dive bar. And most importantly, you'll find freshly made, piping hot pupusas, reminiscent of your Latin grandma's kitchen. It makes for an interesting dining experience. The pupusas do take a while to make so if you're running low on time, best to call ahead for pickup. The slaw could use some work. But the actual pupusas are cheap, cheesy and satisfying. read more

The tamales and pupusas were excellent. The staff called to update me on my order and substitutions which was much appreciated. The have no complaints about my experience but... I walked past the restaurant and realized it has a C rating by NYC heath grade standards. Hence, the dock in stars. If you don't care... go for it! After all, it is NY. read more

Fresh and delicious food, with comfortable outdoor seating. We both had fish, generous portions. The only reason for 4 rather than 5 stars (and I rate not against typical high end restaurants but against equivalent inexpensive local ones) was that it was quite difficult to get waitstaff attention. read more

I'm Nicaraguan but there aren't very many of us in the northeast so to get our regional cuisine fix, we looked to El Guanaco to serve us similar dishes. I got the carne asada tipico (which comes with what Nicas would call "gallo pinto"), and tortillas. D E L I C I O U S. The food was authentic and the overall experience was true to our shared Central American culture. Cash only is a bummer, had to run across the street for the cash back lol. Would visit again 1000x. Viva la raza! :) read more

Pupusas was on point & the wait wasn't so bad, waitress was quick with taking orders; I'll be back to stay & eat read more

El Guanaco - Pupusas was on point & the wait wasn't that bad waitress was on point with taking orders also - Salvadoran Near Me - New York, New York

Food wasn't worth it! A LIT OF BIT OF RICE AND THE MEAT WASNT VERY TASTY....it don't even look like a traditional carne asada. Only good thing about this plate was the chimol and the orchata. read more

El Guanaco - Food - Salvadoran Near Me - New York, New York

Terrific little shop in the Heights, friendly staff and delicious pupusas. Highly recommend! read more

El Guanaco - Delicious pupusas - Salvadoran Near Me - New York, New York

If you're looking for a cool 1st date place, this spot isn't that. But, it's still a decent place. No frills for sure, decent pupusas and their soups are delish; go there and tell them El Burro sent you! read more

This place is very hard to miss, it's in between stores in Washington Heights. It was very awkward walking in, it's extremely dark and the counter was filled with men who all stopped what they were doing and gawked. The waitress helped me out quickly and they continued to stare....I ordered 2 chicken pupusas and a chicken tamale. Cheap eats every item was about $2.50. The pupusas were okay, the cabbage gives it an extra touch. The tamale was a bit too gooey for me. I've had better. I'll only go back if I'm not by myself. read more

See all

The place is small and you may have to share a table with someone. Music was unnecessarily loud and the waitress gets distracted vert easily. The bathroom was disgusting with blood. Ugh!! Hungry already, we waited another 40 min for food. Ordered pupusa, horchata, tamales, bean soup and breakfast meal. Breakfast meal (consists of eggs, beans, cheese, and cream) was pretty good. Horchata was ok. Pupusa were alright. I ate more Curtido than everything we ordered. If i do return, i think i would come in when they first open and just order a juice, breakfast, and load up with the curtido. It's 5 hours after we left. We both are suffering. My friend wants to vomit and I have a stomach ache. I'm drinking a whole lotta ginger ale and pepto to get rid of this discomfort. I take it back. There's no next time and we are trashing our doggy bag. read more

Great food, but service takes sooooo long! It has recently changed to "El Azteca y El Guanaco" so they have more business and greater variety. I've always enjoyed their food and their pupusas have never failed me. They are expensive and it hurts me each time but the food makes up for it. It always fills me up too. As a Salvadoreña from El Salvador... these are some amazing pupusas. I just wish they would sell cebada :( But when does a salvi restaurant actually have cebada‍ read more

Walking around the area with some friends on the search for papusas, and we came across this place. Definitely an easy place to miss, but it did not disappoint. This is a tiny, but very clean and authentic Salvadorian restaurant. There's everything from bullhorns, latin music blasting, and all interactions being in Spanish only. But the language barrier was not a problem as the waitress was very friendly and helpful with the orders. We just stuck to ordering the papusas, which were around $2-$2.25 each depending on the filling. We tried the papusas de pollo (chicken), papusas de queso y frijol (cheese and bean), and the papusas revueltas (pork and cheese?) These came out hot and fresh, and reminded me a little of a thicker, more compact quesadilla. The papusas were served with a jar of pickled vegetables, and a tomato-based salsa. Both complimented the papusas very well. Will definitely be coming back sometime for some more. read more

On my continued journey to find a pupusa comparable to the revuelta pupusa I had at a previous yelp elite event, I came to discover that El Guanaco is quietly tucked between two stores in Washington Heights. I got a corn tamale that came with sour cream, which I know it's traditionally consumed together, but due to my lactose intolerance and general disdain for dairy, I skipped it. The tamale came wrapped in foil and was about 10 cm long in length. It had pieces of corn kernels within it and it was generally sweeter than other Latin American-style tamales. The pernil pupusa was tasty and the slaw was abundant! I wouldn't say that El Guanaco's pupusa was as good as the revuelta pupusa I had in Queens, but it was freshly made to order so definitely appreciated that aspect. The place is very clean, friendly service, but I recommend visiting with someone that speaks Spanish. HOWEVER, language barriers shouldn't prevent you from exploring - the waitress was super friendly and accommodating. I even got a free cup of joe while waiting as well. I will definitely go back to try some of the other Salvadorian dishes that they serve. read more

The pupusas are great. But the tamales are on another level. There's a major difference amongst tamale styles. If I had to create a tamale binary it'd be the Mexican ones on one side and Nicaraguan on the other. Salvadorian tamales are a happy medium. read more

El Guanaco - Tamale de res - Salvadoran Near Me - New York, New York

See all

This is an authentic Salvadorian restaurant. Pupusas are deelish. They also deliver which is great. When I ordered orange juice the lady proceeded to make it fresh! You can't beat this service. read more

El Guanaco - Pupusas to go. - Salvadoran Near Me - New York, New York

I was craving for some salvadorian pupusas and I have to say is that I came to the right place. The prices were inexpensive and the service was okay. The place is pretty small but the hygiene seems pretty good. The music was a bit high but if you like loud music and small spaces, this is the right place to come to. I definitely recommend to come and try out their pupusas. read more

The best pupusas in Manhattan. Have not found another place as authentic in Salvadorian cuisine as this one. The place is not large, not too bright, or elegant but it serves its purpose. Pork/cheese and bean pupusas are my favorite! Don't stop at one. They're made from scratch so make sure you're willing to wait for 20-30 minutes for your order at least. read more

El Guanaco - Cheese pupusa - Salvadoran Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious pupusas with UNLIMITED cabbage slaw thing (not sure what it's called). The red neon lights add a unique warmth and other worldliness to the place. Service can be a bit slow, so don't go here if you want a quick bite. read more

Great hole in the wall salvadoran place. I had the chicken and pork pupusas which were both delicious.

Pupusas were pretty good....though they messed up our order and we ended up getting 3 of the same cheese pupusas. Tons of cheese, good flavor, decent size and only 2 bucks each. The best though was the tamale -- delicious!! read more

My mom and I went here and ordered some Tamales and Pupusas months ago and they were pretty good, so for Easter we decided to get some food from here and it was a BIG disappointment. The texture of the tamales was gooey and of pudding consistency. Not only that, they tasted funny, had odd ingredients they never had before like string beans which is not the end of the world but the pork had a gigantic bone in them. They couldn't take the bone out? Awful. Definitely Never going back again. read more

I can't believe this restaurant only has 1 review! I think almost all central american uses the same recipe because they all taste delicious especially this one. Their Horchata are absolutely delicious! I love their pupusas and their elote de tamal. You can get full on a scrumptious meal spent less than $10.00 if thats not a win, i dont know what is. read more

They have revueltas and they're good and cheesy! They give you plenty of repollo, more than you need. Super friendly service too.

I love Salvadoran food. Lo amo mucho. For anyone whose curious how there food tastes like, this is the place to go to. There Horchata is the best and the food is like if I'm at a Salvadoran home. Es lo mejor me haces sentir como si estoy en el pueblo. Oh and yes the prices are worth it. read more

I've only ordered Pupusas to go several times, but they are always fantastic. They pack in a healthy amount of vinegary coleslaw with it as well. read more

If you are looking for some yummy Salvadorian food go here. Their pupusas are so great. The waitresses are super sweet too

Really great Sopa de Res and popusas. This place is very under appreciated. Overall the food here is very good.