I have only ever ordered their pupusas & tamales but I am never disappointed when I do. I have yet to eat at the restaurant because I usually order via DoorDash, but the food always comes still hot & fresh. My favorite pupusa is the carne asada one because the meat is so flavorful! Their chicharron & chicken pupusas are also delicious. BEST PUPUSAS IN NORTH COUNTY!! Highly recommend!! read more

It's a full service restaurant with a large and diverse menu of appetizers, soups, salads, pupusas, and entrees includings pastas. The menu is obviously focused on Central America style food, but I was lured in after learning that among their Italian items is a meatball sandwich than includes a side of fries. The sandwich was good with four medium-sized meatballs, tangy rather plain tomato sauce, and melted cheese on a soft roll. Not as good as the gold standard meatballs, sauce, and bread at Mona Lisa in Little Italy, but passable. The fries were hot and crisp, which is a rarity these days having been served so many that were mushy, limp, and barely warm. In addition to ketchup, there is a tasty side of ranch. They serve beer, wine, and mixed drinks made with wine. The ambiance is very comfortable with authentic Central American decor. The service fast, friendly, and efficient. Their consistently excellent health inspection reports are a big plus. I'll be back to try their Salvadoran specialities. read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Meatball sandwich with fries, ketchup, and ranch - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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Our first time here with familia Here a Salvadoran Resturant here in Escondido. Not to far from us and our first time here and of friend of the familia introduced us and we're hungry and it smells good here for Delicious Papusa, frita yucca, frita Chicharron, tamales, de elote con crema, Plátanos frijoles negros. We enjoyed the large appetizer They bought out hot salsa in bottles one hot and one taste with a little kick Are service was great she bought out our drinks And we started with appetizer it had everything Plates for our food we plus we order each us 1 more papuas that we wanted 2 Frijoles con queso, 2 Chicharron con queso This was authentico de Salvadoreño comida I love the plátanos and the papuas de chicharrones A lot of take out and pan quesadilla was sold out by morning You have to come early to get it Our server said they only make a small amount Each morning This is really good and it's a big roomy resturant And on grand so there car shows here and you can walk around out side We really had a great time here And reasonable priced too This Resturant is really worth coming and enjoy good papuas here read more

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Have not been to this long time establishment for several years. After today's lunch I will be back much sooner! I was there with a friend for lunch and they offer 3 or 4 different lunch specials. I went with the papusas because they are Salvadorian! It was two papusas with their cabbage slaw and a drink. There was a choice of about 10 different varieties. I choose zucchini and cheese and chicken and cheese. These are rather large and filled with lots of cheese and the other fillings. Very yummy there were two sauces on the table and self serve slaw. Its a light slaw, with onions, carrots and possibly turnip mixed in. Its not mayo based and not overly vinegar. Its a great deal for 12.95. Our server was very kind, she let us know there was a large group in the back, so she would be taking our order quickly. Its a nice local place that also has Italian?? Items on the menu. My friend said it used to be an Italian place years ago and they transitioned to Salvadorian but kept some Italian. I would love to see more Salvadorian specialities on the menu. read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Large cheesy papusas. Very fresh tasting! - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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A friend picked up 4 pupusas for us there. I had a chicken one and a spinach and cheese one. I've had much better. Both were lacking in flavor. What really turned me off of them though was the texture. They were falling apart (especially the spinach one) and the tortilla didn't contain the meat and cheese filling. Additionally, the sauces were very unimpressive. I am a big home cook and I think the reason why the spinach one was extra soggy was because the cooked spinach didn't have any water pressed out of it prior to adding it to the filling. They also need to season in layers. The fillings I had tasted bland. read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Spinach and cheese pupusa - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

Finally found a good Salvadoran restaurant! I've eaten at a few spots in the greater San Diego area, but they haven't been great. I ordered revueltas pupusas, pork tamale, a side of rice and horchata. Pupusas were good, and the rice was surprisingly good too, likely the best Salvadoran rice I've ever had. The tamale might be my favorite tamale ever. I love that it's so soft and moist, probably because it's wrapped in banana leaves. Horchata was ordinary. I'll be back for sure! read more

Food is delicious highly recommend putting this in your rotation! , great service as well

My pregnant Salvadoran wife has been craving something that reminds her of home ever since we moved to California. It's been tough. We've tried all the local spots, drove all the way up to LA hoping to find something solid, and kept coming up disappointed. Then we found Cuscatlán Comida Salvadoreña. From the second we walked in, everything just felt right. The space was warm and inviting, the staff was kind, and it smelled like actual home-cooked food. When the pupusas hit the table, my wife took one bite, looked at me, and said it tasted just like her grandma's kitchen growing up. That moment alone made the visit worth it. The food was incredible. The pupusas were hands down the best we've had since moving out here. Crispy on the outside, cheesy and packed with flavor inside, and not greasy at all. The curtido was fresh and had the perfect bite to it. The salsa brought everything together in a way that just felt real. You can tell this food is made with care. We haven't had a chance to go back yet, but we already know we will. Probably a few more times before and after our second baby arrives. This place gave my wife a piece of home when she needed it most, and we're grateful for it. If you're looking for real Salvadoran food with flavor that takes you somewhere, this is it. read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Side of Curtido 8oz. - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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Food is amazing and the atmosphere is welcoming and people-focused. It's not touristy but run and operated by locals serving locals. read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Pupusa Loca can be shared with a group of - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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I had a very disappointing experience here. I found a piece of plastic in one of my pupusas and called to report it. I got 2 one for me and one for my 4year old therefore i was very concerned. The staff member I spoke with was unprofessional and dismissive, saying she was too busy to review the photo I offered as proof. I was initially told the refund had to be in cash, even after explaining I couldn't come back to pick it up, and i had paid over the phone with my debit card. After waiting several minutes, she agreed to refund it to my debit card but only for the single pupusa with plastic. The lack of customer service was obvious. While picking up my order, I also witnessed a waitress respond rudely to another customer who gave feedback about her food. Overall, the staff handled criticism poorly and showed little professionalism. read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - The piece of plastic in the pupusa - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

This is my 2nd time here and it did not disappoint. Sometimes the novelty of trying out a restaurant for the first time might sway one's opinion but this joint is consistent. I ordered pupusas the first time and the 2nd time the carne asada plate. The pupusa is a favorite amongst many for sure. I thought the carne asada had a unique flavor but still a solid meal. I also tried a bite of the seafood soup and that was amazing. The flavors were bold and I could see how that could be a meal in and of itself. The parking was a bit challenging due to construction but I imagine that should clear up soon. read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Carne Asada - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

Really good Salvadorian food. Takes a little bit longer at times only because everything is made to order. The time and prep makes a difference. Simple ingredients that makes the Salvadoran food come alive in my mouth. Inviting dinning room with a bar area. read more

First time trying Salvadoran food and... wow! Oh. My. Gosh. This is hands down some of the best food I've ever had. We ordered the spicy shrimp and four pupusas every bite was packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. The pupusas were warm, cheesy, and addictive. The sangria-beer drink was phenomenal too not too sweet, just super refreshing. The staff was friendly, the vibe was relaxed, and the food came out fast. I'm officially hooked and already planning my next visit. Highly recommend! Staff were great as well read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Spicy shrimp - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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I absolutely love this place! Their pupusas are top tier. They're made fresh to order and when you order to go they make sure to give you curtido & salsa. The staff is always friendly and the prices are reasonable. Parking can be a little rough since it's in a popular area read more

Amazing pupusas on Grand! Friendly & quick service. I love pupusas & was so happy to hear this restaurant was nearby. I usually get mine from down south. Their pupusas are large & generously packed with whatever filling you want & they have a variety to choose from- pork, chicken, cheese, beans, shrimp, carne asada, combinations & more. The sauce & slaw it comes with are tasty. read more

First time trying Salvadorian food! I tried a pork pupusa and a chicken tamale. The pupusa comes with delicious pickled cabbage! Though it doesn't look that big, 1 pupusa was filling enough for me. (Check-in on yelp to get a free one!) The chicken tamale was kind of dry but the hot sauce helps with that. The next time i'm here i'd like to try another one of their pupusas since there are so many flavors on the menu! They were able to seat our party of 7 immediately for an early dinner on a Saturday evening. The environment is casual and their service is quick. read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Tamal de Pollo - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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Are you a pupusa aficionado, or have you never even heard of a pupusa? Definitely do not leave San Diego without trying one (or five) from here! We ordered the pupusas filled with chicharron, chorizo, carne asada, and papas. The meat is generous and the cheese is oh-so-melty. My partner liked the carne asada and chorizo the best. I loved all of them! So you should try one of each. They are made to order fresh. We had leftovers, and they reheated perfectly in the air fryer. I'll be back. Pickled vegetables were free. I think they were not as flavorful as expected (I was expecting more sour or salty flavor), but I don't know what El Salvadorian pickled veggies are supposed to taste like so this may have been the traditional flavor. I ate almost all of it, so clearly I was not bothered by the taste. Indoor dining plentiful. We came for weekend brunch, and it was a quiet ambiance. I can imagine this would be a good place for a date, casual outing, or family meal. We had to find street parking a block away because the entire street in front of the restaurant was demolished for construction, and a random fair had closed down many nearby streets. I don't know what parking normally would be like. Service is attentive and prompt. read more

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The food was well cooked! Very flavorful. The cheese melts out as soon as you cut it. I checked in to yelp and got a free pupusa . Service was good. Our waitress was nice and attentive. We got our food in reasonable time freshly made. My husband really enjoyed his chicken chipotle pupusa. I personally have never tried it. I'm not used to eating pupusas made from outside the traditional way however he said it was good. read more

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Like a VIRGIN, This is my hubby's first pupusa and I'm so excited for him. I'm writing this review as I am waiting for the pupusas to come out! I can't wait because it's so hard to find around Temecula so we drove to Escondido just for the PUPUSAS! YES: Every table ordered PUPUSAS! YES: The service is FRIENDLY and EXCELLENT! YES: They have their own parking lot! YES: It's made to order so please be patient and YES it's worth the wait! YES: The music makes you want to get up and DANCE! BAILAMOS!! It's actually TACO TUESDAY so we are just going to share 3 pupusas and then head over to her recommendation RANCHO MARKET for the tacos!! YES: We love the food and the beautiful people here! YES: I wish I could take the chef home! read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Horchata Salvadorena - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña is an excellent local Escondido spot for a tasty and satisfying meal! Each pupusa that we tried was absolutely delicious, especially the Loroco, which is similar to squash or squash blossom! Great service. The food is made to order, so be patient, and you won't be disappointed! Can't wait to go back and check out the lunch specials. Super chill vibes. read more

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Food was amazing and let's no talk about our waitress. She was very attentive throughout the whole time. Place was very clean and the atmosphere felt like I was eating at home. Definitely coming back!!!! read more

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After the Escondido Ren Faire my friend wanted to go have an early dinner at her favorite restaurant in Escondido. I was so excited to try it out, I've had pupusas before and loved them so I was really excited to have some authentic Salvadorian food. They were really busy this Sunday but the team was so nice while we were waiting almost every had asked if we had already been helped. The restaurant itself is super welcoming and comfortable, definitely plenty of room for large families or just having a cute date night. For drinks Heidi and her husband Trevin order the Ensalada, I didn't know what to expect but I really should have followed and copied their order because I got a sip of their drink and it was so flavorful and bits of fresh fruits looked super refreshing. Next time I will definitely have to get their granadilla, it said it was passion fruit drink. For mains, I ordered the Camarones Picosos, shrimp in a spicy sauce, while Heidi ordered her usual Pollo Guisado, their daughter got a kids pupusa and Trevin got a meatball sub. They really do have options for everyone! When our food came out, I was salivating, it had smelled so good! They are so generous at the amount of shrimp they give. I normally eat all my sides first so I devoured my side salad before digging into the rice and shrimp. The rice was incredible, so much flavor and really well seasoned, when I added their hot salsa, it was above and beyond good. Now the shrimp, were perfect they were overcooked they had a good bite and absorbed the spicy sauce. I tried not be a slob and shove it all down my gullet but my Gods I will definitely be craving this dish. My order did come with tortillas, which aren't your the typical style I'm used to, these were thicker and hearty, actually very flavorful but an excellent vessel to dip the delicious sauce. Heid's chicken looked and smelled really good too and little Zeppy thoroughly enjoyed her kids cheese pupusa! I did take these home and late at night I ended up eating it instead of packing it for my work lunch, it was way too good. I saved the tortillas for my husband and he was so happy I did he loved them. I live next to SDSU but I definitely would venture back over to have this delicious food! read more

The place was busy and still we were helped quickly and by a friendly waiter. The papusas were delicious - specially loved the papas version. The fried yucca and the tamales were amazing too. Totally recommend read more

Amazing tasty food. Service Is excellent. Is nice and friendly. I totally recomend this place. And by the way they send you a birthday email to save 10% on your next order. read more

Food took a little while to arrive but they make everything to order so that was justified. Tortillitas were fantastic, warm and comforting. Pupusa was also good. Mariscos Piscosos were very spicy but good. read more

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Cusca continues to impress with their delicious food as well as the creative drinks... delicious micheladas! Authentic wide selection of pupusas... simply top top best! read more

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This was the first time I had Salvadorian food. I got the pupusas and atol de elote (corn milk) and they were good. There was a variety of fillings to choose from for the pupusas and I had the shrimp, chipotle chicken and the beans & pork and I liked them all! There was even one special/giant one that is a 10-inch and includes all the ingredients. I also enjoyed the sauces that they gave us for the pupusas. One is their regular sauce and the other one is their hot sauce and the hot sauce is actually spicy! read more

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Accessibility: no disabled parking outside, only street parking. Flat ground restaurant with seating inside and outside. Seating: The restaurant is cute inside, but packed, so there will be a wait for a table inside. There are a few tables outside, but it is cold at nighttime with no heaters out there. Food: the popusas were delicious! 100% would come back for the popusas. The spaghetti was good; they try to fool you with the tons of meatballs...when you mix your food, you will find they are not whole meatballs, but instead, ones cut in halves. Service: service was alright. The employees were nice, but they did not honor the "1 free popusa with Yelp check-in." The employee said she would ask the boss, then in front of us, did not do that and cleaned things instead. I would have just said no, but oh well. I do recommend they take that off their Yelp page if they don't plan to honor it. Languages spoken: Spanish and English. Price: good! read more

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When you walk in and the restaurant is packed, and you're the only gringo there, you know you've come to the right place. Other than pupusas, you're probably not that familiar with Salvadoran food. Honestly, although it's not that common a cuisine, it's not crazy strange. There's pork, steak, chicken, and shrimp dishes, rice, beans, and other really good food. You should absolutely try the pupusas. They're basically hot pockets filled with meat or shrimp or cheese or beans or some combination of the above. They're fantastic and very filling so don't overdo it. But do try the Revuelta, the one with pork, beans and cheese. It's excellent. The Pollo en Crema entree is outstanding. You get a huge piece of chicken in cream sauce. The chicken is incredibly tender and it's a wonderfully homey dish. For spice lovers, try the Camarones Pocosos (shrimp swimming with bell peppers in a spicy red sauce). It's very good. The entrees come with Salvadoran tortillas which are definitely not Mexican tortillas. The Salvadoran ones are much, much thicker and very dense. They've got beer and wine but the horchata (again, a little different than the Mexican version), and the sweet and almost syrupy Ensalada (almost like a nonalcoholic Sangria) are both good choices. Service was terrific. Our server knew the menu inside and out. This is excellent food and you get a ton of it. Did I mention the prices are extremely reasonable? No wonder they were absolutely jammed on a Saturday night. Don't think you can stroll in any time and grab a table. They are popular for good reason. Free street parking. You may have to walk a block or two. read more

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Parking can be annoying because there is street parking and limited lot parking but it's worth it. We got the combination cuscaltan which is a very generous platter of food. In the combination, there are two revueltas pupusas, one corn tamale, fried plantains, fried yucca, fried pork, and we opted for the pork tamale. This was a lot of food but we weren't sorry we ordered it. The beans were very flavorful and the different hot sauces that accompanied the food were so good. I got the pupusas made with rice. I ordered the chipotle con queso and hongos con queso (mushroom with cheese). These were top-notch, it's been a while since I've had great pupusas. It had a lot of cheese, which is always a plus, and the curtido, cabbage slaw totally made the dish. Service was just okay. We had a switch in servers and the server stopped coming to our table during the switch. We waited patiently till we realized that no one was coming so we had to finally flag someone down to get our check. Overall, we were pretty full and happy with the food that was prepared in this delicious restaurant. read more

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The food was delicious! The service was spectacular! I highly recommend this restaurant!

Primera y ultima vez que compro pupusas la verdad compre 3 de carne asada para llevar y creo que pensaron que las estaba pidiendo regaladas porque queso tenia bastante pero carne solo tenia como 3 oh 4 pedasos de carne no recomiendo First and last time I buy pupusas the truth I bought 3 of roast meat to take away and I think they thought I was asking for them for free because cheese had a lot but meat only had like 3 or 4 pieces of meat I don't recommend read more

If we are in the area we come here .....today as always super good...... they did mess up on the order they didn't add the frijole to our carne asada con queso but thats ok because the food is still good. The drinks are good as well and wer strong in sugar today. Service is always good. We have tried their sample plater which comes with a bit of everything and chorizo con papa popusas. Everything has always been good in the past as well as today read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Frijol con queso and chorizo con queso - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

We recently found this spot and we love it! I'm a Salvadoreña and it has my family's stamp of approval! read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Combinacion Cuscatlan and Horchata Salvadorena - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

My girlfriends and I just had a delicious lunch here. The bread for the sandwiches was fresh, delicious, and made in-house. We tried a variety of pupusas and they were all good. We couldn't decide on a favorite. The server was friendly and attentive. Very casual ambiance, nothing fancy. Their wine and cocktail list wasn't very extensive but the Chardonnay was pretty good, and only $6 a glass. I'd visit this place again. read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Cheese pull - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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I can't believe I didn't review this earlier. My friends and I attended a scavenger hunt at grape park where you get to know the city by going to local restaurants and stores. It was a fun day but we were hungry after and had walked by this spot all exclaiming it looked good. We met back here and perused the menu, so many delicious options to choose from. I couldn't decide so I chose the sample plate and I was not disappointed it was Al so good but the chiccaron was soooo good. My friends also enjoyed their dishes. I can't wait to come back and try more!!! read more

Cuscatlan Comida Salvadoreña - Spicy margarita - Salvadoran Near Me - Escondido, California

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This Salvadorian restaurant is definitely worth visiting. The cooks are from El Salvador and the food tasted authentic. They offer and prepare good variety of dishes. Pupusas are very popular here. You can choose from a few different kinds i.e, chicken, pork, shrimp etc. All pupusas come with cheese but you can opt out. You can also choose between corn or rice masa for the pupusa dough. There is one pupusa that is made from ingredients which are used for all individual Pupusas. It's called pupusa loca. We ordered it and were happy with the quality of food and taste. The pupusas loca is large and very filling. Make sure to check out other menu selections though. They serve good Salvadorian sandwiches, soups, and combination plates. Service was very good too! read more

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I love the food at this place. Been many times and it's so good every time. Plantains and black beans (very different from refried beans) and sour cream. And Papusas. Fresh and made to order. Served with cabbage and salsa. Leftover papusas are also great in the toaster oven the next day :). Nice and quick service. read more

Everything went well at Cuscatlan and they came through when needed. After my window of opportunity to patronize another restaurant suddenly "closed," Cuscatlan came to the rescue. I was able to order 7 different pupusas with their hot sauces and side cabbage to surprise my Wife for her birthday. The whole transaction took less than 10-min. The young lady who helped me with my to-go order was friendly, informative about what to order, and made my wait time pleasant with "small talk." I waited in the bar area where 90's R&B was being played which reminded me of my highschool years. The waitress on staff and I discussed the memories at length. The pupusas, once ready, were piping hot and delicious. The 7 ordered were chorizo, jalapeno and cheese, pork beans and cheese, spinach and cheese, potatoes and cheese, and beef. She labeled each one for ease once I brought them back home ALL was had for under $35! Most importantly , Cuscatlan saved my evening regarding my Wife's birthday. I will now be a frequent customer. This review is for anybody who wishes to hear my opinion... read more

I've been living in Escondido for several years now- and have walked past here several times telling myself "I need to try this place". I'm so glad I FINALLY DID! Not only was the food incredibly fresh, the staff was all super kind, the sangria was delicious (and only $11). Will definitely be back to try more of the menu! read more

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