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Stumbled across this hole in the wall a couple of years ago and am still such a big fan of their desayuno típico My "typical breakfast" included veggie scrambled eggs, refried beans, fried plantains, sour cream, avocado, and two fresh and hot tortillas My mom tried their típico con chorizo (breakfast with chorizo!) which featured a fried egg and the most flavorful chorizo ever
I didn't speak a lick of Spanish however I made due. The Vegetarian burrito was huge and much better than I anticipated. I had leftovers forsure. It was a very intimate place with limited seating however very cute. I was visiting and glad I stopped in. The prices were reasonable and food great.
This place was small and intimate. Because of limited seating, I chose to eat at the bar and had enough room for myself, but all the seats were full. I think it's a testament to the fact that the food was delicious and that folks from the convention center were here to eat. The menu wasn't too varied in terms of Salvadorean food, mostly pupusas and several meat dishes, but they also had Mexican/Tex-Mex food (burritos, chimichangas, tacos). I wanted to get Salvadorean since the restaurant was labeled as such, but the Mexican food that other people got smelled sooo good. I got a pupusa revuelta and one with just cheese. Both were freshly made, piping hot, and stuffed! I think you absolutely have to get the pupusas if you come here. The cheese really just poured out and was so gooey. Honestly, one of the best pupusas I've had. The tamal was also delicious. The refried beans were salted really well and carried a ton of flavor--more than most refried beans I've had. I kinda wish I had gotten a different flavor of tamal since I already had beans on my plate, but I wasn't complaining. The rice went really well with the curtido (? I think was what the pickled veggies were). Again just packed with flavor. Staff was attentive and particularly kind. I will be back!
I really wanted to give them a higher rating, but the food was not that great and the archive was terrible. The pupusa was decent, but I wish the curtido and sauce were served separately. It really needed more sauce. The burrito eD interesting because it had black beans and white rice inside. So it was like a fusion of a Mexican and Salvadoran burrito. It just needed a bit more flavor. Our waitress was a little rude and we got our food after everyone around us even though we ordered first. The place is very small with only a few tables.
This is my special spot. The food is so good, and served fast and hot. The pupusas are melt in your mouth worthy. I love the cheese and zucchini specifically, but you can't go wrong here. The rice and beans are also such a tasteful compliment. The tamales are good, im not typically a fan, but I finished it in its entirety! This is a small place and does not take reservations. It has a few tables and a bar, and really more of a neighborhood spot to pop into when the moment strikes. I also appreciate the prices are decent. Highly recommend.
OVERALL: favorite place for pupusas and latin drinks. Small space but worth it. FOOD: I always have the loroco (some veggie and cheese)and revueltas (mixed pork and cheese). It's always made fresh and is delicious. We had non-alcoholic drinks - horchata, hibiscus, and tamarind flavored water. My friend got the taco salad and it didn't disappoint. Nice big serving of carne asada and shrimp! SERVICE: we were greeted immediately and seated. The staff were kind and helpful. My friend didn't speak Spanish but the staff are bilingual so it wasn't a problem. VENUE: very small but worth getting takeout if you can't get a table. There is also a bar in the back.
This is THE pupusa spot! I have been coming for 7+ years and the quality and service have remained consist. It's my favorite pupuseria in the area, that's saying something. Most recently, I got 2 pupusas with rice and beans, and a side of plantains and sour cream. The pupusas are delicious, filled with cheesy bean-y goodness, and delicious slaw. It was so tasty and filling. The plantains were also delicious, I like that they are little thinner so the texture doesn't get too soft and mushy. This is a small restaurant but let's be honest, you're here for the decor, you're here for good food and service. The servers are so nice. If you're not into pupusas, the tamales and burritos are also good!
Came here with a large group and we sat outside. Half had a pitcher of margaritas while most of us just had pupusas. I also shared the yuca which was incredible and fried perfectly. Pupusas were amazing and so cheap. Service was a little slow, but very friendly and accommodating for a large group. They were able to split the check and pay by QR code which was incredibly convenient! I live by their other location but this is a great spot if you're in the area! read more
1 month ago
Hubby wanted to try Salvadorian food and found this restaurant with good reviews. The restaurant was tiny with only few tables inside and few seats at the small bar. Lucky for us, we were immediately. Since we never had Salvadorian food, we asked the server for recommendations. - pork & chicken pupusa & chicken tamale: both pupusas were good. Slight crispy on the crust yet soft. The pork and chicken fillings were well seasoned. The chicken tamale had soft & savory dough and the chicken was good. The refried bean was simply delicious! The rice was succulent and good. - milanese chicken: chicken was tender and the coating was crispy. The black bean was good and well seasoned. The fried plantains were delicious! - horchata: it was very sweet but it had good strong cinnamon flavor. read more
8 months ago
Stumbled across this hole in the wall a couple of years ago and am still such a big fan of their desayuno típico My "typical breakfast" included veggie scrambled eggs, refried beans, fried plantains, sour cream, avocado, and two fresh and hot tortillas My mom tried their típico con chorizo (breakfast with chorizo!) which featured a fried egg and the most flavorful chorizo ever read more
I didn't speak a lick of Spanish however I made due. The Vegetarian burrito was huge and much better than I anticipated. I had leftovers forsure. It was a very intimate place with limited seating however very cute. I was visiting and glad I stopped in. The prices were reasonable and food great. read more
9 months ago
This place was small and intimate. Because of limited seating, I chose to eat at the bar and had enough room for myself, but all the seats were full. I think it's a testament to the fact that the food was delicious and that folks from the convention center were here to eat. The menu wasn't too varied in terms of Salvadorean food, mostly pupusas and several meat dishes, but they also had Mexican/Tex-Mex food (burritos, chimichangas, tacos). I wanted to get Salvadorean since the restaurant was labeled as such, but the Mexican food that other people got smelled sooo good. I got a pupusa revuelta and one with just cheese. Both were freshly made, piping hot, and stuffed! I think you absolutely have to get the pupusas if you come here. The cheese really just poured out and was so gooey. Honestly, one of the best pupusas I've had. The tamal was also delicious. The refried beans were salted really well and carried a ton of flavor--more than most refried beans I've had. I kinda wish I had gotten a different flavor of tamal since I already had beans on my plate, but I wasn't complaining. The rice went really well with the curtido (? I think was what the pickled veggies were). Again just packed with flavor. Staff was attentive and particularly kind. I will be back! read more
1 year ago
I really wanted to give them a higher rating, but the food was not that great and the archive was terrible. The pupusa was decent, but I wish the curtido and sauce were served separately. It really needed more sauce. The burrito eD interesting because it had black beans and white rice inside. So it was like a fusion of a Mexican and Salvadoran burrito. It just needed a bit more flavor. Our waitress was a little rude and we got our food after everyone around us even though we ordered first. The place is very small with only a few tables. read more
1 year ago
This is my special spot. The food is so good, and served fast and hot. The pupusas are melt in your mouth worthy. I love the cheese and zucchini specifically, but you can't go wrong here. The rice and beans are also such a tasteful compliment. The tamales are good, im not typically a fan, but I finished it in its entirety! This is a small place and does not take reservations. It has a few tables and a bar, and really more of a neighborhood spot to pop into when the moment strikes. I also appreciate the prices are decent. Highly recommend. read more
3 months ago
El Rinconcito Cafe is a cozy, casual establishment. Authentic, impeccable food and excellent service. Prices are very reasonable. read more
2 years ago
OVERALL: favorite place for pupusas and latin drinks. Small space but worth it. FOOD: I always have the loroco (some veggie and cheese)and revueltas (mixed pork and cheese). It's always made fresh and is delicious. We had non-alcoholic drinks - horchata, hibiscus, and tamarind flavored water. My friend got the taco salad and it didn't disappoint. Nice big serving of carne asada and shrimp! SERVICE: we were greeted immediately and seated. The staff were kind and helpful. My friend didn't speak Spanish but the staff are bilingual so it wasn't a problem. VENUE: very small but worth getting takeout if you can't get a table. There is also a bar in the back. read more
4 months ago
11 months ago
We found a small el Salvadoran restaurant . Pupusas and tamales were hot fresh and flavorful . Thank you for the friendly service as well read more
9 months ago
Food was incredible. Humble location. Friendly and attentive service. We started out with a mixture of a fresco and warm salsa fusion with chips. We had papusa entrees that left us well pleased. read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
This little spot was so good and the happy hour selection was great. The service was okay, there was only one server for the whole dining room. The music was great and the drinks were good. Definitely want to come back to try more! read more
1 year ago
Returned to this place after 10 years and it's still just as good! Amazing food and super well-priced. There isn't a ton of seating but you can always do takeout. read more
6 months ago
This is THE pupusa spot! I have been coming for 7+ years and the quality and service have remained consist. It's my favorite pupuseria in the area, that's saying something. Most recently, I got 2 pupusas with rice and beans, and a side of plantains and sour cream. The pupusas are delicious, filled with cheesy bean-y goodness, and delicious slaw. It was so tasty and filling. The plantains were also delicious, I like that they are little thinner so the texture doesn't get too soft and mushy. This is a small restaurant but let's be honest, you're here for the decor, you're here for good food and service. The servers are so nice. If you're not into pupusas, the tamales and burritos are also good! read more
9 months ago
El Rinconcito Cafe (translating to "The Little Corner Cafe") is a small Salvadorian restaurant that provides a breath of fresh (tasty) air to the largely new American flavors in this area of D.C. With friendly staff, their menu is pretty big - but the pupusas are the star here. The chicken and pork pupusas provide a hearty bite for under $5 each, though my favorite is the lorocco (edible flower), which adds a mild taste reminiscent of a faint artichoke or asparagus. The pupusas themselves are seared perfectly, with just a bit of cheese oozing out. And while some pupusas can be quite oily and wet, El Rinconcito manages to let the bread and fillings shine without overusing additional fats. A+ pupusas through and through. The slaw and sauce on the side is a perfect fresh accompaniment to the pupusas. I just wish they provide more of the sauce as the Salvadorian style salsa really brings life to pupusas. The corn tamale is also pretty tasty (moist with little chunks of smashed sweet corn) and saved me from starving during a long wait from delayed flights. They also have Horchata, but the flavor is a bit different from what you might traditionally expect - and, as I found out later, that's because Salvadorian Horchata is made differently than Mexican Horchata! Using Morro, cocoa, and other bold flavors, the Horchata has a sweeter, chocolate-y, earthy flavor to it. Sitting near a street corner, the restaurant is snug and ideal for an outing with a friend or two rather than a large group. For a very affordable and delicious snack or lunch, El Rinconcito is a fantastic spot to visit in D.C. read more
2 years ago
A very cozy place with affordable, filling, delicious meals! I've never ordered something that I did not immensely enjoy. On my latest visit, I ordered the El Salvadorian specialty, which was flavorful and spicy. You can not go wrong with anything on the menu. Highly recommended! read more
10 months ago
Amazing food and service! We relished every bite of our pupusas, tamales, enchiladas, and empanadas de plátanos. This is worth returning again and again and again. read more
11 months ago
The revueltas (pork and cheese) pupusa and frijol, queso y loroco (beans, cheese and loroco) pupusa with rice and refried beans was delicious. The tamal pisque was also yummy since it was seasoned well. However, the slaw was alright. read more
It's a quaint hole in the wall type place that serves tasty food! 6 pupusas for $23! I'll be back again and again. I came with a friend who was influenced by Tiktok and I'm so glad we tried it! Pro tip: Pupusas take about 10-20 minutes. Order ahead and if you get there and there's seats at the bar, might as well eat there! read more
I ended up looking on yelp for a restaurant close to the convention center, and I'm glad this one popped up. Everything was delicious!! A small place but serves up big flavor! The food was incredible and very affordable. I got the carne asada along with a side of plantain and the fruit juice. And it was all delicious. My bestie opted for chicken tacos which we shared and they were extremely flavorful. We sat down immediately after being greeted and the service was quick and friendly. I will definitely be back to try to soup, it seems like that was the menu item of choice by the other patrons. read more
Would definitely come back again for the enchiladas. We got the pupusa, enchiladas, carne asada, and tamales. We were absolutely stuffed there was so much food for the price we paid. The enchiladas were my favorite dish I would 110% come back to get it again. I wouldn't recommend the carne asada, but thought the pupusas were very tasty as well. Personally I'm not a big tamales fan but I think it was above average. read more
4 years ago
So so glad I came out to DC to try the local El Salvadoran food because restaurants like these deserve all the love. It's located in a small little corner (hence the name) and the small homey restaurant makes you feel well taken care of. The only waiters were so kind and friendly and willing to accommodate for our big party of 8 even though the restaurant was so small. We got the revuelta pupusas, the pollo tamales, and the yuca con chicharrón. They're all so flavorful, delicious, and authentic. I can't wait to come back here for more good home-cooked style meals whenever I'm craving a good puousa and Salvadorian tamales! read more
Came for dine in on a weekday. No frills place with great food! We came for pious as and they did not disappoint. I didn't care for the chicken tamale but I will be back for the rest. The pickled cabbage was also so good! read more
3 years ago
This place far exceeded my expectations!! Authentic, so it takes a minute to get your food when you order! Well worth the wait! It's very small so I wouldn't recommend larger groups. There were 4 of us and we lucked up on a table. I gather it's a pretty hot spot as we were leaving there was a line forming at the door just to get in or to wait outside for food orders. Servers were very friendly which is always a plus! read more
2 years ago
Hungry looking for a good lunch? This is it! Lay back Latin place with authentic Central American food. read more
5 years ago
Talk about a gem!!! This restaurant is so delicious and so cozy! I order 1 pupusa and 1 tamal de pollo combo Togo. First of all it was only $12 which I feel like is unheard of for a full meal in DC. There was so much food and it was really filling. The taste of the pupusa and tamal were authentic and incredible! I felt like I was in someone's home getting a fresh cooked meal with every bite! The black beans were so smooth. The cabbage so tangy. The tamal was falling apart and tender. The pupusa was just heaven. I loved every bite and can't wait to stop by again. I'll be a regular for sure. I ordered to go but the inside is very small. Not a place for large groups. An intimate dinner by yourself or with a close friend is best. read more
What a pleasant and pleasantly priced meal! This is clearly a neighborhood place, with a small bar in back and a largely local, Spanish speaking clientele. So go for it! The pupusa with veggie and the pulida with chícharon, oh baby, transported me back to El Salvador even though I have never been there. The elote tamale, just the most delicate and sweet tamale I have ever laid taste buds on! The son had a shredded beef quesadilla that was greasy but good! 25 bucks for everything, and we three left stuffed! The service was friendly and the fact that they were watching soccer only helped! read more
This another DC staple, the pupusa....so, when I was here for work, I just had to try it. The serving size was massive, and everything tasted really good! I'm very glad I got to try it, and I recommend this location for a really delicious pupusa. read more
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More info about El Rinconcito Cafe
1129 11th St NW
Washington, DC 20001
Downtown
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(202) 789-4110
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http://www.rinconcitocafe.com
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El Rinconcito Cafe - salvadoran - Updated May 2026
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