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    El Pulgarcito

    4.5 (481 reviews)
    InexpensiveSalvadoran
    Open 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    El Pulgarcito Photos

    Business Info

    EL PULGARCITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - El Pulgarcito

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    Reviews With Photos

    Most recent Menu of Pupusas
    David B.

    Service is soo friendly and attentive. The restaurant is very open and spacious. Chill vibe people talking and laughing having a good time with great food and energy. Also they have bachata playing in the background which is a nice touch. I will definitely be back and will recommend this place to all my friends.

    Roger L.

    Looked for local restaurants in the area to try out. I've always been a huge fan of pupusas and wanted to try someplace different. As I entered, there were quite a few groups already eating. The servers were very helpful in deciding what to get. They said a fresh order would take 20-25min so I took them to go to eat at home. They came out very fresh and delicious. The pickled cabbages and sauce added a nice acidity. If I am ever in the area again I will come back for another order.

    Christopher B.

    My coworker and I decided to get some food from here during our lunch break. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We got there a little after it opened on a Monday morning and it was totally empty.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered a few things and it took almost 25 minutes before getting our food which seemed like a long time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Last minute we changed our mind and decided to get our food to go and eat at local park because it was extremely hot and stuff in here and it was really uncomfortable to stay in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was really good. Especially for the price. I wouldn't mind coming back in the future.

    This is place is Fire. It's my go to spot in City of Orange service is on point [[HIGHLIGHT]]very clean inside[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Karen G.

    El Pulgarcito is definitely worth a visit once you actually find it! My Apple Maps couldn't even locate the place, so I had to switch over to Google Maps. Even then, I circled around for a good 10 minutes because it's hidden in the back in a little plaza. So just a heads up: don't give up, it's there! I even bought some snacks while I was there, but of course the main event was the pupusas. I ordered the jalapeno & cheese and the regular cheese pupusa. Portions are no joke these things are filling! I was only able to finish one and took the other to go. Everything was hot, cheesy, and super comforting. The curtido and salsa on the side tied it all together perfectly. Prices are very reasonable too, especially considering how generous the portions are. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is unpretentious with that true hole in the wall vibe, which makes it feel even more authentic.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I went with my YE gf who's Salvadoran, and she gave this place her stamp of approval. Our server, Ayli, was so sweet and really on top of everything, making sure we were well taken care of the entire time. This place gets busy, and with food being made to order, patience is key. But if you're craving authentic Salvadoran pupusas, this is the place. Just plan ahead for parking and navigation, it's a hidden gem in more ways than one!

    Jalapeño and cheese pupusa (left) and cheese, bean, and pork pupusa (right). Coke Zero, cortida, and salsa roja in the background
    Justina T.

    When you're craving scrumptious Salvadoran food that delivers on flavor and value, come to El Pulgarcito. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This unassuming spot in an oddly spacious strip mall is well worth the visit.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]My first impression when I stepped into the shop: This place is hella clean![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Usually, hole-in-the-wall spots are a bit rough around the edges (which gives them character and, to be fair, ain't nobody got time to clean in this economy), but this place is the exception. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Even the restroom was immaculate in terms of cleanliness.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service is great, too! Prompt, friendly, and efficient. And my server came to check on me after dropping off my food. I ordered a Coke Zero and two pupusas: 1) the jalapeño and cheese, and 2) the cheese, bean, and pork. The former actually had a kick to it, and the cheese pulls were impressive, and the latter was bean forward, but I was more than okay with that. I think it could've used a pinch of more salt, though. These came with a container of curtido and salsa roja. The accouterments were a bit too mildly seasoned for my taste, but they still provided a welcome touch of acidity and crunch. And all this came out to $11 (which includes tax but before tipping)!! This is the best meal deal I've encountered all year.

    Jenn Q.

    Whether dine-in or take out, El Pulgarcito always delivers! Aside from Balompie in San Francisco, if you find yourself in this area and craving true authentic El Salvadorean food, there's no need to look elsewhere. I made that one mistake in Antioch, Ca (1-Star review on Yelp & Google) so trust me- this trip made up for it 110%! As for food experience, we usually order chicharron con queso or just plain loroco but this time, we opted for a couple of new items on the menu: Rigua con crema and a breakfast plate. A large Horchata order can be shared for two. Friendly and attentive staff even though at the time of visit there were a couple of large parties (6+) she made sure we were good! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The overall set-up of the restaurant is almost like cafeteria style :)[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Pina ensalada drink
    Cindy L.

    A hidden gem in Orange. I have passed by this restaurant so many times I didn't even know it was there! Popped in for dinner with a friend and it didn't disappoint the cravings for pupusas! They were delicious. And I loved the pina ensalada drink, it tastes really authentic. The service was quick, fresh, and the server was kind and attentive. Check it out!

    Entrance
    Alejandra F.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very good and convenient location, place is very big, clean and organized[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], they do have a stand for snacks which is great, we didn't order much but enough to try, we like it very much, cheese was great but the beans that they used are not exactly Salvadorian beans, drinks flavors also were a little too sweet for my taste but like I said, the cheese is really good. Also the service was amazing the girl was very nice she explained everything to us and the food came very fast.

    Pupusas and yuca with chicharron
    Terry K.

    I've been craving pupusas but they don't have many options in north OC. I'm glad I found El Pulgarcito because the reviews are on point when they say this is one of the best spots to get pupusas. We got the pork and cheese, jalapeño and cheese, and chorizo pupusas. They make them fresh to order and came out piping hot. Still crispy like it was right off the grill. They were delicious and pretty big. I like that you got a good amount filling and not too much masa (unlike a few other places I've visited). We also ordered Yuca fritas and chicharron, which were okay. The pupusas were definitely the star of our meal. Plenty of curtido and salsa on the table to add to your plates which was much appreciated. I love adding a good amount curtido to my pupusas. The pina drink was so good!! I ordered a medium but definitely ordering a large next time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We came around 6pm on Saturday and it wasn't crowded.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server came over to us quickly to get us started and was attentive the whole time we were there. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have a lot of tables and the restaurant looked clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Gabi K.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Loved this place! It's was so cute.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I felt like the pupusa's were very tasty, made fresh, and reasonably priced. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Everyone was super sweet and helpful here, and the restaurant was very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My only complaint would have to be the corn tamale, probably one of the driest tamales I've ever had. They didn't necessarily have it on the menu, I had to ask if they had it. So if you don't see something on the menu, it's not always good to ask for it I suppose.

    Pupusas
    Cheryl V.

    I am so happy that we were recommended to try this spot! We came around 7pm for dinner and this spot did not disappoint. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is very small and the tables were pretty full but we sat down right away.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was amazing and honestly some of the best pupusas I have had! I ordered the squash and the shrimp and cheese pupusas and although I did inhale them I don't think I would order the shrimp ones again. It just didn't hit but the squash were very good!! My husband ordered the chicharrón and beans and cheese and he loved them both! I loved the size of the pupusas! The ones I've had at other spots are much too big and I can never finish more than one! I prefer to get different flavors so I'm very appreciative of the size of these because I can have more! The curtido and salsa were also spot on! We also had the platano and beans with crema and the fried Yuka without the chicharrón. Hands down the beans were some of the best I've had. I don't know what they did to them but they were absolutely delicious! The yuka was also fried really well and I like dipping them into the beans it was very satisfying. The service was great and the girls were very sweet but the ONLY downside I would say is that they did take a very long time to make the meals. I'm assuming because they are made fresh to order so with that in mind I don't mind the wait. I can see this being an issue if you were ordering to go. I did unfortunately come in starving so the wait time felt worse but either way I love this little spot!

    Jhaslene P.

    So good I forgot to take a Pre-photo so I will take a midway one lol. Best Pupusa place in OC hands down my husband and I love it I will never go back to that one other place I went last night,. I love the customer service how they check on you to see if you are good and how kind and respectful they are if I could give 10 stars overall I would

    Pupusa

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    El Pulgarcito Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Pulgarcito

    I just called and it was 4:19pm I was told they do not take any orders over the phone during dinner time even if I call ahead since I was on my way to eat there that they only take orders for and during lunch time. When did this change?

    Hi Virnie, we changed this about 6 months ago. The reason being is because, we would have a lot of problems with customers who were already waiting for their food at the… 

    Is a pupusa the same as a gordita?

    Almost but not quite. Pupusas are stuffed with filling prior to cooking.… 

    Can I order takeout from this place?

    Yes, we do all the time, we call in our orders ☺️

    View All 4 Questions

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    Rio Pupuseria ToGo

    Rio Pupuseria ToGo

    4.6
    (15 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $

    6 for $21 + $1 surcharge for using credit card. The pupusa was excellent. I had their top 4 most…read morepopular which is a pork cheese, pork bean cheese, bean cheese and cheese. To be honest they all tasted similar but very filling and tasty. Downer is that I wish she told me up front about the credit card surcharge.

    Had this bookmarked for awhile and finally went. The price is reasonable for a Pupuseria at $2.99…read moreeach plus tax They were of good size and flavor. But just took forever to make my order almost 25 minutes which is why they got 4 stars. I was the only person in the store and I think they may of forgot about me while they filled some phone orders. I ordered 4 pupusas and only received a small 1/2 full bag of the cabbage mix and 1 little container of salsa which when I asked for more I felt like she didn't want to really give me any more as she only handed me 1 more but I returned the tomato based one as I would not of used it anyway and I did ask for 2 more of the little cups of the hot green salsa as I told her that one little cup would not be enough for what I ordered the cabbage mix didn't even cover all of my pupusas so it really was not enough compared to other places I have been but for $12.89 I should of not had to fight for more salsa and I should of asked for more of the cabbage mix if I would of looked at it. I drove 30 minutes to try this place Don't get me wrong the pupusas were great the service and the amount of salsa and cabbage mix not so much. The green salsa was hot and flavorful. Just not a lot of it in a 1oz container. Which each one just barely covered the pupusa would of liked a little bit more I know that salsa costs money but I never ask for any more than what I will use and if I am paying for your food I would expect to have enough of everything provided to me to complete my meal! I even returned the silverware and napkins to help them save money as I was just going home with the food anyway All in all I would return if I am in the area! As the food was really good! But I would again make sure I was provided with more cabbage mix and salsa next time and would definitely call my order in

    Photos
    Rio Pupuseria ToGo
    Rio Pupuseria ToGo
    Seats on the restaurant

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    Seats on the restaurant
    San Sivar

    San Sivar

    3.8
    (473 reviews)
    10.2 mi
    $

    I drove by here and was so excited to see a pupusa shop! The store is small, only about 50 seats…read more It was very busy when I went there for a weekend night to get take out. I should have ordered ahead as it appeared many people did. None the less I am very happy with the wait! The service was great and they were very helpful with recommendations. I feel like pupusas are meant to be kept simple and they mean a lot to me. They are made to order and you can tell by the quality. The Revuelta has a lot of delicious fat and salt from the pork. It's a grounded pork. It combines really well with the beans and cheese. It has a very unique flavor profile. I can see why it's so popular. The Frijol and Queso was my absolute favorite. SO creamy!! I love the thickness of the maiz. And it wasn't too oily! My favorite part was the cabbage salad. It is slightly fermented. It kind of resembles a very very mild kimchi or sauerkraut. Super flavorful and bright. I thought the bag of red sauce would be spicy but it's actually quite sweet. It pairs perfectly with the pupusas. It is tomato based. I always feel very healthy after eating El Salvadoran food. I especially felt great after eating here. The quality and balance is all there.

    This is the place if you are patient and have extra time. They take a LONG time as most items are…read moremade to order, especially the pupusas. I don't like that none of their prices are listed, probably because it is a bit overpriced. The pupusas were pretty good and I appreciate that they have a spicy sauce option, since most places only offer the traditional tomato sauce.

    Photos
    Back seats
    Back seats
    San Sivar
    Outside looking towards Newport Blvd. Small spot

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    Outside looking towards Newport Blvd. Small spot
    Rio Restaurant Pupuseria Salvadoreña

    Rio Restaurant Pupuseria Salvadoreña

    4.0
    (367 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    Delicious pupusas. I tried the loroco & cheese. I ordered the combo and it came with sausage,…read morebeans, cream and plantains. Plenty of seating and parking. They also had the soccer game on which was a plus!

    I went to this place to try Chilate with Nuegados but the plátanos is con miel had a really bad…read moretaste so I call the waitress and ask him if they can give more nuegados and take away the plantain that taste really bad like spoil old food ! So the guy told me they were cook in the morning and I was there like 7:30 p.m so I told them that please give me another order or nuegados cause those taste fresh and he told me that the plantain where in the order so I have to pay them . I ask the guy where is a manager or owner and he act like didn't heard me . I told him I will pay them but I don't want them , then the guys was happy about it ? But this is sad to pay for a food that it tastes like old bananas or plantain. it was a really sad experience . They don't want to be responsible for a bad food they sale ? Is our money , our hard work , and if we desire to try something that you don't cook at home , it should be worth your money right ? I feel very disappointed and sad . I think I will never go back to that place ! My apologies to the owners of this place but the guys that works there don't care about making people feel happy about your food . They don't care about clients , they just want to make their hours and leave . I hope they make it better one day . We are Salvadorian and we should be more kind to people . We are human beings you know ! So sorry for saying all this but it has to be said . Thank you

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Rio Restaurant Pupuseria Salvadoreña
    Rio Restaurant Pupuseria Salvadoreña

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    Tamaleria Rincon Sinaloense

    Tamaleria Rincon Sinaloense

    4.2
    (329 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $
    Family-owned & operated
    Speaks Spanish

    Majorly moist tamales! I can't even decide which are my favorite...the green sauced chicken, the…read morered sauced shredded beef, and pork are all equally deliciously! The corn, strawberry and pineapple are also really good. And thankfully they are labeled, that way if you get a dozen to take home, you are left guessing which is which. I also tried the menudo, which is only served on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The flavor is excellent and includes limes, seasoning, and tortillas. The place is small, but very cute inside. From the outside it looks like a hole in the wall, but behind the doors it's like a little cafe. They even have two designated parking spots right in front of the entrance. There are several tables inside, and a coffee bar with sugar packets and honey. Next time I will have to try their horchata, and champurado. So looking forward to another flavorful meal here!

    Hidden gem for tamales! The last time I ordered tamales from here was back in 2021 during Covid. I…read morealways knew it was in Orange and I happened to be in the area so decided to give it a try. It's located in a strip mall and nicely updated inside. I originally had my mind set on an elote and pork tamale, but they were out of elote so I decided to try a breakfast burrito and pork tamale. - breakfast burrito has beans, rice, chorizo and egg and was good. It paired well with the salsa included. - pork tamale - just as I remembered - their tamales are the best in the area. Nice and juicy and full of flavor. It's a party in your mouth. I think the one thing that won me over was the kindness of the gentleman taking my order. He was helpful and humble. I'll be back - but next time I'll order my elote tamale in advance.

    Photos
    We are known for our variety of tamale flavors that we offer fresh and daily.
    We are known for our variety of tamale flavors that we offer fresh and daily.
    Tamaleria Rincon Sinaloense is coming back with TACO TUESDAY!!  We offer street tacos: Chicken, Carnitas and Asada.
    Tamaleria Rincon Sinaloense is coming back with TACO TUESDAY!! We offer street tacos: Chicken, Carnitas and Asada.
    Tamales Flavors:
- Pork
- Beef
- Chicken
- Cheese 
- Corn
- Pineapple
- Strawberry

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    Tamales Flavors: - Pork - Beef - Chicken - Cheese - Corn - Pineapple - Strawberry
    El Habanero

    El Habanero

    4.1
    (580 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    Great spot for burritos. I haven't tried anything else there. I had lunch there twice in two weeks…read more The first time I got a chicken burrito. It was delicious. The second time I tried the chile relleno burrito. It too was delicious. And I really like their salsa bar. Great salsas. The service was as good as any other small taco joint. If I had complaints, it's the usual. No AC and no fountain drinks (namely Coca Cola products). And it was pretty dang hot these past few weeks. But I'm gonna go back. The food is awesome here.

    Found this place a little while back and honestly so glad that I did…read more Food is fresh. Quite an eclectic menu with items I don't typically see at other places. They have the huitalacoche (corn fungus) quesadilla that I really enjoy as well as their pupusa loroco y queso. Trying out their Lengua taco and taco jaracho which I have been eyeing for a while. All their food is tasty, made fresh. All bursting with flavor. Salsa bar is probably one of my favorites having literally a salsa made for every kind of taste bud. Don't let the small restaurant deceive you. Small restaraunt but with bit flavors. The tortilla made with the quesadilla is nice and soft but with a good chew to it. Tastes like a homemade corn tortilla versus flour. The cheese is rich and has a wonderful pull to it. The lengua is extremely tender, little skimpy on meat portion, but overall good taco. The jarocho taco which is basically a shrimp taco on a cheese crusted tortilla is excellent. Service is what you would expect at a ma and pop shop. The cashier was patient enough to explain to me what a jarocho taco was and also spoke English which was nice for me. Last time I dined I just used butchered Spanish and got by with that but thats on me with practicing more Spanish.

    Photos
    Salsa bar
    Salsa bar
    Carne asada fries
    Carne asada fries
    Drinks

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    Drinks
    San Sivar

    San Sivar

    4.5
    (91 reviews)
    9.8 mi

    Love this place. I'm forgot how good this restaurant is…read more Pupusas were awesome. Nice and juicy with a ton of cheese or other filling. Cir todo (cabbage salad) for the pupusas is good with just the right amount of oregano. Hot sauce is awesome... it might only be puréed guajillo pepper.... But whatever it is, it is perfect with the pupusas. Fried plantains and refried red/sulk beans and crema are delicious too. Lots of people get the Gallo Criollo soup. The chicken is freshly fire grilled and served on the side with the other ingredients for the soup. Plenty of parking at the HB location. There are prices on the to-go menu.

    My experience here today has been by far the best! My sister…read moreloves pupusas, so every time she visits from Texas, we make it a point to come here. Yanira was so sweet, polite, and provided excellent customer service. I prefer to make the drive from Costa Mesa to this location because the ambiance is much more peaceful, and the employees are so much nicer compared to the Costa Mesa location. I truly appreciate Yanira my daughter is lactose intolerant, and she went out of her way to make her a pupusa without cheese. That small act of kindness meant a lot to us! ¡Mi experiencia aquí hoy ha sido, por mucho, la mejor! A mi hermana le encantan las pupusas, así que cada vez que viene de visita desde Texas, hacemos el esfuerzo de venir aquí. Yanira fue muy amable, atenta y ofreció un excelente servicio al cliente. Prefiero manejar desde Costa Mesa hasta esta ubicación porque el ambiente es mucho más tranquilo y los empleados son mucho más amables en comparación con la sucursal de Costa Mesa. Agradezco mucho a Yanira mi hija es intolerante a la lactosa y ella tuvo la amabilidad de prepararle una pupusa sin queso. Ese pequeño gesto significó mucho para nosotras. Muchas gracias Yanira!

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Breakfast  1. Chorizo con huevos
    Breakfast 1. Chorizo con huevos
    Menu

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    Menu

    El Pulgarcito - salvadoran - Updated July 2026

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