I had never tried papusas before and I was mind blown!! This is a small family-owned business with a small dining space but their good is soo good. We didn't have a reservation but luckily were able to get a spot after 10mins of waiting. I don't think they take reservations, so if you go on a weekend, be prepared to stand in line. We tried their revueltas which was papusa filled with pork, beans, and cheese. One order had 2 papusas for $15 but they were SOO filling, we weren't able to finish it. We also got their cheese & chicken and cheese & chorizo papusas. They all come with a side of salad and salsa. I was in food coma after this food! would 5/5 recommend trying this hidden gem. read more

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We came on a Tuesday at 12pm and the place was pretty empty. We got the pastor tacos (comes with 3), pupusa with cheese and chorizo (also comes with three) and the tamarind drink. The food came out after 15 minutes of ordering. They serve everything in takeout containers. They also brought over plates to share which was super nice The pastor tacos definitely hit the spot. Loved that the meat was a bit fatty and it had lots of flavour. The slice of avocado offers a great variety. The salsa and hot sauce helped mix it up. The pupusa was super cheesy and VERY HOT (temperature wise). Loved that it was served with some cabbage to keep it fresh and not heavy. The tamarind drink was so refreshing. Very tart and sour. They were generous with the portion and definitely went so well with the pupusa and tacos. Feels like a very authentic spot for tacos and food. Would come back if I'm craving a quick snack. read more

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Ended up back here after a number of years. Prices are still very reasonable, portions large & staff friendly. This time around the Tostadas were quite soggy which was disappointing. The carnitas meat also quite dry. I remember this being better before. The revuelta, warm soft and plate very filling. Horchata drink was well made and refreshing. There are a number of tables inside. A no muss no fuss type of establishment. Worth a visit for "Salvadorian". read more

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A true definition of hole in the wall with delicious Latin food. I couldn't decide what to order and the lady behind the counter was so helpful and patient explaining the menu. I made sure there was no one waiting behind me though as I went through the options. After a few minutes I decided on the beef soup and an order of the chicken and cheese pupusas. The beef soup was my favorite as it had big tender pieces of beef, zucchini, carrots, cabbage and plantains. The soup had a natural sweetness from all the vegetables, which came with a side of rice and warm tortillas. The chicken and cheese pupusas were hearty and it came with a side of slightly but not too pickled cabbage and carrots. It helped cut down on the heaviness of the pupusas. This is a great find and remember to bring cash since they do not accept cards. read more

El Caracol Café - Beef soup and the chicken & cheese pupusas - Mexican Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I stopped by while waiting a bus in the snow. As soon as I learned 30 mins delay, I hopped into this restaurant and the owner lady was very kind and sweet let me stay there. I asked chicken buritto for here but she prepared like to go being wrapped with alminium foil and pertiment paper. It was clever because the burrito was huge and couldn't finish before the bus arrival. But later I noticed the tortilla was very crispy cooked like pressed sandwich. I guess old ladies in the kitchen left earlier due to the bad weather and it was pre-made one. I totally understand it and it was delicious as usual. I appreciate they still opend besides of terrible weather. read more

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Food was good and with lots of flavours. The girls was very friendly and helpful on what to order read more

El Caracol Café - Barbacoa de res - Mexican Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Really great food , generous proportions, and friendly staff! Would recommend the pupusas and enchiladas.

My friend was visiting in town and we decided to do a small dinner gathering as we haven't seen each other since the pandemic started. I was excited to try this hole in the wall as this cafe has been around forever! Plus finding an authentic Mexican and Latin restaurant in South Vancouver is hella hard to find. We got to the restaurant at 6pm and already the restaurant was almost full on the Saturday night. We were able to grab the last large table for our party of 4. Pro tip: the restaurant accepts cash only and you need to go up to the counter to order and pay. If you don't have any cash, there's an ATM across the street at the Chevron gas station. It was hard deciding what to get so I decided to get an order of pupusas, an El Salvador food staple, with beans, cheese, and pork that comes in an order of three ($13.50). They also have pupusas with zucchini & cheese and chicken & cheese but I wanted to try the staple to get a flavour of the place. The pupusas took awhile to arrive but they came out fresh and pipping hot served with the traditional salsa and pickled cabbage with carrot slaw. It was almost as good as my El Savador friend Mom makes it and would recommend ordering this. Unfortunately they were out of the chicken tamales so I ordered the regular tamales ($4.50) with no stuffing inside but served with a side of sour cream. The tamales came served with the corn tusk, or banana leaf, off and the corn masa used was really sweet which is not something that I am used to. As there was no stuffing inside the tamales I found it bland to eat aside from the sweet corn masa flavour and ended up putting sour cream and hot salsa on it for some kick. Would love to try the chicken and cheese tamales next time, if available. Lastly, I ordered chips and guacamole ($8) for the table. They had to check if they still had guacamole but we lucked out. Portion wise, we got a good quantity of homemade tortilla chips and guacamole for the price. I was hoping for more onion, cilantro, and spice flavour profile in the guacamole but it was still fine. Not sure if it's a North American thing but the guacamole didn't come with tomatoes in them. Overall, great local joint in which I am excited to try more dishes from. Lucky for me, this cafe is located nearby my sister's place so I have a good excuse to grab some take out every once in awhile. read more

El Caracol Café - Guacamole and chips with an order of tamales - Mexican Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Absolutely nothing wrong with this place. Lady was friendly and food was good but probably needed more seasoning. maybe because we weren't Mexican they were scared of giving us too many spices. It didn't have that much flavor. Other than that, everything was fine. Price is good too. I tried the pupusa and the enchilada . read more

Love love love this place, best pupusas in the lower mainland. Fresh homemade and lots of red sauce.

*This is a back-dated Pre-Covid19 Review** I'm a huge fan of this unassuming little hole in the wall and at one point, I think I was going here weekly to try more and more of their menu. One of my favourite dishes here is their Enchilada Mexicana (11.99). I tried the one with carnitas, which was a bit chewy and firm with a nice savoury flavouring that was a bit smoky. The salad consisted of some preserved carrots, beans, and a slice of avocado. The beans were re-fried and the sauce itself was like a mild tomato chili with some cheese, but it wasn't an overwhelming amount. It kind of reminded me a lot of eating a lasagna from a texture standpoint. I LOVE the rice that they use on all of their meals. It's just so....hard to describe. I'm not sure if it's some sort of broth that they use with it, but I think I could eat an entire bowl of it until I go into a full on carb crash. The Carne Asada (12.99) was very similar to the Enchilada in terms of sides, though it came with bits of beef instead. It was very nicely seasoned and quite juicy despite being so thin. The Pupusas (10.50) appear to be one of the crowd favourites here. They had some very thick dough and some stringy, tender pork inside with a bit of cheese and beans. By themselves, they're just okay, but they can be made amazing by using the pickled cabbage and salsa that comes with it. The Yuca Con Chicaron (7.50) was another crowd favourite that I managed to try here. The fried cassava was very crispy on the outside and reminded me a lot of roast potatoes with a creamy inside. It goes really well with the tangy pickled cabbage that's provided. The pork itself was very crispy on the outside, almost like dry rub pork ribs but inner texture reminds me a bit of roast lamb. The meat tastes slightly salty and a bit tangy. I've also tried their Nachos (9.00). These are very warm, cheesy, and has a lot of sour cream, avocado, tomatoes, and a bit of cilantro with beans. It's a decent sized plate. One of their cold weather favourites is the Sopa De Pollo (11.99). This is a chicken soup that has bits of chicken, carrots, zucchini, green onion, potatoes, and pepper all in a creamy broth. The broth reminds me a bit of corn chowder. The large size is REALLY big and is super filling. It comes with a side of that awesome rice. Their other cold weather favourite is the Sopa De Mariscos (14.99). This one is similar to the chicken soup but it has seafood. It's extra rich and creamy with salmon flavouring, hint of shrimp, and has big pieces of salmon, prawn, and mussels. It has a bit of a coconutty aftertaste. The large size is also quite big, much like the chicken one. Servers are very friendly here and yes there is a public bathroom. You just have to cut through the kitchen to get to it. No wifi though. read more

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Great cheap food, in a restaurant that really shouldn't exist. Look, the first thing you should know about El Coracol is that the food is worth it. I'm not talking about the price, it's clearly worth that. You pay twice as much for food half as good elsewhere in the city. No, it's worth the little hassles, and worth the the fact you'll ask yourself "Are they allowed to do that?" more than once. The place is cash only, so keep that in mind. The sort of "cash only" that suggests the proprietor can have a bank account for, well, reasons, or that they don't trust any form of payment that can't be stuffed in a mattress for safekeeping, NOT the "cash only" front for organized crime sort, so you're conscience can remain clear as you scarf down the deliciously underpriced morsels on offer. Cash only, but you won't need to bring a lot of it. A plate of 3 exquisite tacos (choice of beef, chicken, carnitos, or. chorizo) was only $9. And nothing on the menu runs more than $12.50, and that was a dish with side dishes! Is so damn good you'll make excuses to yourself after wondering, "Are they allowed to do that?" when you ask for directions to the bathroom and you're told, "Through the kitchen, to the back, and to your left." You'll wander back there, part the kitchen crew busy coming and chopping, past the home stove loaded with a pot of boiling chicken - I think today's chicken - and mistakenly out the back door. You'll turn around, and realize" to the left meant" the door hiding behind a shower curtain, where a tiny one toilet bathroom awaits. And you won't give a damn whether any of this is to code or not, because the food IS JUST THAT DAMN GOOD! Go before some pesky city regulation shuts it down. Which I hope doesn't happen, because I'm about to become a regular. No liquor license. Which is fine. Liquor inspectors are sticklers for the rules! read more

My sister and I were about to go to Adelitas and they were very busy so we went to El Caracol instead. It was a small restaurant when we walked in and the server greeted us warm smile. The decor wasn't too fancy but it totally reminded me of Mexico trip I've went back in 2010. Even the washroom decoration reminded me of Mexico as well. By the way you have to walk behind the counter and then walk through the kitchen to go to washroom. Food was pretty delicious and filling. We ordered Yuca Con Chicharron $6 and Enchiladas Mexicana (chicken) $9.99 they were so good. Yuca Con Chicharron -Yuca(cassava) were nicely deep fried and pork were tender and delicious. Enchiladas- this dish was delicious as well. I wish it came with more beans and there was very little on the plate. It was such a filling dish as it came with salad and rice as well. Forgot to mention that we had to get water on our own. Water fountain is placed by the entrance along with empty cups. I'd love to go back there to try Pupusas. read more

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Love this place! The prices have gone up recently but it's still relatively economical and I'm happy to support the small business. I loooove their hot sauce and the staff is always friendly. Give them a try next time you're craving authentic Salvadoran food. Did I mention the burrito is huge? read more

Nothing fancy. Just good, honest Mexican food. The fact that about a dozen Latino customers were eating in this joint probably means that this place is legit. One overworked waitressed took our order. But we had to wait almost 20 minutes to get our takeout order. This suggested that there might have been only one cook as well. But, like I said, this place had about a dozen other customers waiting, so it might just have been a busy night; we were there around 8pm on a Monday night. The chicken burrito we got was dense and filling. There was a lot of rice and beans. It could have used more chicken. Surprisingly, there was cauliflower in the burrito which is a first for me. The salsa came in a little baggie and was extremely hot. I was quite pleased with the burrito, and I can see why this place is popular. read more

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Really good authentic Salvadoran and Mexican cuisine. Take out only during Covid. Made fresh so be sure to ask how long till it's ready to pick up. Cash only read more

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Really amazing food. I love coming here, great service. My favorite dishes are chicken enchiladas and soup a del ima. read more

El Caracol Café - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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El Caracol really takes it to the mat with their pupusas--thick corn cakes embedded with savories like cheese and chicken, offset by lashings of their piquant housemade curtido (pickled cabbage). Pair this with an ice cold Coke and you have yourself a holy trinity of sweet, sour, and savory. You are also ensured a full stomach for at least a week, and the portion of 3 pupusas is more than enough to provide leftovers. I also started things off with an order of their freshly-prepared guac--chunky, flavorful, and perfect for spreading on top of the pupusas. Overall the prices seemed a little high to me for the casual fare and ambiance (I ended up spending $20+ for the pupusa main, guac, and drink). Perhaps I am too much in the mindset of utilitarian Mexican joints back in the US that usually offer similar kinds of fare for less. It would be great if they gave the option of a side portion of guac, so that especially if you're dining alone, you don't have to sink in for the full appetizer size. Also, I'm fairly certain that they don't have a public washroom. I could've misunderstood the signage, but this was a bit of a bummer, especially after biking 40 minutes over hill and dale to get there. Otherwise, El Caracol fulfills a unique and much-needed role in Vancouver's dining ecosystem. read more

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Pupusas are wonderful! We've been coming here for many years. Bring a jar for extra salsa verde

This place has been our go-to restaurant for Mexican food for years. It's simple, honest food at its best. On a weeknight, you will find that the majority of the customers here are Mexicans--a very good sign. We've tried many items on the menu and we were rarely disappointed. Every time we come here the biggest problem is our stomach--we simply can't order everything we want to eat! The must tries are: Yuca con chicarron, pupusas, and sopa de mariscos (seafood soup). These are the items you see most Mexican customers order so you know they are yummy and authentic. If you fancy something different, try mojara frita (fried tilapia). Their taco al pastor is also pretty delicious but I suspect that they changed the recipe. It doesn't seem to be as good as before. It's worth noting that their rice is AMAZING! As for the service, it is a small, family style establishment. They can get very busy on the weekend so don't expect to be greeted at the door immediately by big smiles and over-the-top "how are you tonight"s. You go in, find a seat (if you are a regular), grab yourself a glass of water and wait for the waitress to come by with the menu. They have a very small kitchen with two grandmas who barely speak English as chefs (at least it used to be the case). The food is amazing but sometimes you have to wait a while when they are busy. So don't come starved expecting to receive a 5-star service. The waitress is friendly but not overly so. We like the no-nonsense style. It feels real. read more

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I agree with Jane D. Epic Yelp fail!! Bleh food all around. We ordered some chicken and beef burritos for takeout tonight. Some pupusas and poutine. The burrito was wrapped fajita style and a big soggy, wet mess im sure that even if I'd ordered and eaten there it would have been the same. I have never seen cauliflower in a burrito either, omg could have made better at home! I didn't want to waste my burrito so I managed to salvage what I could (and leave behind the crap) by grabbing a tortilla from the cupboard and rewrapping it. Seriously, u should not have to worry about your burrito tearing through the soaked bread while trying to eat. The meat was tasteless and bland. Stay away!! Go grab an ole el paso kit instead n save ur self the time n money. Really wish I could give it a lower rating. read more

This was a nice find! Came here for lunch on a weekday. The prices are good and the portions are large. Had the chicken enchiladas and beef burrito. The burrito was a real star! Enchiladas were not as flavourful as the burrito. They come with a side of rice, beans and salad, which is very generous. The decor is authentic and the service was good. There are a lot of regulars who come here and call in their orders in advance. I recommend doing this if you are on a tight schedule (lunch break etc). read more

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My boyfriend and I liked this place so much the first night that we came again the evening thereafter. A very down-to-earth mom and pop restaurant with tummy pleasing interesting food combinations that while not necessarily plate pretty but definitely hunger sating. The first visit was enchiladas and was enough for two meals for me (one for my boyfriend) and our second we ordered three different things: Barajas (?), papulas (?), and Honduran enchiladas (please forgive my spelling). With those three things one had chicken, one had pork and one had chorizo. The waitress on the second evening put a jar covered with Saran Wrap on the table with an incredible coleslaw-like mixture (without a serving spoon which concerned my boyfriend - how many other spoons have been in this communal jar? - I used my clean knife) This is the first restaurant where eggs aren't thrown in without warning - at least in the form of mayo - which is a huge plus for me being allergically sensitive to uncooked egg. It's cash only so come prepared. read more

El Caracol Café - Chicken enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Ive been here couple of times different server different time and the place never disappoint me...small with mexican decors,street parking,accept card and cash.server always friendly and smiling,welcoming you and always there to ask what else we neef,foods are awesome,noise level moderate...i would love to come back here soon and bring more friends to enjoy latin foods.. read more

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I came here with my friend from El Salvador because he wanted to introduce me to traditional cuisine from his homeland. According to my friend, this cozy place has the best pupusas (a thick tortilla filled with either pork, bean, cheese or all three). You get three per order for $7.50. See, what you're looking for in a good pupusas is an equal amount of dough to filling. It's all about the ratio. It's rich, heavy food and the order of three will fill up most people. The Carne Asada ($10) was good too. It's pretty much Latin American BBQ beef seasoned with salt, pepper and maybe some lemon. It's thick meat cuts, served with rice, beans and a bit of salad. It's a lot of food for the price. The downside? No beer. But you can go for a Horchata ($2). It's a milky mixture of cocoa, seeds, and spices and it's hard to come by good Horchata this far North. It's a family-owned and homey. It makes you feel like you're eating in your Latino-auntie's kitchen. read more

El Caracol Café - From El Caracol website - Mexican Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Not the best in the customer service area. When a sign says you're closed at 11 and last order is 30mins prior to closing time, but turn away customers at 10pm saying you're closed is not how you run a business. I'm giving you 2/5 stars because you were really rude about it and then closed the door and locked it on me. Food ?/5 Price ?/5 Service 2/5 read more

Saw them microwave chicken in Saran Wrap. We now go 2 doors North to Adilitas. Open kitchen and much cleaner read more

Great pupusas!!! always a treat, price is a bit higher but they are worth it never been disappointed also the seafood soup is really good! Keep it up ! read more

I highly recommend this place. It is very clean, the service is excellent and, as a Central American, I can guarantee that the ingredients and the flavor are wonderful. We recently bought beef soup and pupusas. The soup had no excess fat and the taste is authentic. The pupusas the same, delicious; we liked Loroco's better. Without a doubt, we will return. read more

This mostly Mexican joint also serves great papusas ($9 for 3), a hugely under appreciated food that isn't well represented in Canada. They're essentially thick corn tortillas stuffed with beans and cheese (and pork if that's your thing), and served with salsa and curtido (a vinegary cabbage slaw). A simple, but perfect meal in my opinion. I'm not a huge fan of the curtido here, but otherwise this place is great! read more

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Coming back from another treasure hunt into our storage locker (that we could not have picked a farther away one from where we live now...... but that's another story...) Heading North up Victoria drive and getting the grumps on from hunger I spotted this little treasure out of the corner of my eye. I alarmed the big guy with an "OH ! Honduran food ! " Practically screeching to a halt and scoring a spot right at the corner we scrambled past the little (patio) and into El Caracol. What a find. Such a friendly, home cookin' kind of place. I think we ordered every Honduran item on the menu. More than we could consume in one sitting for sure. Our mood improved and we added this little gem to our list of secret places. But in this economy, we have to support small business right ? So, even though it may be out of your way. GO HERE - and order everything you want without breaking the bank! read more

If you're looking for cheap Latin food, you can't go wrong with El Caracol, or its neighbouring little brother - a taco stand of sorts with a more limited menu. With several entrees on the menu for just $5, including their gigantic burritos, even your wallet will be smiling when you leave. The nachos are delicious and the chips are obviously freshly made. Chunks of chopped avocado are a nice change from a blob of guacamole. The beans that are used in most dishes are nicely re-fried and if they are from a can, you could have fooled me! I also recommend the steak tacos. Three generous tacos served traditionally with just onion and cilantro. A veggie friend, enjoyed the vegetarian burrito with chunks of roasted carrot, zucchini mixed with the traditional peppers and onions. but the real star of the show are the hot sauces and salsa. With a handful to choose from, there is a flavor for every taste. My personal recommendation is the bright green cilantro based hot sauce. Great jalapeno flavor with a nice kick that really made the flavors of my entree dance around in my mouth. The chipotle was a nice smokey sauce with a medium heat that my husband preferred with his nachos. The sauces aren't labeled, so you'll just have to taste your way to your favorite. read more

Been hearing about El Caracol for a while now, and was in the neighbourhood, so dropped in for an early supper. Ordered the Mexican enchilada 'cuz the sign states "Mexican Cafe!" The dish itself was good, but no sour cream, no salsa, no guac. I'm okay with that, the price is ok at $8.99. But the restraint in dressing this soft, moist, stuffed with chicken enchilada was disappointing. As a solo diner (again) I wasn't sure why I was being ignored, so moseyed up to the server and placed my order. The meal arrived in a short time, so I wondered - microwaved? The salad was delicious, but teeny, the sliver of avocado was microscopic, and the generous serving of rice was absolutely delicious. I have mixed feelings about this cosy place. The one other diner was snoozing at his table, so the place is definitely laid back. I plan to go back with a group, so we can order the milkshakes, try the nachos, and support a local business. Cash only, lots of street parking, read more

Probably the most traditional South American meal I've had in Vancouver, at super economical prices! I had their chicken fajitas and it was more food than I could eat. Stir-fried chicken with sweet peppers and onions, a large portion of wonderful boiled rice, perfect refritos (frijoles), pickled veggies, great salsa, and a stack of warm tortillas. And, the horchata was super fresh and not too sweet. Heaven! read more

The first time I visit this restaurant, my friend and I waited at the door but nobody came up to say hi or anything, the server looked at us like twice and didn't say anything, there was an empty table so we sat there, she gave us the menu and didn't say anything just looked at us in a weird way, she never came back not even to offer a drink, so we got up and left. Last night Sunday around 8pm I decided to give it another try, I went with a different friend and unfortunately the same server was working that night, we were standing at the door she never came to say hi, there were 2 tables available but dirty, she looked at us like 2 or 3 times but didn't say anything then she cleaned one of the table and she never offered that table to us, she went to bill another table and then she went to take an order on the phone, I waited for her to finished but still she was ignoring us, so I asker from the door "excuse me, are you guys still open? If yes, can we grab a sit?" And she said yes there... Then she took our order just because she has to not because she wanted to, she took the order partially wrong, I ordered plantains for dessert and she never brought it, good thing she didn't charge me for that. The food was good, but this type of service is unacceptable. read more

their pupusas and food are sooooo good! i die. this place is a "find" for me -- and this is how much i *love* the yelp community: i'm sharing "finds" which i typically like to keep secrets! very authentic "hole in the wall" sort of atmosphere, friendly service, and awesomesauce food. to go to the bathroom, you also walk through the kitchen so you can peep how clean (very) the atmosphere your edibles are being prepped in. I'm not going to bother recommending many dishes as everything i've tried is great... but I will put out that the seafood soup is some kinda wonderful. definitely a do. read more

Was craving pupusas late - and the place I usually go to was closed...so I looked to Yelp for other locations. Called one more and no answer....then called El Caracol Cafe, as saw they are open til 11. Pupusas are literally one of my top 3 favorite foods - and I must say that I think these are the best ones I have ever had! LOTS of filling! I see why they are $3 each - you get what you pay for. When they are cheaper, they are smaller...less filling. These are Absolutely delicious! And if anyone is going to complain about $9 to be full - where can you eat for that price anymore?! Next time I crave pupusas - there is no doubt where I will be going...plus they stay open late during the week which is awesome. Don't let the hole-in-the-wall appearance throw you off - it is very cute inside and the staff are nice. These types of places are the ones you know you will get good authentic food. Thank you El Caracol! I will be having them for breakfast too lol read more

Very impressed! We were looking for an unassuming homey feel. We found it here. The staff was accommodating without hesitation to prepare vegetarian dishes. While the theme is Mexican, we felt the warmth and friendliness that reminded us of home cooked meals in Havana, Cuba. We will be back for sure and recommend this to friends. read more

So tasty. The vibe of the place makes me feel like I'm back traveling in Central America. Nice people, nice spot for a mini escape. I had the chicken tacos and they were some the best I've had in Van. read more

MEXICAN AND SALVADOREAN FOOD If you want to enjoy delicious Tacos, Pupusas, BBQ, Seafood Soup and tasty desserts, this is the place for you. For the last couple years we constantly have gone to this restaurant for dinner and never got tire of their food. You may have to wait for few minutes for your food to be serve but is worthy because is fresh and good. read more