If you're walking southeast on Knickerbocker past Maria Hernandez Park and your face isn't buried in your phone like a goddamn millennial,* you might spot the sign with an arrow pointing left that says, "Pupuseria." A few steps off the main drag, there's a pretty rundown shack just sticking out of the wall of a building, with razor wire around the top to keep the riffraff out. That's Amanda's. The printed menu (with photos) claims that they offer all sorts of comida centroamericana including tortas, baleadas, empanadas, salchipapas, and more. The chalkboard lets you know what they actually have, which is usually pupusas and tamales. Personally, I've only ever ordered a pupusa...because it's a pupuseria, stupid. Also, because Amanda's pupusas are delicious, and I don't want to risk getting something I don't like as much. Each one comes with some slaw (she calls it salad) and a bright, mild red salsa. With the bean and cheese filling, it's a hearty, flavorful, healthy-ish snack (a meal for a less gluttonous person) for $2.50, and it's well worth it, even if you have to endure the lady who seems to live at the plastic table on the right and never stops talking about her son in college and his enormous appetite. I get it lady, he's very smart and very hungry. Let me eat my pupusa in peace. ______________ *I'm on the cusp and I like to think I'm not one, but my face is often buried in my phone :( read more

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Let me ask you one question: Can you think of anything better than getting homemade-style papusas from a tiny shack projecting from an apartment building across from Bushwick Park? Allow me to answer my question with another question: How about getting homemade-style papusas, tortas, tamales and chicarron from a tiny shack projecting from an apartment building across from Bushwick Park? When I moved to NYC a few years ago, I lived in the new apartment complex nextdoor to this place and this was my go-to spot for cheap and authentic El Salvadorian food. When I say authentic, I mean it - if you don't speak Spanish you better bring your translation app on your phone. The ladies behind the makeshift counter are constantly rolling the dough and slamming in your favorite ingredients before tossing it on the grill. All made right in front of you by people who know their stuff (stuffing papusas and tamales that is, let alone your mouth!) Each order comes with their pickled salad and homemade salsa sure to compliment your meal as you stroll about Bushwick park listening to Latinos standing on the beds of their pickup trucks talking about (a) their political campaign in the Hispanic community or (b) jesus (if that's your thing), all with dozens of subwoofers blasting Spanish music in the background. A walk through this cultural paradise would not be complete without a culinary dish such as those put out by who is commonly referred to as "The Papusa Lady." read more

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#I came here around midnight. So I don't know why Yelp thinks they close at 5pm on weekdays and closed on weekends. Because I came on a #weekend at #midnight. So who's the idiot? She didn't have any #pupusas left. So I got what she had, which was a cold empanada. read more

Amanda's Kitchen - Empanada - Spanish Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Caught a glimpse of this place out of my periphery while flying up suydam st on my bicycle, had to horseshoe it back and I'm so glad I did! Amanda reminded me of my grandmother and exuded the same sort of gratuitous "eat mijo" sensibility. I was in sort of a rush, so I grabbed two bean and cheese pupusas with a helping of Salvadoran cole slaw and tomato salsa on top. They were no joke the best pupusas I've ever had! So grateful for this new surrogate grandmother of mine. I will be back! read more

I was pleased the yelp hours were wrong. I left my house at 4:30 to go to thrifting at Urban Jungle with plans to stop by Amanda's for the first time until I saw she closes at 5pm. Oh noes! So I just went about my business until I was pleasantly surprised when walking back down Knickerbocker and saw Amanda chillin out front with the homies. My Spanish is rusty but she said "chicharron y queso?" and I said "Si!". The price is $2.50 so the yelp photo is a tiny bit outdated. She did hand write the extra .50 on the menu so no surprises. It was very tasty and fresh. Crispy but not crunchy, filling but not overly stuffed. I could have had another but for a walking snack it was perfect. She offered to put some shredded veggie toppings which was a nice addition. I will definitely be back to try more and some other dishes. Gracias Amanda! read more

Amanda turns out perfectly made Salvadoran pupusas from a stand overlooking the southeast corner of Maria Hernandez Park. Perhaps someday a bored venture capitalist will find himself way out here and give this woman $20 million and a chance to franchise these to every town park and green space in America. That way everyone can take this warm snack with them as they stroll through the great outdoors. Some days they can choose cheese, others beans, sometimes chicken. Other meats would be available as specials, such as beef and goat. Each pupusa comes with a free, if optional salad of crisp cabbage and carrots. Just like in San Salvador. Until that day, the smart people will wander out to Bushwick and enjoy Amanda's creations. read more

Yes. Just yes. Two dollars to get a yummy papusa from a very nice older lady. They have other things on the menu that I haven't tried yet - they were out of a few things bc the other person who cooks was traveling home and was out of the country. I grabbed my papusa and high tailed it to the park where me and my derpy dog enjoyed them in the sunshine. if anyone ever writes a bad review on this place or this sweet lady I will personally shank them. Jay kay, Kinda. read more

We call this place the Pupusa Lady, because there is one lady working there with a hairnet making pupusas. Her English has traditionally not been too great, and our orders have historically been misinterpreted (me: "I want 10 pupusas." her: "Ok, 8." me: "no I want 10." her: "12." me: "Fine."). It actually is kind of funny, but it might be inconvenient for people who want a particular pupusa. She has a lot of flavors, but only some are available to go fast (the ones that are not on the ready take an extra ten minutes to make). She has loroco, which is a tasty flower pupusa. Frijoles con queso, chicharron, and queso are all the quick go-tos. The pupusas are served with a tomato sauce and a bunch of pickled cabbage, which is something that I can always be in favour of. There are also other things available, but I never successfully ordered any of the other items. She recently started serving breakfast food on weekends, and I am excited to get some pupusas and eggs for I believe that will be a tasty combination. Apparently, her English has improved as well, as my girlfriend ordered pupusas with a friend and the Pupusa Lady got the order right. read more

Delicious, cheap, and super authentic. Like everyone said, it's made to order, so the pupusas are very fresh. I initially ordered 1 chicharon, and one bean, and one cheese because I wanted to try them all.... which Amanda suggested that she can make a pupusa with all those ingredients in one. DUH, I WANT THAT. So I ordered 2 of those instead. That just proves right there that this woman is more about making food to make customers happy vs. making a profit. Please support this woman, and kindly tip her as well! read more

Once about 8 years ago I came to this stand and the women running the window sullenly took my order and then they looked at each other and snickered. "lesbiana" they said tittering under their breath. I paid for the food and left to the park, annoyed but just figured that was that, i just wont be back. 8 years later my now wife and i decided to give them another shot. After all, the pupusas were decent and a quick cheap snack by the park that i've been consistently ignoring for the consecutive 8 years. Welp, we are standing around awkwardly waiting to order for about 5 minutes with no sign of willingness to serve us. That's fine, we can silently walk away for another 8 years but really i'm writing this review to illustrate that actually during our awkward and silent anticipation of service, the women working the grill were ganging up, berating and slutshaming a rather young looking girl in their midst for "getting too fat" and "having a loose look". Literally this poor girl looked about 11 years old and i felt really bad for her, having been there before. This is a child! So what i'm saying is expect a bad attitude here that isnt just reserved for strangers. I'd personally think twice about consuming food imbued with that kind of negativity. One extra star because that energy actually outputs some decent chicharron pupusas for like..2 bucks, yea. read more

Love! These pupusas are always delicious and made right! Inexpensive and authentic. Two tips: 1. Brush up on your Spanish. 2. Be patient. Depending on what you order, items are made to order. It's worth the wait. read more

Pat! Pat! Pat! You can hear Amanda's labor of love as she's pounding away at the pupusas. We got a few of the bean and cheese pupusas and a beef soup (only available on the weekends) - it was all delicious and served with a smile. Seating is limited (one plastic table with three chairs), but you can also just head across the street and enjoy the pupusas in the park! read more

Best pupusas in Brooklyn and cheap. My wife and I have gotten pupusas from here several times and they are always fresh and delicious. Our favorite are the bean and cheese pupusas. They only problem is that the hours are very irregular, especially in the winter season. Its best to always call to make sure she's open. read more

I'm constantly looking for new pupuserias in New York and this place has got to be one of my favorites. The place is simple and serves amazing pupusas. You can grab it and take it across the park. It's simple and tasty, just like a pupusa should be. read more

Amazing pupsas and love her fresh pineapple juice!! She's a really nice, friendly lady and will definitely be coming back for that pineapple juice!! read more

Amanda will break your heart. She is an angel. A mother, a chef, a hard worker, and a surveyor of the neighborhood, she never fails to greet you with a smile and something warm and delicious to eat. She is an honest soul who deserve absolute support! Cheers to the hard workers, man! read more

This place is amazing. Affordable and the quality of the food is great. Amanda is a sweetheart. Pupusas and empanadas are outta control.

too good I got the bean pupusa and lost my depression but I also lost my memory too because I only existed in the present with that pupu