Best authentic Salvadoran food would definitely recommend to others , the pupusas are very tasty and as well is tamales

A year later and we're still crushing on Mamenche's. Upping the review to 5 stars because it's the fastest El Salvadoran joint in town and they've always got something fresh and new! On our most recent visit, the specials of the day included jalapeño and cheese papusas (HELLS YES) and giant handmade coconut popsicles! You'll never find a more friendly owner and the food is always delish! PS - Try the carne asada here. Sooooo good!!! read more

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Geez, where does time fly? It's been a year and a half since my first visit to Mamenche's. I've been meaning to come back to try more things off their menu. Well, that finally happened when I was able to round up the troops for a Friday lunch. The inside of Mamenche's reminds me of an old folks home. Decorations are simple and bare. But who cares as long as the food is legit? I certainly don't. While we were perusing the menu, we found out that sadly their specials of the day weren't available. That seemed odd because it was already around 12:30pm by the time we arrived and were ready to order. I guess that goes with the laid back environment. Two pages for their menu. First page is light cuisine and entrees. Second page is soup, dessert and beverages. We saw a regular (who was playing some guitar!) getting a soup that looked absolutely delicious. On the list for next time. So many delicious options. Obviously, pupusas were a must along with cheese empanadas that were so good the first time around. Fried tilapia? Don't think this exists anywhere else in town. Plus, this is Bbops favourite from when he used to live in South America. Done. I was surprised to see how empty the place was. Only a few tables were occupied but a couple people strolled in for takeout. But still, this place should be PACKED given how cheap and delicious the food is. And how close it is to downtown. Does no one know about it? Is it because it looks like an attachment to the auto shop next door? The slightly sketchy area? The answer eludes me. - Arrayan ($2.00 each) - if there's one thing you need to get, it's the arrayan. This defines guava heaven. Bbops and Dbone are goons. They ordered the exact same drink as me. Copycats but I guess mimicry is the best form of flattery right? - Empanada de queso ($3.00 each) - these were table favourites the first time I tried them so had to order them again. We ordered two to share and they came out straight from the deep fryer. Cheesy goodness and perfectly fried. It might be my imagination but I feel like these were a bit smaller than the originals. - Pupusas ($3.50 each) - corn tortillas filled with mozzarella cheese. There's seven types to choose from. We decided to try two pork, bean and loroco (a type of South American flower bud). Comes with the typical side of pickled cabbage and salsa. We were also given a jar of their homemade hot sauce which was BOMB. They should probably sell this - I'd buy a jar for home. It borders dangerously along that line of being too hot but still tasty and flavourful. Let's just say the sauce lingers. The pupusas here are super tasty. Our favourite of the day? The bean one! Couldn't believe it myself but it was pleasantly delicious. The lorsoca was just as the waiter described it - flowery but much more subtle in terms of flavour. The pork ones were pretty standard. Too bad they didn't have any special pupusas like on my first visit but now that I think about it, I believe it's a weekend thing. - Tacos nicaraguenses ($8.00) - you get three pieces of chicken fried tacos that are served with radish, cucumber, queso and lettuce. Super crunchy but also light and refreshing. - Enchiladas salvadorenas ($8.00) - two lightly fried corn tortillas topped with chicken, lettuce, feta cheese and hard boiled eggs. The enchiladas was probably my least favourite out of everything we ordered. Not that it was bad, the torta it came on had a satisfying bite to it. It was more from the ingredients - the pork was a bit dry and I'm not the biggest fan of sliced hard boiled eggs. You also only get two so keep that in mind if you're sharing. - Mamenche's special tilapia frita ($14.75) - fried tilapia fish served with Salvadorean guacamole and casamiento (rice and beans). What's Salvadorean style guacamole? I'm glad you asked. Guacamole with hard boiled egg and onion mixed in. I would never have thought to mix these two together but it's surprisingly delicious. First time I've seen it done this way! As for the the tilapia, you get the whole fish and it is superb. Perfectly crunchy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside. Just be ready to put in a some work to get every last tidbit. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of fried fish as it's pretty difficult to make without over frying it but Mamenche's kills it. Bbops is in love - he hasn't had this since his days in South America. Even the chef came out to say hello and ask how everything was at the end of our meal. Adds to the charm of this place. Everyone's super friendly and down to earth, the food's homemade and prices are super reasonable. We ate everything and left with very satisfied bellies. I'll be back again sooner this time around, I swear. read more

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What a fabulous little gem of a place! If you want home cooked authentic Salvadoran cuisine, this is the place to be. Best pupusas in town! The exterior of the place is very unassuming but that's probably best considering the area it is in. I am not gonna lie, I wasn't sure what I would be walking into. But I was pleasantly surprised by the large open space with lots of seating. Everything was simple which I liked from the decor with a touch of El Salvador to the paper plates that we received our most delicious meals on. The ambiance was very relaxed. I kind of felt like I was coming over to the parents of my friend's place and mom was going to feed me well. And boy did she ever! I ordered two pupusas. Pupusas are corn filled tortillas with filling served with pickled cabbage and a salsa. There are many types of filling to choose from such as Chicharon (pork), bean, loroco, spinach, broccoli, and mushroom to name a few. The fillings I chose were bean and loroco. Loroco is an edible wild flower commonly found in Central America. Both were so tasty. I really enjoyed the subtle hints of the loroco. It is hard to explain the flavour but it wasn't bitter and a little sweet which was delicious with the cheese. I also ordered the Tomale con Pollo which was corn dough filled with chicken, potatoes and olives steamed and wrapped in banana leaves. It was a little on the cool side but it still was great. The chicken was moist and the sauce it was marinated in was tasty. We also ordered their freshly made watermelon juice which was so refreshing and not too sweet. It would be perfect on a hot day. I believe the tomale and pupusas were around $3.50 each. A very affordable meal that left me stuffed! Our server was great. He readily checked on us and answered any questions we had about the menu. At the end of the meal, the cook came out to greet us and ask how everything was. I really appreciated that. She was lovely and made us feel very welcomed as though we were in her home. I look forward to my next visit. read more

Mamenche's - Tomale con pollo - Salvadoran Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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This place is simply great! Don't judge this place by the plain exterior and interior. The awesome food speaks volumes! The chicken tamales was so tender, you could cut easily into it with a fork. Like butter! The freshly made pork pupusa was also yummy! It was crispy on the outside and cheesy and meat filled on the inside! Other pupusas I've tried have been softer/soggy and thinner in thickness. These were a little thicker and very filling! The cheese empanada was crunchy and delicious. Although to be honest, I did find these a bit salty. The horchata was sweet and brown in color. This kind of threw me off. I'm used to drinking milky white horchatas. I found a lot of sediment at the bottom of this drink. I'm not sure if that's typical though. It still tasted pretty good. The lady who helped us was super nice. We were the last customers of the day. She was very attentive and friendly. She didn't rush us at all. I literally felt like I had gone to dinner at someone's home. In the end, my boyfriend and I ate together, a total of two pupusas, one tamale, one cheese empanada, and one horchata. The final bill was only about $15! Great food for a low price! I'll definitely be back for more! read more

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Mamenche's, where have you been all my life? The decor is... interesting. A flashback to an old school pizza joint with unmatching tables and chairs, but it's quaint and it adds to the charm. The lady who served us (I assume she's the owner) was a charming woman who engaged in a lovely conversation with us as we decided what to order. We went with the Enchiladas Salvadoreans, pork pupusas and a cheese empanada, while sharing a glass of horchata. Oh. Em. Gee. Great flavours all around, if El Salvadorean fare is what you crave. The Enchiladas Salvadoreans is somewhat like a tostada (Which I'm not normally a fan of), but this dish is off the hook! I will go back just for this! Just come in and order... 'nuff said. read more

I probably would have walked by Mamenche's without a second look if a coworker hadn't clued me in, now it's my favorite lunch place in the Royal Alex area! Don't be put off by the plain furnishings, it may feel sort of like you're dining in a cafeteria but the food is delicious and fresh, the service very friendly and patient (sorry about my terrible attempt at Español!), the portions are big and the price point is extremely reasonable. The place is run by a very nice lady who takes orders and cooks as well. I had falsely assumed that most Latin cuisine was spicy and deep fried but while Mamenche's has several deep fried dishes, their food really isn't spicy. Their empanadas are amazing, there are several fillings available but mushroom is my favorite. Excellent! read more

When I heard that Mamenche's served Salvadorean food in the same vein as El Rancho, my curiosity was piqued. When I learned that its new location was even closer to downtown than El Rancho, I was (nearly) sold. "Hold your horses," I said to myself. "You can't just give yourself over to every pupusa shop you meet. You should probably try it before deciding this is your new home." I've visited twice in the last week, and have been pleasantly surprised both times. Both times I ordered pupusas and chicken tacos. The service is great. Both waitresses were attentive, and the food came out fast. It was cool to be able to see/hear the pupusas being slapped around in the kitchen! Another aspect of the service that I liked is that they accept plastic, not just cash. The ambiance is very cafeteria-like. Ceiling tiles and fluorescent lights don't make for an intimate or romantic atmosphere, but that really doesn't matter to me when I'm in the mood for delicious Latin food. The pupusas are delicious at Mamenche's. They are well-stuffed if a little bit under seasoned, to my taste. However, the salsa, pickled cabbage and the upon-request homemade hot sauce spice them up very nicely. I preferred the pork and cheese variation to the bean and cheese, or spinach and cheese version. The pork variation simply had more flavour, but a bit more spice would go a long way to improving these. Their chicken tacos (which were one of the specials during both visits) are also delicious. The filling was flavourful, and they were topped with a massive, creamy avocado slice, tomatoes, onions and cilantro. I added hot sauce and some of the leftover pickled cabbage from the appetizer - and this made them even better. Although there are only 2 tacos, the tortilla is thicker than the ones used at El Rancho or Tres Carnales. I'm actually not sure how I feel about the thicker tortillas - I may prefer the thinner ones. However, the dish was very tasty and fresh, and the only thing more stuffed than the tacos themselves was my belly upon leaving Mamenches. Prices here were reasonable. Pupusas were between $3.00-3.75 each, depending on the filling you chose, and the tacos were $7.50 an order. This place won't break your budget! I look forward to exploring more of Mamenche's Salvadorean delights (empanadas, moles, etc.) and have absolutely added them to my regular rotation, although I do prefer Acajutla's and El Rancho's offerings. read more

I had passed by Mamenche's several times before when taking buses along 97 St, but I didn't have an opportunity to venture in until yesterday. Situated just north of Chinatown, Mamenche's kindly accepts both Credit and Debit cards, unlike a number of businesses on 97. The restaurant consists of two different rooms. I sat in one with clear plastic tablecloths, a television blasting whatever is on Telemundo, and a view into a somewhat open kitchen. I don't remember the details of the room, but the overall vibe is very much that of a family-run restaurant. Mamenche's, however is not an Asian restaurant, but a Salvadorean one. And as this was my first time here, I went for my Salvadorean restaurant staples - Pupusas and Tamales, which cost $3 a piece. And while both were executed impeccably in the sense of texture, I found both my pupusas and my tamales to be underseasoned. There was also no hot sauce left in the bottle that was on my table. Service was friendly and quick. This could be a good lunch option for people who work on the northeast side of Downtown. Just don't expect to come for lunch on Wednesdays, when Mamenche's is closed. They also have a number of interesting-looking dishes which they only serve on weekends, when I guess those dishes are either traditionally served in El Salvador, or when they get the most business. read more

We stopped here for dinner (based on Yelp reviews) before an Oilers game. To be honest, we nearly walked past it - while it's across from the Victoria School for the Arts, it is still a very sketchy location. The inside decor was clean, but certainly not much better than the outside. The restaurant was also empty, and in the time it took us to eat, only other table showed up. We definitely ordered too much food - the portion sizes are huge! We ordered both tamales and pupusas as appetizers, and neither of us enjoyed the tamales. Perhaps because it was a new dish to us, perhaps because the texture of the filling was undesirable, not sure. The pupasas were more delicious - they are also deep-fried...who doesn't like deep-fried food? My date had the steak special and I tried the chicken mole. We were informed that Salvadoran food isn't spicy - this is true. They were both well-rounded dishes, savoury, but it definitely could have been spicier for me. The highlight of the meal was the horchata - which is a dairy-free, sweet, nutty and spicy drink, which definitely tasted as though it was made from scratch. I would probably pass on returning, in hopes of finding spicier food and a more bustling atmosphere. read more

The service, food, ambiance. Woohoo! As good as it gets. Doesn't get any better than this. read more

Mamenche's - Awesome chorizo taco - Salvadoran Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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This place has been across the street for work and I never noticed it before - looks can be deceiving! Granted the atmosphere reminds you of a community hall when walking in initally. Plain tables and chairs scattered around the room with lots of empty spaces make it a little cold, but the friendly service and food quality definitely make up for it! We had the papusas, enchiladas & tamales and all were delish, fresh and came out super quick! I'd definitely go again and they do take out also! Another hidden gem in Edmonton that is fantastic and totally worth checking out! read more

I really wanted to like this place but I order cheese and bean pupusas but got home and realized they gave me just meat. The phone line is bad so I think it was just miscommunication. Also a warning: the website has the wrong address but the one on FB is right! Hopefully I can try again but I'll order in person next time. read more

I like this place. The inside is a little cold, and stark, but it is very clean. You can see inside the kitchen, which I always like, and you can see this kitchen is well kept and organized. Though it isn't anything fancy, it wins BIG points for me with cleanliness. I find the staff very friendly and welcoming. It has a family feel, without making you feel as though you have dropped in in the middle of someone's dinner. Today, we had three kinds of pupusas (bean & cheese, pork, cheese). They were delicious. The bean pupusas were perhaps a little mushy, but the flavor was awesome. Tomales..very nice. Today, I found them kind of dry, but that's first. The flavor was, again, awesome! If you like spice, try their home made hot sauce!! Very tasty! read more

I'm from a small town in Canada and moved to Edmonton, My family is Nicaraguan Guatemalan, being away from them for years can be painful but I went into the Mamenche's today and found a place where I felt like I was eating at home again. Food was wonderful service was fast and the owner is a delight. If you want real authentic food and not taco time you need to treat yourself and bring your appetite to Mamenche's . read more

Ordered the Carne Asada for lunch pickup. Called just before they opened (oops!) But she took my order anyways. Everything was ready to go when I came in to pick it up. Veggies were fresh, the rice was tasty and properly cooked, the steak was well seasoned anf flavourful. It had cilantro in the 'bruchetta' topping. (tastes like soap) menu did not specify it had cilantro, but I just scraped it off. Still a good tasty quick lunch. read more

Nothing against this business, but this is how I feel about the place. I am definitely shocked to see those high reviews in this place, which leads me to believe that either they are made by friends or relatives to the owner, or the place is aim for the Caucasian community only. Which means that if you are Canadian Native Indian, or Spanish, don't bother going there because they will not treat you the same. I been there twice. The first time, I walked in, there was only the cook, and I think the waitress and some family members I believe. They ware watching their soccer game so loud, and were so into the game that they did not even acknowledged me till I was literally walking away. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and went back a second time. The second time, the waiter was courteous, and prompt. No complaint of that end. However, the place was so cold, and when I addressed the issue about how cold the place was, the owner came and told me to put my winter jacket on. No apologies, and no costumer service manners at all. When my soup came, the plate looked like they were serving a horse because just to see the large and grotesque chunks of the vegetables and meat, I just felt like throwing up, and the tortillas were equally grotesque as well. Then, the tortillas seemed to be raw, and they smelled a bit off, like if the dough had been sitting there for a few days. The ambience inside, is equally unpleasant, no charm, and no cosy at all. When you walk in the place, it feels like you have actually walked into a funeral home. The colours so unpleasant, and not pleasant decor at all. I would not recommend this place to any one because of those so many reasons. read more

Had the chicken tacos on Labour Day when all other restaurants were closed and I had a craving! Absolutely delicious and the ladies working were very pleasant. Super authentic. Cannot wait to visit again. Will try the enchiladas and pupusas next time. read more

This is probably one of the best El Salvadoran restaurants in Edmonton. It's located directly across from Victoria Composite High School, on a busy street. My girlfriend and I went there on a Monday afternoon; when we walked in, a young guy (the server), was on his cell phone talking and noticed us, and told us to take a seat. After a couple of minutes, he finished his phone call and came over to greet us. He asked why we picked Mamenches, and I told him we always like to try new and different cuisines in town. He was friendly and attentive. We ordered quite a bit..three beef empanadas, crispy corn tamales, the breakfast dish (which comprised avocado, fried plantain, mashed beans, and three corn tortillas), and pork-filled pupusas. We also ordered drinks--horchata, which was a milky spiced drink made from rice, and a drink made from the fruit of the cashew nut (I forget the name of it). Both were refreshing. The food was delicious. I especially liked the breakfast dish and the piping hot corn tortillas. My girlfriend likened the corn tamales to deep fried cornbread or corn fritters. Next time we got to try the soft chicken-filled tamales. We went on a freezing winter day. I wished they could've turned up the heat a bit. It was cold inside. Lol. There's also no parking for the restaurant, so we had to park near a Dairy Queen that was close by and walk over. No parking in the back or front of the restaurant. Overall, we had a good experience. read more

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I never had the opportunity to dine at Mamenche's when the family-owned Salvadorean restaurant was on 97 Street, but I was here for lunch this week at the current location. The inside is plain, bright, and clean, and I was greeted by a very friendly woman. She helped explain items on the menu, particularly the beverages, which include some traditional drinks. I had an aranan, which was a thick, non-carbonated citrus drink that I was told was good for cleansing the system. For my lunch, I ordered the Tacos de Res o de Higado, which were to tacos on fresh corn tortillas with diced steak, onions, tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro. It was light, fresh, and delicious. I am looking forward to trying other items on the menu. Prices are very reasonable, even for the larger fish, chicken, and steak entrees. There are also desserts. If you like fresh, authentic Salvadorean food with friendly service, you have to try Mamenche's. read more

This is a great place to get a family style meal. Staff is very friendly and make you feel welcomed. Do not pass on the dessert, so good.

Home made food is great. The service is timely. The staff is friendly and helpful. The food is home made and It is a little tough to find but there is parking right on the street out front. The pupusas are fantastic! I tried 4 different kinds and I think they have at leas 6 or maybe even 8. Yummy! read more

Mamenche's is my go to place for pupusas. They're simply the best in town! Also, their cheese empanadas are absolutely delicious!! I definitely recommend :) read more

This place is a little hole in the wall, but has amazing food!! The pupusas here are the best. No need to go any other resturant. Very homemade tasting and good tortilla to filling ratio. I recommend this resturant for pupusas over all others! read more

The dining room at Mamenche's is clean, if a little sterile and spartan. Think of it as a low-key cafeteria and you should be happy enough. Please note that this is not a knock on the place. Rather, people would do well to know what kind of atmosphere they should expect so that they do not pop in here when out on a romantic date. Mamenche's offers more of a friendly family vibe. As long as you understand that, then you should be happy enough. Now on to the food. You should expect well-prepared food at Mamenche's, but it is going to be bland. Maybe that is how Salvadorean food is supposed to taste. It may be authentic, but it will not send you rushing for a glass of water to tame the heat. I would prefer more spice and more heat myself, but to each their own. The service was good, fast and friendly. TL;DR -- Mamenche's is worth a try at least once, but do not expect to have your socks knocked off. read more

Went to this place for lunch because I wanted to try it out and have something different. When I arrived to this little restaurant I noticed it was run by two nice ladies. I wanted to order a couple of things lost their menu and off their specials menu butt a couple items were not in stock at the time so that was a little disappointing since it was their number one selling stuff. So I decided I ordered some empanadas and some other items to go. The food was decent for the price but it felt like it was missing something it was a kind of bland. Probably won't go back. Just my 2 cents. read more

Best pupusa & empanada place in Edmonton! Extremely friendly staff! The food is absolutely amazing, and the atmosphere is great. I strongly recommend this place. Will definitely be back for more, very satisfied. read more

One of the worst service ever The owner is very rude food was late more than 25 minutes to get drinks and If you requested something she come very rude plus food socks the price for a pupusa is exaggerated high Never ever come back to a place were they don't have people skills read more

Went to Mamenche's today and we were absolutely wowed by how delicious and authentic the food tasted. We ordered horchata and arrayan (guava) to drink. For our meal we had one pork and one bean pupusa (amazing), empanada special ($8 for 3) with beef and potato (perfectly seasoned and crispy) and 2 chorizo tacos ($8)- came with generous amount of avocado. Extremely delicious, fresh, high quality food for an amazing price. It definitely looks a little sketchy on the outside, but the inside is a bright light blue with upbeat music playing. Do not let appearances dissuade you from coming into this restaurant, your tastebuds will not be disappointed! Tip: always ask for their house made hot sauce - spicy slow heat! read more

Wonderful atmosphere, incredibly clean and the staff is welcoming. If you enjoy authentic El Salvadoran food then consider this place.

Love this cute little place. Feels like your friend's grandmother invited you over for dinner. Everything was so fresh and delicious. LoVE the fried plantain.mmmm Flavors are very mild. No spice to the dishes but they were delicious. The horchata was so homemade tasting and yummy. Lots of gluten free options. Very inexpensive prices. I ate until i was absolutely stuffed. Clean and cute inside. Will absolutely be back. read more

This is a rare gem of a dining experience that you probably would have trouble finding even in Vancouver. The drinks they have are really cool. There is ecuadorean horchata which is different from the Mexican cinnimon-y horchata, this one was made entirely from the seed of a hard fruit only found in South America. In fact the Morro fruit is in some evolutionary trouble because it's animal disperser has gone extinct- an elephant like animal strong enough to break the hard fruits open for germination. There is a gourd in front of the cashier that belongs to this fruit- it's gigantic! Another drink I tried was the Arrayan drink- another interesting flavour I've never tasted but slightly too sweet. I'd highly recommend the pupusas- I had the Loroco and cheese pupusa and it was delicious. There are also other pupusa options on special that aren't on the menu which you can inquire about (Chorizo for example). The other appetizer we got was tamales and it was delicious, but sort of soft and mushy so if you don't like that sort of texture you should stay away. The fried tilapia was tasty and a great deal. However I didn't really like the iceberg lettuce that came with it. The entree selection is actually quite small. Lastly, for desert we had the Salvadoran quesidilla which was to our surpise- a yummy cheesy pound cake! I apologize for ruining the surprise, but at least you won't be expecting a corn tortilla with condensed milk or something! In summary, I would highly recommend going to try the drinks and appetizers! read more