The wife and I went for lunch on a Saturday, ending up here quite by accident but it turned out great. There was an extensive buffet ($10.99) but we opted to order from the menu because I had a coupon for a discounted entree and because we did not want to mix and match our foods that day.
The menu is quite extensive. There is Salvadoran food, Peruvian, and, of course, Mexican. Plus a section on appetizers. Separate sections exist for chicken, meat, seafood. There really is no reason to opt for the buffet when you can assemble a feast from the regular menu. The main reason for the buffet I suppose is the price and variety. But don't just rush for the buffet because the menu has real gems. I would note that most everyone else in the place did choose the buffet, but I am perfectly happy with our decision and would order from the menu again in a heartbeat. Also, the buffet menu items are not labeled and so it is not clear what some meats or other things are.
We started with Peruvian/Salvadoran tamales, which are completely different than Mexican tamales because they are wrapped in banana leaves which keeps them incredibly moist and tender, and imparts a wonderful flavor. They were a steal at $1.50 each. We also got two pork papusas ($1.25) and they were the best I ever had--thick, meaty, and the accompanying hot sauce and cole slaw were excellent. They were not greasy at all. I could eat those all day!
For entrees, I got #105, tilipia with assorted grilled vegies, and the wife got #104, fried fish with vegies and yucca. Her fish was lightly fried with an expert touch, not greasy, not heavy. It was perfect. Same for my fish. Wow, it was just great. A full meal that does not make you feel bloated or weighted down.
The service was exemplary. The manager, or who I took to be the manager, met us at the door and was so kind and friendly, asking if we needed help with the menu and if we were familiar with Salvadoran/Peruvian food. We were, but the gesture was appreciated. Our waitress knew English perfectly well and we had no language problems at all. The service was attentive and helpful. No complaints at all. Our food was freshly prepared and came out steaming hot.
The prices are very reasonable, and the food is outstanding, clearly a 5 in my book. The ambiance is closer to a 4 because it has a nicely decorated, but rather modest inside in a semi-marginal neighborhood. That did not bother me, but it might be off-putting to some. But you go here for the food. This is a real find! We absolutely will return, even though from Dallas it is not a short drive to Irving. read more