The food was the best Salvadoren food I've had in a while. The service was great as well. My server…read morewas sweet and didn't mind my talkative side. She gave the best recommendations of food I just couldn't decide. I ended up getting 4 cheese and chicken pupusas and a side of fried plantains with condensed milk. Overall my experience was great and the food was even better. 100000/10 for me.

We have been coming to this San Diego institution for years. We were craving Latin food and we were…read morenot disappointed. The service was very friendly and quick. We had the plantain chips with fried pork. It came with a simple side salad. The shrimp rice was plenty for two people so we had leftovers. The passion fruit juice was so big we had to take it home. The place is family casual. Happy.

First time trying pupusas and I'm so glad I came here! It's a traditional Salvadorian restaurant…read moreserving up amazing pupusas at a great price. Lots of indoor seating -- a simple, no‑frills spot -- but the food is where they really shine. We ordered the chicken tamale, carne asada pupusa, bean and cheese pupusa, and the plantain con frijoles y crema platter. Everything was delicious, and I would definitely come back. Service was a little slow, and they forgot one of our items at first, but they did bring it out eventually. Overall, a great first pupusa experience!

My go-to spot whenever I'm craving Salvadoran food. I usually get the combination plate (#1)…read morebecause you get a little bit of everything. It has a pupusa revuelta, your choice of pork or chicken tamale, and fried yuca. The pupusa is cheesy goodness packed with chicharrón and beans, and the tamal is so flavorful. I especially love the masa they use for it, it has such a great texture and flavor. For drinks, the granadilla agua fresca is a must! It has the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and it's so refreshing. Definitely a must try restaurant for anybody looking for a delicious meal.

Upon entering we were greeted with such friendliness it felt entering a friends house. I originally…read morepassed by this placed and return later in search of good Salvadorian food. The Pupusas did not disappoint and filled my craving. They felt like they were made with such experience and love that it's hard to think of anywhere else I would rather go to get such authentic food. Please don't forget to get horchata with it to wash it down. Looking forward to coming again next time!

I was in the area in SD and wanted to have salvadorean food. I came to this place and was impressed…read moreby how clean this restaurant is. The server was very polite and attentive and I think was the owner. The food was alright, very bland not much flavorful, I got 2 pupusas revueltas and couldn't find the taste to anything, not the cheese, the chicharron or the beans, completely bland. I also got a chicken Salvadorean tamales and was also bland and a little hard. My daughter got frijoles con platanos plate, it had Mexican queso fresco and sour cream. She also got a salvadorean ensalada drink but all it had was tiny pieces of pineapple and probably pineapple powder for color it didn't have other fruit as it should be. Would I be back to try again? Probably not! I have tasted better in other pupuserias. I'm only giving it 3 stars for their customer service.

Brought my man-child for a quick lunch on Friday..... This place is simple yet very good. Pretty…read morepopular too. Great service & vibes. So lucky to have it near our home. What we ordered: Pupusa de Pescado x2 Pupusa de Cameron x1 #DiningWithTheAndersons #Pupusas #SilviasPupuseria #NationalCity #SalvadorianFood

I enjoyed this place so much! I have not been in over 3 years, but after having a craving for…read morepupusas, I am glad I came back here. My partner and I tried four different kinds (revuelta, chicharron, queso con jalapenos, and loroco). I had a to-go order, but I put on all the toppings at home and it was great. The curtido was nice and fresh, I wish I could just buy this alone and use it as a topping for so many things at home. The horchata was also delicious and not overly sweet. I liked the nutty taste of the seeds. The interior was well kept, clean, and felt very at home. I came in when no one else was there and my order was made fresh and the wait was not long. Cant wait to go back and try other menu items or pupusa fillings.

Delicious hot freshly made pupusas and I also their yucca frita plate. The owner Julie is so lovely…read moreand kind! This is our go to spot and this is coming from a Salvadoreña! So definitely check it out!

Sad to say but this place is very stingy. Pupusas are more masa then fillings. Unbelievable how…read morecheap the owner is. They don't even hace AC inside. Talk about breaking labor laws. I don't even think this place is very hygienic. Avoid it. Never again. Go to the one on Imperial Avenue. Amazing pupusas and great service. Generous dishes too. No stinginess.

As a Colombian who has been craving authentic Colombian cuisine since my last visit to New York in…read moreDecember, I can confidently say this restaurant truly satisfied those cravings. Being nearly eight months pregnant, my expectations were especially high, and it is rare to find a place that meets them so well. From the seasoning of the food to the warm and attentive service, everything about this restaurant stands out. Although I don't recall my server's name, he was incredibly kind and provided excellent service throughout. The ambiance is also worth noting--the space is large, offers plenty of seating options, and even features a large TV, making it a great spot to relax or watch sports. To start, I ordered a watered mango juice along with a beef empanada. The empanada exceeded my expectations--despite being on the smaller side, it was packed with flavor. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered five more to go, which speaks for itself. They were served with fresh ají, a traditional sauce that complemented them perfectly. For my main course, I had the carne asada plate, which included steak, rice, beans, sweet plantains, avocado, tomato slices, and a small arepa. Every component of the dish was well-executed--the beans were flavorful, the meat was well-seasoned, and the overall plate felt authentic. It is often difficult to find truly authentic Colombian food, especially in San Diego, where options are limited or not genuinely Colombian. This restaurant, however, delivers on authenticity and flavor. The portion size was generous, and I ended up taking leftovers home to enjoy later. In addition to the empanadas (two chicken and three beef), I also ordered a buñuelo and a cheese arepa to go. Unfortunately, these items did not meet the same standard. The arepa lacked flavor and was overly greasy, and the buñuelo was dry and similarly oily, even after absorbing excess grease from the bag. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for Colombian food, especially given how rare it is to find quality options in this area. Friends of mine visited recently as well and thoroughly enjoyed their bandeja paisa, further confirming the consistency of the food. I will definitely be returning--especially for those empanadas. Como colombiana que ha estado antojándose de comida colombiana auténtica desde mi último viaje a Nueva York en diciembre, puedo decir con confianza que este restaurante realmente cumplió con mis expectativas. Además, estando casi de ocho meses de embarazo, mis expectativas eran aún más altas, y no es fácil encontrar un lugar que las cumpla tan bien. Desde el sazón de la comida hasta el servicio cálido y atento, todo en este restaurante destaca. Aunque no recuerdo el nombre del mesero, fue sumamente amable y atento. un servicio excelente en todo momento. El ambiente también merece mención: el lugar es amplio, y limpio. cuenta con muchas opciones de asientos y tiene una pantalla grande, lo que lo hace ideal para relajarse o ver deportes. Para empezar, pedí un jugo de mango (rebajado con agua) junto con una empanada de carne. La empanada superó mis expectativas; aunque es un poco pequeña, tiene muchísimo sabor. Me gustó tanto que pedí cinco más para llevar, lo cual habla por sí solo. Venían acompañadas de ají fresco, que las complementa perfectamente. Como plato fuerte, pedí la carne asada, que incluía arroz, frijoles, plátano maduro, aguacate, rodajas de tomate y una arepita. Cada componente del plato estaba muy bien logrado: los frijoles tenían un excelente sabor, la carne estaba bien sazonada y jugosa y, en general, el plato se sentía auténtico. Hoy en día es difícil encontrar comida colombiana verdaderamente auténtica, especialmente en San Diego, donde las opciones son limitadas o no lo son del todo. Sin embargo, este restaurante sí cumple con ese nivel de autenticidad y sabor. La porción fue bastante generosa, por lo que terminé llevándome lo que no pude terminar para comer más tarde. Además de las empanadas (dos de pollo y tres de carne), también pedí un buñuelo y una arepa de queso para llevar. Lamentablemente, estos no estuvieron al mismo nivel. La arepa carecía de sabor y estaba grasosa, y el buñuelo estaba seco y también muy aceitoso, incluso después de que la bolsa absorbiera parte de la grasa. En general, recomiendo este restaurante sin duda a cualquiera que esté buscando comida colombiana, especialmente considerando lo difícil que es encontrar buenas opciones en esta área. Unos amigos míos también vinieron recientemente y les encantó su bandeja paisa, lo que confirma la calidad constante del lugar. Definitivamente volveré, especialmente por esas empanadas.

BEST EMPANADAS IN ALL OF SAN DIEGO. I spent my whole day trying to find good empanadas here in san…read morediego that would remind me of new york and this was the only location that didn't disappoint. $1.99 per empanada, they are super filling and can tell are made with love. Service was amazing and quick and the atmosphere is very welcoming i love this place. LAS MEJORES EMPANADAS DE TODO SAN DIEGO. Pasé todo el día buscando buenas empanadas aquí en San Diego que me recordaran a Nueva York, y este fue el único lugar que no decepcionó. $1.99 por empanada, son muy llenadoras y se nota que están hechas con amor. El servicio fue increíble y rápido, y el ambiente es muy acogedor. Me encanta este lugar.

I believe in giving people second chances, and I'm glad I did…read more The other day, my coworker came into the office with chilaquiles that smelled amazing. She told me they were from Super Cocina, so I had to give the place another try. I ordered the chilaquiles with carnitas, and they were delicious! The mild salsa really hit the spot. The next morning, I went back and ordered the same thing before heading to work because I enjoyed it that much. Then today, I stopped by again for lunch and ordered the enchiladas de mole and a guisado (Mexican stew). The food was good, and the customer service was friendly. My only complaint is that the portions could be a little larger. The enchiladas had very little meat, and overall the servings felt a bit small for the price. I also think the restaurant could use an upgrade or remodel. Other than that, my second experience was much better than my first, and I'm glad I decided to give Super Cocina another chance.

pretty authentic mexican food. not my personal preference, but cool option…read morethe verde chicken guisado was okay. tough chicken. mole enchilada - mole too sweet red salsa chilaquiles were great. homey comfort feel.

(Long review up ahead)…read more I tried Lola55 back in 2018 at a UC San Diego URBAN event. The event was awesome and I remember the tacos being a huge highlight of the evening. It took me 8 years to visit the actual Lola55! To be honest I lost my faith in them when they opened at the UTC mall back in February 2025. I don't know what they were thinking then but the quality simply wasn't there. Fast forward to 2026 and I find myself at their OG location. So many friends and colleagues would always ask me "Have you tried Lola55?!". I've now visited twice, once with friends and once with my husband. It helped to go with friends who were regulars as they shared their favorites. The second time around we knew exactly what to order. My favorite are definitely: Carnitas tacos- O.M.G. AMAZING, DELICIOSO. Ceviche - Yum! Cilantro, lime marinate with a habanero kick. Steak taco- yum, with the salsa and toreado chile adding extra special flavor. Their tortillas are fresh Their beans are delicious! The mesquite coals definitely take over the entire establishment. The Camino Margarita made with Mezcal is out of this world. I don't even like mezcal! If Lola55 isn't it, I don't really want to know what is it. It's not about the tacos, or the margaritas, it's not even about the smell of the place. It's more closely to the ingredients you know and grew up with, showing up in ways. In many different and particular ways. In similar dishes but somehow better. This is rare. Thank you for letting me get to know what is Lola55. HH Sun-Fri, 2-6pm

Michelin bib gourmand Mexican spot from Chef Drew Bent who won an episode of Beat Bobby Flay. Came…read moreon a random weekday evening. Party of four. Wasn't busy and we got seated right away. Was told we could sit anywhere so we opted for an outdoor patio spot. Was almost 10 min without a waiter welcoming us or coming by the table. Bartender/Host had to step in to grab us menus and send the waiter to us. Otherwise, service was friendly and attentive. Tried a variety of the tacos which, overall, were pretty good. Steak taco was cooked perfectly and definitely a highlight. Fish taco was also light and cooked well. Got some beans on the side that were a big hit. Corn and cotija ice cream was unique and enjoyable. A nice end to the meal that wasn't too sweet.

We were on the hunt for Puerto Rican pasteles. We ordered 6 hot and 4 frozen (they ran out of the…read morehot). We also purchased goya chips, goya rice, and coco rico. The pasteles were deliciously meaty. Would've preferred more olives and sofrito. Half of the space is for dining the other half is a market. Ample customer parking. Friendly service, clean, and organized.

Ever since Tropical Star changed ownership, the prices have increased dramatically and frankly,…read moresome of them are ridiculous. Certain items have literally doubled in price. And for the prepared food? They cut the size of everything and they charge even more. What makes it even more frustrating is that many products no longer have prices displayed, so you don't even know what you're being charged until you're standing at the register. Why? Customers should be able to see what something costs before deciding to buy it. I used to shop here twice a week and Tropical Star was always my go-to place for Latin ingredients. Unfortunately, not anymore. With these prices and the lack of transparency, I simply can't justify shopping here again.

I love empanadas and have had these empanadas before when at Pacific Beach open market…read more I kind of stumbled on this place and immediately I knew I wanted some empanadas! Empanadas are stuffed turnovers, originally from Spain and Portugal, and eaten widely across South America, including Argentina, Paraguay and also eaten in Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Phillipines too. They are a delight and delicious! This spot is an Argentinian place and I got 3 empanadas. They have many different stuffed options and I chose a beef, mushroom and spinach as my three. I asked how spicy the spicy beef one is and the very nice lady working said it was about 5/10, so I passed. She said it wad spicy, unfortunately, I cannot handle too spicy. So far, I have eaten the beef and spinach one and like them both. I was given chimichurri sauce, but I dont think I like this version, its a little too lemony for me. I like a more parsley forward chimichurri and this one too sour for me. For 3 empanadas, it was about $11, which isnt too bad! The empanadas are delicious and I will def be back again and again!!

I really like the empanadas here. I do not like fried empanadas so to me these are close to…read moreperfect. I like the texture of the baked dough and usually these are filled pretty full. I prefer the spinach, mushroom and beef empanadas. I tried the Malbec beef but it was too mushy and sweet for me. I'll stick with the traditional one, with olives. I lived in S. FL and baked empanadas are everywhere and usually were $1.50 each (now maybe $2.00-$2.50) so it does bug me to pay $4.00 for an empanada. On the other hand, they make a great snack or meal, depending on how many you get. And they are not as easy to find here, especially baked, so I'll keep coming to Parana.