There are some restaurants that make you wish you could live next door, some restaurants that leave you thinking about the food weeks later. This is one of those places!! Authentic Mexican fare with amazing flavors, friendly great staff, and extremely affordable prices- I was able to eat a whole meal for under 5$! Any of the Latin breakfast combinations are to die for, and all just a few dollars, as well as the plantains, which are served with this special sour cream sauce for dipping. Amazing place, check it out! Bring some cash with you as well, cash only although there is an ATM (cashpoints) about a half mile away. read more

El Carbonero - Amazing food! I go every time I'm in town! - Salvadoran Near Me - Graham, North Carolina

One of Burlington's best kept secret. This hole in the wall El Salvadorian restaurant is amongst the most affordable and delicious I ever tasted. Muy Bueno! read more

This was the BEST Salvadoran restaurant between Graham, Greensboro and Winston-Salem we've ever had. The pupusas were absolutely DELICIOUS! We had 3 types and all of them were nicely filled and cooked to perfection with crispy edges and a soft cheesy middle. The chicken tamales and corn tamales were also very savory! Their aguas frescas included Salvadoran style horchata, jamaica, maracuya and marañon, all super fresh. Wait staff was very nice and friendly. We will absolutely be coming back! read more

This is the most delicious, friendly, and reasonably priced restaurant in town! I couldn't ask for anything more! Pupusas with their house habanero sauce are my go-to! read more

Delicious, hearty Salvadorean food! I ordered a chicken soup and a beef and cheese pupusa; the soup was super flavorful and I had enough to take home with me as well. This establishment is cash only. Would definitely go again! read more

Who doesn't love a local hidden gem. This place is it! The food is so good and the service is great. We will be back...

The papusas are really great and very affordable, but the service is slow and it is cash only. Both are factors for me when choosing a lunch destination. read more

I came to this place invited from a friend of mine, I tried pupusas, tacos,an caldo de res (beef soup) excellent service, quality and price. I highly recommend this place! read more

El Carbonero - Gustan? - Salvadoran Near Me - Graham, North Carolina

We tried El Carbonero last night after wanting to stop by there for a couple of years, but always finding ourselves without cash (they don't take cards). It was great. The pupusas were wonderful. Tacos were good. Fried plantains were great. The surprise was the chicken alfredo, which I'd never have ordered from a non-italian restaurant if it weren't for the reviews I read on here. It was probably the best alfredo I've ever had. Our family will definitely be back for more pupusas very soon. read more

My favorite place for pupusas. If you want a fancy place to take the family out on a nice afternoon , this is not the place . Come here and step into a different atmosphere than your average . They always have soccer game viewing on their flat screens. I love ordering by phone and they kindly take my order. Friendly staff. They been open for over 10 years and still great taste ! read more

I really do not like this restaurant. It's dirty and the food is utterly disgusting. One time when I was there with my family. We didn't know hat they only took cash and we only brought a debt card. We had to go all the way to the bank and back and it took forever. Highly don't recommend read more

Had the Pollo Chipotle; was excellent. The fried plantain plantain plate was huge and good. Enjoyed a lot.

The absolute best Latino food. I love their pupusas. I have had many pupusas all over NC and these are absolutely by far my favorite. They have little to no grease and are very flavorful. I also order their lunch special which never fail me. Don't get me started on their flan. I am Argentinian and know good flan when I taste it. Their flan is to die for! I hope this helps! read more

Wonderful authentic Salvadorean food. When I'm missing mom's home cooking, this place is my first choice.

First off, bring cash, they don't take cards. That is often enough to make me skip any business, however, this place is totally worth a trip to the ATM. It doesn't look like much from the outside but the food is amazing. I had the pollo fundido, which wasn't very adventurous of me, but it was probably the best pollo fundido I've ever had. The star of my visit was the pupusas, they're like if corn cakes and a grilled cheese had a Salvadoran baby... A delicious delicious baby. I can't wait to go back and try and more! It will take all the willpower I can muster to not just order a plate of pupusas. read more

This is a 100% authentic Salvadorean restaurant. The owner is from El Salvador as well as our waitress who was from Usulutan. The tacos are authentic Salvadorean NOT Mexican. If you have ever tried Salvadorean tacos you know exactly what I'm taking about, if not, try at least one and you will come back for more. The fresco de Tamarindo tasted exactly the same as the one you would have anywhere in El Salvador! It was natural and you have to stir it from time to time because the Tamarindo will settle at the bottom of the glass. Now the main course for us Salvadoreans: THE PUPUSAS. Real authentic pupusas can only be prepared by a Salvadorean native as these were. I only eat pupusas of chicharron (pork pupusas). Most Salvadorean restaurants in SC and NC will NOT prepare only pork pupusas, they usually pre-prepare them mixed (pork and cheese or beans and cheese). Not El Carbonero....you can order them only pork or only beans, cheese, or any combination (because they are made from scratch). Their pupusas are not pre-prepared, they are made from scratch as you order them (the way pupusas are made back home). These pupusas were exactly the same as if ordered at any restaurant or street vendor in El Salvador and there was plenty of fresh curtido as well. BTW, I noticed some earlier reviews claiming the pupusas were an "appetizer".....PUPUSAS ARE NOT AN APPETIZER....they are a Savadorean main meal (order 2-3 and you will be stuffed!). The yuca frita (fried cassava) and the fried pork were exactly as you would eat back in El Salvador as well! We were a family of 7 who stuffed ourselves with many pupusas, some steak tacos, fried cassava and pork, chicken fingers with fries, drinks of Tamarindo, Pepsi, and marañon for a grand total of $45! No credit card only cash. El Carbonero has been in business for 12 years. read more

Came here for lunch on a weekday with a friend. This place is truly a hidden gem and definitely worth visiting Graham for it!!! It's all about simple and fresh food here done in a homestyle manner which is great a change of pace from the usual trendy restaurant scene. If you're looking for food with bells and whistles, then this isn't your place but if you want good food without all the fuss, then try it for sure. They serve complimentary chips and salsa. I really liked the thick texture of the chips as they gave a very satisfying crunch and I could actually taste the chip. The salsa was just ok. I ordered a pupusa (thick corn tortilla patty) de chicharron y queso (pork and cheese) and a taco de pollo (chicken). The pupusa which was about the size of the palm of my hand (approx. 5 inch in diameter) was moist, fluffy, and not too greasy. It came with a picante-like sauce and cortido (pickley cabbage similar to slaw but without the mayo.) The acidity of the sauce and cortido balances really well with the heaviness and greasiness of the pupusa. I was very pleased! Compared to the pupusa , the taco de pollo was alright. It was two white corn tortillas with shredded white meat and pico de gallo inside. Very fresh tasting ingredients but I think it would've been more enjoyable if I used some of that picante sauce to give it some moisture and add more flavor. Now here's the delightful kicker, my meal only cost me $3.74 - say what?! I've never had a lunch that cheap stateside and I was stuffed too. There aren't many places around here esp. in the triangle with a deal like this. My friend ordered the lunch special which was pork chops with onions in a gravy that came with some sides that I can't remember. She enjoyed her meal too. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

My daughter insisted we make a detour and stop to eat at this restaurant. I was thinking to myself how good could a papusa really be? Oh my Lord........ it was the best papusa I've ever had! So my husband is from Mexico, and the cuisine, rather the flavors, are surprisingly different. So if you go to this restaurant expecting Mexican flavors you will be let down, but if you go with an open mind ready for something new, prepare to be pleased. We had papusas, tamales and the most incredible juice maracuya (passion fruit). I can't wait to go back. Great food! read more

I'm going to do this doing this based on the food, because from the outside I would have not eaten here. That said I tried it because, as a long time Spanish speaker, I kept hearing the Central Americans talking about it. The food is wonderful and made fresh. I have had the Tamal, yuca frita, papusas, and several other things and it's all been good! The family who runs it is wonderful and the prices are so cheap I wonder how they do it? Staff is friendly and speak English well! So come on take it from a fellow grigo, give it a try. I have taken several friends who have never ate Central American food before and they loved it. And for those of you who do gluten free it all corn flour! read more

We tried the Fajitas, the fried Yuca with chicharrones and the Carbonero grilled chicken salad. The food was delicious, the service was fast considering how busy the place was, our waitress was polite and very knowledgeable about the details of the items on the menu. THIS PLACE DOES NOT TAKE CREDIT CARDS. read more

Very authentic and delicious. Was not overly salty and everything we tried was very tasty

First of all, disregard any review that puts this place down for their Mexican food - it is a Salvadoran restaurant. You want Mexican? Go somewhere else. OK, now that we got that straight, it is an excellent restaurant where everything is made fresh to order. Items can be served family style and all of the local central Americans come there with their families. They are happy to explain everything on the menu. Try their pupusas - national dish of El Salvador. Think thick, stuffed, hand-made corn tortilla. Comes with encortido (sort of central American sour slaw made with cabbage, onion, carrots, lime juice and a few other ingredients). The place is authentic. Something for everyone. One of the jewels of Burlington's restaurant scene. read more

Excellent pupusas! Cash only so make sure you have some. Mostly frequented by the local Latino community. Traditional el salvadorean food. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but who cares about ambiance when the food is great and the prices are quite low. Great value! read more

The food was ok. You get a large meal. There just wasn't a feeling of more than average. I will explore other Mexican places before/if returning. read more

Our official lunch stop on our travels to the North. Delicious food. Yuca, pupusas, tacos, and the most delicious chicken broth soup you'll ever have. My picky eater 4 year old loved it. A gem! read more

El Carbonero - the exterior of a fast food restaurant - Salvadoran Near Me - Graham, North Carolina

Love this place. Surprisingly the chicken Alfredo is what keeps bringing me back, the sauce is amazing. I did the dine in once on a Sunday and won't be doing that again. Food was amazing but they were either short staffed or overwhelmed by the volume because the food took forever to come out. Would get takeout in a heart beat read more

Stopped in for lunch. Yes this place is a total dive; however, the staff is friendly and the food is awesome. Had the chicken fajitas and they were great. Soda was served in a bottle with a tall glass of ice. Chips and salsa to start was quite tasty as well; chips are homemade. read more

Best Salvadorian food in the area. Decor is simple. Staff is friendly. No matter what you order you also need to get some Pupusas as an appetizer . Cash only read more

the best food in this side of town. Never ever have we had an issue. Salsa and chips our clearly house made, other latina restrants cant keep up! read more

Really good home cooked food. Spanish Salvadorian restaurant excellent food friendly service did I mention really good food. If your in Graham North Carolina and want a good meal you can't go wrong if you go to El Carbonero. read more

Stopped here on our way back from Baltimore. Best food!! Everything was delicious. I am glad I went here base on the past reviews. Sure enough, they are all accurate. read more

Amazing!! The best Papua and tacos in town!! Staff always friendly and food always fresh....the only thing I would change about them is I wish they were open 7 days a week! read more

I have tried pupusas in my country El Salvador, California, and Texas, and I must say that NC pupusas are the worst. I went to this restaurant thinking and hoping they would be good, and to my dissapointment, they were the worst I have ever tried. Their 'pupusas' and 'curtido y salsa' were really bad. I have never gone to a Salvadorian restaurant where they don't let you serve your own 'curtido y salsa.' ...except here in NC. Their 'Torrejas' were bad. The only OK thing was their service and 'flan', it was way better than the food. read more

Great inexpensive eatery. Our party of four loved the food. We spent $60 including a 20 percent tip, so it was an excellent value. Service was attentive and very friendly. Decor is inelegant, but facilities are clean and uncrowned. No liquor license so blob. read more

Went here based on its already great Yelp reputation - did not disappoint! It's a family-run cash-only spot that looks pretty junky from the outside, but it's much nicer inside and the food totally makes up for it. We ordered the famous pupusas for appetizers, and they were great. The entrees (fajitas, bistec mexicana, chicken limon) were all delicious and in huge portions. I'd recommend the empanada for dessert too! read more

Good food and great service. We would definitely go back! We had several types of papusas and all of them were excellent. Inexpensive place to eat. Bring cash as they do not take cards. read more

Food was delicious! We ordered one of each kind of pupusas and they were all excellent. The chicken quesadilla was the best I've ever eaten. You must get the plantains, too, they are awesome. I liked the liter glass bottle of Coke! We will definitely be back. read more

Don't judge by the outside....Very good food! Very affordable and the staff is friendly and service was excellent. Would definitely go back and recommend to others. read more

This is an awesome place for an authentic experience of Salvadoran cuisine. Come here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and you will find an amazing variety of truly exquisite delicacies that could easily cost 3 or 4 times more, and still be worth the price. I know, I've visited to El Salvador on multiple occasions. Start with the pupusas. Oh my! Talk about cheese heaven. You can order both rice or corn pupusas, which is very unusual as most restaurants like to concentrate on one kind or the other. They come with frijoles, revueltas, pollo, loroco, etc, in other words, exactly what you'd expect if you were making them yourself at home. The fajitas, especially the shrimp fajitas, come with a very well endowed portion of vegetables and meat, so if you are watching your figure (after eating too many pupusas) you will find that this is both tasty and fills you up without too many calories. The carne asada with rice and beans is another of my favorites at this restaurant, as well as the mojarra frita, Yum, yum. For drinks, I especially like the tamarindo and the horchata. I've seen them make it, and boy, it's exactly how they make it back in the old country. And the best is the price: you will not find too many plates here cost over $10 (yes, $10!). I've been able to feed my family of 5 with under $30, including tip! The down side is that this place can get crowded in a hurry, as there are only about 10 tables. To avoid he crowds, I plan my breakfast for as soon as they open at 9am (you can usually find people waiting at this time). For lunch I go after 2pm, and for dinner after 7pm. Bring your cash, as this place does not take credit cards or checks. Enjoy! read more

It is everything others have described but you need to know what you're in for. The pupusas are good but not that exciting. I'm sure if your familiar these are well made. The staff was wonderful and friendly and would have helped if I'd asked but I didn't know what to ask. I would have loved to truly adventure through an cuisine unfamiliar because I love ethnic food. Based on other recommendations we also tried the Horchata. Be prepared, it is quite sweet. I teetered between 3 and 4 stars but decided they do what they do well and my poor attempt at adventure is not their fault. read more