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    El Chinaco

    3.7 (392 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order El Chinaco Takeout or Delivery

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    EL CHINACO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    I suggest San Sivar better tasting & half the price of all things. They wanted to give us reheated coffee brewed this morning.

    Extremely oily, and stiff pupusa. The cheese is not stretchy and has flavor of overly used dirty oil, it's hard to explain. When you have had good pupusa, you know these are bad. I got extremely gassy also after eating those when I usually don't. Pupusa's are supposed to be soft on the bread with a bite and cheese, stretchy and favorable.. the worst pupusa I've ever had in my entire life, and they're overly priced. Most places to sell them at $3.75 this place sells them at $5.25 each, I'd rather go by In-N-Out for that price and poor quality

    Alisha S.

    I got the frijol pupusas and pollo quesadilla. I was hungry when ordering and definitely had lots of leftovers after this, so it was great for 2 meals. Both were really really good, they seem to be known for their pupusas so I'd try another type if I were to return

    Quesobirra and pupusas!
    Adriana C.

    We drove all the way from Riverside because this place has the best pupusas. It didn't disappoint! Used to come here around 20 yrs ago when I worked in CM and it's still worth the drive. Btw..the pupusas are huge! And customer serve is awesome!

    Truly the best Salvadoran food in the USA and I have sampled from coast to coast.
    Dave C.

    I have not visited since it changed ownership, but over the last 20 years I have loved their food!

    Burned Chicharron Pupusa not eatable
    Ana B.

    A bit disappointed with my order today. I order from Chinaco often. I always order two chicharon pupusas and an adobada taco to go. When I got home to eat after a long day, I realized the pupusa I was eating had cheese, which is not what I ordered. I threw it away because I don't consume dairy. By this time it wasn't a big deal, when I started eating the second one it tasted burned. I flipped the pususa and it was not eatable, too burned. I called Chinaco, a lady answered and told me to go back now to get a refund, but I don't live close, that's why I call to place my order and take it home. Anyways wrong order and burned pupusas, not the best experience today. At least my taco was good! Hopefully they quality check from now on, it sucks to eat burned food.

    Tiny side of beans
    Adorianna N.

    Get ready to be nickel-and-dimed!! They increased the prices however, the quality and quantity, has decreased. This is now the 3rd time I come to this place and they mess up my order! While eating at the restaurant they didn't give me 2 pupusas I ordered. Another time they gave me the wrong pupusa and today, they failed to pack my plátano frito! I didn't realize until I got home and when I called, the lady ask if I could comeback to get it. When I got to the restaurant, the plátanos and beans were already cold. Also, the pupusas are mostly masa and no filling. The revuelta has probably one piece of pork, and the cheese pupusa is mostly masa as well. The plátano frito comes with a tiny side of beans and sour cream. This is the last time we eat at this place.

    Queso pususa
    David N.

    Queso pususa- 90% masa, 10% queso. Revuelta pupusa- 80% masa, 10% pork, 10% queso. Rip off!!! Never again!

    Amanda L.

    Ordered on here on Door Dash for the first time! Pupusas were hot & fresh! They were huge and delicious! Thanks to the staffs for providing extra curtido when asked. Really really appreciate it! Will definitely order again!

    Frijol y Queso Pupusa

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

    One of the best restaurants around!! Everything is so good!! The ladies who work there are all super sweet and helpful!

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    9 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Food and service are great! We are repeat customers. Definitely try it! You will not regret it!

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    2 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Delicious variety of homemade vegetarian pupusas, with generous portions at reasonable price.

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    2 years ago

    The food is incredible and the people are sooo nice and accommodating! So much great food to choose from!! Love it!!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Pupusas are big and delicious. Prices are steep for Pupusas but it is a worth while Test if you want an authentic El Salvadorian experience.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great food, great service! Never eating there just delivery and pick up but always on point!

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    Sal B.

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    3 years ago

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    Sal B.

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    Page 1 of 10

    El Chinaco Reviews in Other Languages

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    Hey Diana! The phone number is 949-722-8632 however if there are multiple people calling it may sound like it’s disconnected! Sorry about that!

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    San Sivar - 4 papusas

    San Sivar

    3.8(472 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $

    I drove by here and was so excited to see a pupusa shop! The store is small, only about 50 seats…read more It was very busy when I went there for a weekend night to get take out. I should have ordered ahead as it appeared many people did. None the less I am very happy with the wait! The service was great and they were very helpful with recommendations. I feel like pupusas are meant to be kept simple and they mean a lot to me. They are made to order and you can tell by the quality. The Revuelta has a lot of delicious fat and salt from the pork. It's a grounded pork. It combines really well with the beans and cheese. It has a very unique flavor profile. I can see why it's so popular. The Frijol and Queso was my absolute favorite. SO creamy!! I love the thickness of the maiz. And it wasn't too oily! My favorite part was the cabbage salad. It is slightly fermented. It kind of resembles a very very mild kimchi or sauerkraut. Super flavorful and bright. I thought the bag of red sauce would be spicy but it's actually quite sweet. It pairs perfectly with the pupusas. It is tomato based. I always feel very healthy after eating El Salvadoran food. I especially felt great after eating here. The quality and balance is all there.

    This is the place if you are patient and have extra time. They take a LONG time as most items are…read moremade to order, especially the pupusas. I don't like that none of their prices are listed, probably because it is a bit overpriced. The pupusas were pretty good and I appreciate that they have a spicy sauce option, since most places only offer the traditional tomato sauce.

    Photos
    San Sivar - Back seats

    Back seats

    San Sivar
    San Sivar - Outside looking towards Newport Blvd. Small spot

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    Outside looking towards Newport Blvd. Small spot

    El Curtido - Caldo de Res

    El Curtido

    4.3(56 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Decided to try a new (to us) restaurant in the area and this place hit the spot…read more The options are great, however we stuck to Pupusas only this time. A nice and welcoming restaurant with great takeout options. The service was great, the food took a bit- but it was 100% worth the wait. These are some filled pupusas with two different salsas. Amazing quality and will definitely be back to have more and try something new. Ps. Take out was packed so well our food was still nice and hot by the time we got home!

    Was in the area and in search of some delicious Guatemalan food. El Curtido Pupuseria did not…read moredisappoint! I ordered the caldo de rez and it was perfect! Flavorful and came with home made tortillas. I also ordered a rice dough pupusas revuelta and it was my first time trying one that's not corn. The horchata was so yummy! I'm so glad I found this spot! Place was clean, staff was welcoming! Gabby was so kind and friendly, everyone made you feel at home! They also have sweet bread so I took some home! Give them a visit if you find yourself in the area, you won't regret it! Estaba de visita y en busca de deliciosa comida guatemalteca. ¡El Curtido Pupuseria no me decepcionó! Pedí el caldo de res y estaba perfecto. Lleno de sabor y venía con tortillas caseras. También pedí una pupusa revuelta de masa de arroz, y era la primera vez que probaba una que no fuera de maíz. ¡La horchata estaba riquísima! ¡Me alegra mucho haber encontrado este lugar! El local estaba limpio y el personal era muy amable. Gabby fue muy atenta y simpática, ¡todos te hacían sentir como en casa! También tienen pan dulce, así que me llevé un poco a casa. Si están por la zona, ¡visítenlos, no se arrepentirán!

    Photos
    El Curtido - Dinning room

    Dinning room

    El Curtido - Pastelitos de pollo y queso

    Pastelitos de pollo y queso

    El Curtido - Caldo de Res / Beef Soup

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    Caldo de Res / Beef Soup

    El Salvador Cafe - Photo of everything I ate. Everything was authentic and delicious! IG: foodie_v

    El Salvador Cafe

    4.0(42 reviews)
    7.2 mi
    $

    Amazing Salvadoran Experience in Santa Ana!…read more I had one of the best meals I've had in Orange County at this Salvadorian spot! From the moment I walked in, the aroma of authentic pupusas and traditional dishes made my mouth water. Every bite was bursting with flavor -- the pupusas were perfectly handmade, fresh, and cheesy, and the tamales were rich and satisfying. The portions were generous, and the prices were more than fair for the quality of food you get. The staff were welcoming, attentive, and truly passionate about the food they serve. It's clear they care about giving customers a real taste of Salvadoran cuisine -- I'll definitely be coming back soon and bringing friends to share this hidden gem. Highly recommend if you love authentic Latin flavors and great service!

    The food here is good been here twice but today the place was already packed to begin with, and…read morethey keep taking orders to go for so many which made the food take longer to the people already waiting inside to eat they took forever to bring my eggs which I had asked before if was going to take long and then said no so I said okay I waited 30 mins and still they brought no eggs so I got up to ask if they were going to take longer to cancel my order which she immediately cancel I'm assuming she forgot about it. Which would've been fine but I think if there under staff they should've be taking so many orders they can't handle some guy was told 1 hour for just a bread with beans and to top it off the wait was ridiculous and they have no public restroom for the costumers and the people working there this lady with blonde hair just seems so annoyed to be working there.

    Photos
    El Salvador Cafe - Frozen goods

    Frozen goods

    El Salvador Cafe - Pupusas

    Pupusas

    El Salvador Cafe - Inside

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    Inside

    El Habanero - Fish and asada tacos

    El Habanero

    4.1(574 reviews)
    8.2 mi
    $$

    Found this place a little while back and honestly so glad that I did…read more Food is fresh. Quite an eclectic menu with items I don't typically see at other places. They have the huitalacoche (corn fungus) quesadilla that I really enjoy as well as their pupusa loroco y queso. Trying out their Lengua taco and taco jaracho which I have been eyeing for a while. All their food is tasty, made fresh. All bursting with flavor. Salsa bar is probably one of my favorites having literally a salsa made for every kind of taste bud. Don't let the small restaurant deceive you. Small restaraunt but with bit flavors. The tortilla made with the quesadilla is nice and soft but with a good chew to it. Tastes like a homemade corn tortilla versus flour. The cheese is rich and has a wonderful pull to it. The lengua is extremely tender, little skimpy on meat portion, but overall good taco. The jarocho taco which is basically a shrimp taco on a cheese crusted tortilla is excellent. Service is what you would expect at a ma and pop shop. The cashier was patient enough to explain to me what a jarocho taco was and also spoke English which was nice for me. Last time I dined I just used butchered Spanish and got by with that but thats on me with practicing more Spanish.

    (I came been coming here on consistent basis for the last 6 months and I feel its finally time for…read morea review, I guess i cant keep this to myself any longer, Last revisit on February 03 2026) Some places don't announce themselves... they whisper to the people who are meant to find them. El Habanero is that kind of spot  the ultimate hidden gem. You walk in expecting a quick bite and somehow leave feeling like you discovered a secret the city has been quietly protecting. I ordered the carne asada torta and immediately realized this wasn't just a sandwich  this was architecture. The bread? Perfectly toasted, soft inside with just enough crisp to hold the universe together. It cradles everything like it knows how important its job is. Then the carne asada shows up  tender, juicy, smoky, and seasoned like someone's abuela personally supervised the grill. Every bite releases layers: char, citrus, salt, and warmth all hitting at once. The toppings don't just sit there either they collaborate. Creamy, fresh, bright, and balanced so the meat stays the star while everything else plays the perfect supporting role. The sauces? I'm convinced they bend time, because the torta disappears way faster than logic allows. This isn't just food  it's the kind of meal that makes you pause mid-bite and look around to see if anyone else realizes what just happened. El Habanero didn't just make a torta... they made a reason to come back.

    Photos
    El Habanero - Salsa bar

    Salsa bar

    El Habanero - Carne asada fries

    Carne asada fries

    El Habanero - Drinks

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    Drinks

    Rio Restaurant Pupuseria Salvadoreña - Pupusas Revueltas (Chicharrón, Queso y Frijol)

    Rio Restaurant Pupuseria Salvadoreña

    4.0(364 reviews)
    11.3 mi
    $$

    Best place to eat salvadoreña food every thing was amazing delicious food I definitely recommend…read morethis place's and be back soon

    I went to this place to try Chilate with Nuegados but the plátanos is con miel had a really bad…read moretaste so I call the waitress and ask him if they can give more nuegados and take away the plantain that taste really bad like spoil old food ! So the guy told me they were cook in the morning and I was there like 7:30 p.m so I told them that please give me another order or nuegados cause those taste fresh and he told me that the plantain where in the order so I have to pay them . I ask the guy where is a manager or owner and he act like didn't heard me . I told him I will pay them but I don't want them , then the guys was happy about it ? But this is sad to pay for a food that it tastes like old bananas or plantain. it was a really sad experience . They don't want to be responsible for a bad food they sale ? Is our money , our hard work , and if we desire to try something that you don't cook at home , it should be worth your money right ? I feel very disappointed and sad . I think I will never go back to that place ! My apologies to the owners of this place but the guys that works there don't care about making people feel happy about your food . They don't care about clients , they just want to make their hours and leave . I hope they make it better one day . We are Salvadorian and we should be more kind to people . We are human beings you know ! So sorry for saying all this but it has to be said . Thank you

    Photos
    Rio Restaurant Pupuseria Salvadoreña - Inside

    Inside

    Rio Restaurant Pupuseria Salvadoreña
    Rio Restaurant Pupuseria Salvadoreña

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    El Chinaco - mexican - Updated May 2026

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