We arrived around 2:00pm on a Saturday afternoon, and no one else was there. The full menu was not available, so we chose a couple items that were available--the empanadas and the carne asada. The cheese empanadas were good, but the cheese and the chicken empanada was not great, thanks to boiled, flavorless chicken. The house-made tortillas that accompanied the carne asada were very good. The steak was on the tough side. Service was quick but not particularly attentive. The young woman at the counter brought out our food but never asked how it was. The place is a dive, but with the exception of the women's restroom, is clean. The toilet in the women's restroom was gross, the toilet paper was sitting on the sink, and the paper towel dispenser was broken. read more

So good!! Some background on El Mana-- established in 2019..yes the beginning of the Corona era, this eatery has survived to introduce Bellingham to Honduran/Guatemalan cuisine. I think it is safe for me to state that El Mana is the only place where you could get some traditional Honduran/Guatemalan food. They have baleadas wrapped with their homemade tortilla. They also offer on their menu: tamales; pupusa; savery or sweet empanadas; Pollo (fried chicken with fries) fritos; and their version of enchiladas. Be warn their enchiladas dishes are not the ones you normally encounter at a Mexican or Latin restaurant. These Honduran enchiladas are made in the style of a tostada. Crispy corn tortillas, piled with meat, veggies, cheese, and eggs. The owner is a baker so make sure you try some of his bake goods. I got one of their freshly baked Guatemalan bread that I was told Hondurans eat along with their coffee for breakfast. I can see why-- it tasted like a muffin or a donut. My kids enjoyed it on our drive home. Some background on El Mana-- opened as a store front in 2019..yes the beginning of the Corona era, this eatery has survived to introduce Bellingham to Honduran/Guatemalan cuisine. I think it is safe for me to state that El Mana is the only place where you could get some traditional Honduran/Guatemalan food. They have the traditional baleadas using their homemade tortilla. They also offer on their limited menu: tamales; pupusa; savery or sweet empanadas; Pollo (fried chicken with fries) fritos; and their version of enchiladas. Be warn their enchiladas dishes are not the ones you normally encounter at a Mexican restaurant. These Honduran enchiladas are made in the style of a tostada. Crispy corn tortillas, piled with meat, veggies, cheese, and eggs. The owner is a baker so make sure you try some of his bake goods baked by him fresh daily. I got one of their Guatemalan bread that I was told Hondurans eat along with their coffee for breakfast. I can see why, it tasted to me like a muffin or a donut. My kids enjoyed it on our drive home. The location of the restaurant is within a strip mall off Birchwood, so it may be hard to find, but lots of parking available. Family own and run--from the owner's daughter who runs the front of the restaurant to the owners themselves who put a lot of their own love into the food they put out. The dining area is spacious and perfect for a small or large group to come dine. The owners daughter, who also works there said they wanted the space to be a place where families could come together and enjoy all the food she loved growing up with her mom's cooking. Food is one of the things that bring people together and at the same time expose them to other cultures. Can't wait to bring my family here to dine. read more

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El maná is amazing!! From their food to the staff, this place is definitely family owned and it shows. The server took the time & explained every single thing on the menu for me. Most meals can be ordered vegetarian friendly & It's all made from scratch! I highly recommend their food. read more

El Maná - Latin American Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

El Mana is currently my favorite place to eat. Delicious food served in a relaxing environment! Each time I've eaten here, I can't stop thinking about the food for days after. Empanadas Queso & Espinaca are well stuffed and perfectly crispy. Add a little green sauce and you've got a party in your mouth. The baked goods are delicious, especially when heated prior to enjoying. No alcoholic beverages served here. Horchata cannot disappoint. It's tastes like a cinnamon dessert more than anything. Service is delightful. I appreciate that I can get recommendations to accommodate a vegetarian diet and a description of items which are unfamiliar. Bring your appetite to El Mana. Food quantity and quality are generous for a reasonable price! read more

El Maná - Empanadas Queso & Espinaca - Latin American Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Take your taste buds on a flavor filled journey to El Mana! Family owned and open since 2019. I was fortunate to attend a YEE and it exceeded my expectations. The food is a Honduran/Caribbean/Mayan fusion with something for everyone. Fresh and delicious. Simple, comfortable decor for eat in or take away. Prices are very affordable. They also have a bakery with a selection of empanadas, sweet breads and a variety of cold drinks including creamy horchata.The aroma when you arrive to the restaurant is intoxicating and the staff is warm and welcoming. We absolutely loved the fried chicken, enchiladas and platano frito. We'll be back for more! read more

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This spot is so cool! I'm not I'd ever had Central American food before coming to El Mana, but I'm glad this was my first experience. They've got menu items from Guatemala, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador...it's quite the collection, but everything is delicious and done really well! The owners/folks working are always so friendly and helpful in explaining the menu items, which is super helpful. Give it a try, if you've never popped in before! read more

El Maná - Latin American Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

The meal I had at El Mana was delicious; I haven't eaten Honduran or Guatemalan food before this and I was delightfully surprised at the seasonings and flavors, which were so tasty. I ordered the Pollo Asado which was grilled chicken and rice, fantastic flavored beans, great homemade tortillas and even some type of soft white cheese on the side, and fried plantains (sorta tasted like squash). I loved having this enjoyable meal. And the people working were really nice. read more

El Maná - Latin American Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Nice little hole in the wall place. Got the fried chicken w/ papas fritas. The chicken was excellent but the fritas stole the show!

This is the best, authentic family owned hole in the wall. It's owned by a husband and wife, she is from Guatemala and he is from Honduras so they cook food from both regions. We ordered their Fried Chicken, Pupusas, Pastelitos and Baleadas. The fried chicken was my favorite, so tender and juicy and flavorful. The banana chips they pair it with have the most amazing sauce. Their homemade tortillas are also so soft and tasty and pupusas were delicious. Everything was made with love! They also had fresh cantaloupe juice and homemade horchata as well as pastries. The daughter rang us up and was so helpful in explaining the menu. I will be coming here regularly! read more

El Maná - Fried chicken (Pollo Frito) with fried banana chips. Will dream about this! - Latin American Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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10 out of 10 recommend. We really enjoyed the enchiladas de pollo, and were very surprised by how much we liked the beet topping with the chicken. The Papusas and service were also top notch. read more

If you want to find THE best Guatemalan food look no further! I love el mana! It's family owned and operated by the sweetest family. They offer pastries as well as hot food. My favorite are the empanadas! They are to die for!! The spinach and cheese melts in your mouth wail the outside is crisp and delicious. I love the empanada pastries as well. I tried the cream one which was delicious! I also highly recommend trying the horchata! It's a really yummy cinnamon milk drink. Perfect for dessert or a special treat for kids. Their menu is so unique and delicious, definitely the best new restaurant in Bellingham! read more

El Maná - Area to relax and have a glass of horchata - Latin American Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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This is a must try place if you want to experience central american food. There is quite a variety and I bet they might even adjust an item if you want to try something a little different or have a dietary restriction. read more

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This place is awesome! I went in and ordered, then the power to the whole city block went out due to a windstorm. They were cooking in the back with headlamps on and the food was terrific! Gas is always good to have because even if the lights go out, you can still cook. They were very attentive, and I enjoyed a great meal without all the buzzing of electricity. Definitely would recommend! read more

Just went here last night for the first time, and glad I did, since the food was amazing! Got the empanadas and the watermelon iced drink, which altogether only cost me about 10$. The dough on the empanadas was so perfect, very fresh and fried to just the right point. The order comes with two, and I got the ham and cheese and the ground beef. Both were super good. Haven't tried anything else on the menu yet but I plan to! Might head to again today. If you're looking for some good Mexican, actual it may be closer to Guatemalan food, check them out! read more

The owner Mario is such a good man and his food is out of this world amazing. I've had pretty much every menu item. All have been absolutely fantastic. Today was in the mood for breakfast so tried the Honduran chilequilas carne de molida for the first time. 100 % amazing. read more

El Maná - Honduran enchiladas with arroz tamal at El Mana'. The flavors are absolutely amazing here. - Latin American Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Excellent food with attentive and patient service from the one server running front of house that was getting more and more full by the second. Tried the beef empanadas and pollo with papas fritas and both were great, the beef was flavorful and the bread on the empanadas was the perfect thickness without being too doughy. The chicken had a wonderful, savory flavor. The papas fritas could have been a little more crispy but the sauce was so good it more than made up for it. This was my first time coming here but I'll definitely be back. read more

So happy we stumbled upon this place today! The food here is amazing, and SO flavorful! It tasted homemade and authentic, always a good thing! We tried the Pastelitos, Pupusas, and the Enchiladas. Our favorite was the Pastelitos, which were fried pockets filled with chicken, rice, cabbage, etc. they had so much flavor and were so tasty! The Pupusas were amazing too, with the flatbread being homemade and incredibly delicious! Lastly, the enchiladas reminded me of a tostada with the hard shell, but they were also super yummy! A huge plus as well, the prices are REALLY affordable for great food and the amount you get! The atmosphere is clean, bright and welcoming. You totally get the feel of a family-owned restaurant (which it is). They were friendly and attentive, and we really enjoyed our experience! I love supporting local, family-owned restaurants, and we will DEFINITELY be back here! Make sure to stop by if you're in the Birchwood neighborhood, you won't be disappointed! read more

It doesn't look or seem like much when you come across it, but the authentic taste, great prices and wonderful service are what keep us coming back time after time. The pupusas are enormous and cheesy delicious, the fried chicken is unreal and empanadas are out of this world! Try it, you won't regret it! read more

Love the good here. Authentic. Ambience is tough in that space but the service is knowledgeable and friendly... and the horchata is to die for... read more

I had never had a pupusa. It was very good. I love the flavor. The price was crazy cheap for what you get! I would definitely recommend. My BF had the chicken sandwich and really liked it. I like the salad you get with it, it is cabbage, vinegar, spices, tomato, onion, maybe cilantro and more. I went because I love Colombian food from where I live in Oregon. read more

Wow, so happy we tried El Mana! We went big for my birthday dinner and ordered most of their menu. Everything was amazing, I particularly loved the empanadas, honduran tamal, and pollo frito, but really nothing disappointed. Great sauces too. Big portions and such reasonable prices. So happy to have this restaurant in the Birchwood neighborhood. We'll be back soon. read more

A wonderful restaurant and bakery. My family has had the pleasure of eating at El Mana twice in the last week. I was blessed with takeout a week ago and the entire family plus my mother in law dined there yesterday. The food was fabulous across the board. My wife and I enjoyed the chicken in pescalitos and split an order of the fries, my sons the fried chicken and my mother in law, the chicken chilaquiles. Everything was delicious and worthy of much praise, right down to the horchata. The owner not only took our order but served us with a smile and a laugh. El Mana will be a regular restaurant in our rotation, as it should be in yours. Thankfully, it is relatively unknown currently so even on a Friday evening, there is seating to be had. I can't imagine it will stay that way for long. read more

Excellent! Very authentic! Wow, we will be going back. I love these off the beaten path types of places. We ordered 4 things off the menu which we knew was going to be way too much food, but it was great to try allot of different things. The Honduran Enchiladas were the highlight. The empenadas were delicious as well. Highly recommend! read more

Wow!!! The flavors were amazing, the condiments were on point, and our order came quickly. We will definitely be eating with El Mana again! read more

Super friendly staff & welcoming vibe. We had both the Honduran and Guatemalan enchiladas. They were both delicious and very different from each other. We can't remember the other dishes name but it was fried plantain with black beans and crema. So good! We will definitely be going back. read more

Wow. Saw a recommendation for this Guatemalan/Nicaraguan restaurant and decided to try something new. They are on Northwest and Birchwood - next to Big Lots. It's a small place tucked into a big set of stores. And worth the trip. The food is reasonably priced and delicious. We had the spinach and cheese Pupusas, the Chicken Pastelitos, and the fried plantain for dessert. We did pick-up so ordered online . It was difficult to find a menu but I'm sure they will fix this soon. There is a menu under the VikingFoods delivery service website. We also had the fresh fruit drinks - a cantaloupe and watermelon. Pretty sure this is just fruit, sugar, and water. I had this drink for breakfast in Isla Mujeres about 40 years ago. So refreshing. We moved to Bellingham from Portland back in 2016. And while I love love love Bellingham, the range of fantastic food options doesn't come close to Portland. But I'm putting this on my very short list of THIS IS AMAZING! read more

Their food is very tasty, flavorful and plenty of it. Congenial staff. Cooked to order.We highly recommend it. We will return. Check their hours. read more

The inside of the store is very nice with a clean and chic but cozy feel with nicely placed, well taken care of plants. (As a The staff were all super nice and helpful and answered our many questions about the menu. The food was DELICIOUS and the servings were large. We got baleadas, pastelitos, platano frito, and empanadas. read more

I have eaten the Honduras Enchilada dish three times and simply love it. I have talked about it to the members of the three nearby Credit Unions, and am planning to take a lunch date there. I like it because it is quiet and calm. There is background music of Central America, played softly. The family are considerate and gracious. And the food is fresh, very tasty, and light on the pocketbook. read more

This place is such a hidden gem. The people who work there are so welcoming and warm and the food was beyond delicious. Whenever I have friends come to town this is one of the first restaurants I recommend. read more

We sampled five or six dishes, and they were all AMAZING. The spicing was incredibly piquant, but never hot, and the shells were an exceptional combination of creamy, yet crunchy, and delightfully savory. The meats were so tender, and perfectly seasoned. Bellingham continues to accrue an ever increasing number of Latin American, top-notch restaurants, and El Mana is in the absolute forefront of these establishments. We can't wait to explore the rest of this remarkably vibrant menu. read more

Got the homemade fried chicken and fries, pretty disappointed. Got two bites in on the chicken, a few fries and called it. The food barely resembled the photos on the menu and was extremely bland. I figured I'd be biting into some crazy rich, spicy and fun food today for my cheat meal. Not so much. I'll give them another shot, but it's a hard pass on the fried chicken for this guy. read more

We ordered take out from El Mana last night and even my 4 year olds agreed "It's the best food I ever had"! The food was delicious and the family was so kind and helpful. Go to El Mana!! Thank you can't wait to order food again and when everything opens up to come back a visit. read more

This was such an incredible experience. Not only was the food delicious, but it was packaged with so much care that even though we are in take out times, it was as fresh and lovely as it would have been in the restaurant, with all the toppings thoughtfully added on the side. Amazing food, amazing service, highly recommended. read more

This place is the real deal. I had 6 items off of the menu and will be returning to try the rest. A true hidden gem that deserves to be known. read more