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    Elsy's Restaurant

    3.7 (144 reviews)
    InexpensiveSalvadoran
    Open 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Elsy's Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    ELSY'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Atol de elote. Sweet corn beverage hot
    C. S.

    This is the second time eating at this location and both visits have been great. I ordered the pupusas combo plate with rice and beans and atol de elote (sweet corn beverage). It's not a big restaurant something is limited and aisles are small but done let that stop you from passing by for a visit or perhaps picking up an order to go. The customer service was pleasant and ordering was easy with no issues. If you're passing by the area and want some Salvadorian food don't hesitate to give this place a try.

    Menu
    Travis C.

    While visiting friends in San Francisco I was craving some Salvadorian food and what better food then pupusa's? I came here over the weekend and it was pretty packed but still comfortable enough to have some space. There was even a mariachi band playing inside the restaurant. The decor was all about El Salvador with pictures from the owners beautiful country. Lets get down to the food... I decided to order 3 pupusas platter which was Revuelto. That's pork, beans and cheese. It was amazing and I loved how fresh it was. Everything was made to order to don't expect your food to be out real fast. It takes some time but trust me, it's great! The flavor of the pork and beans were perfectly matched with the cheese that they used. The horchata was good as well. It wasn't your typical "sweet" hotchata that you find at Mexican restaurants, this horchata was from El Salvador and they don't make it sweet at all. It's really different and much healthier but that's just my 2 cents. All in all, if you're looking for a nice cheap place for some authentic Salvadorian food or some amazing pupusas then give this restaurant a try.

    Curtido pickle cabbage
    Lydia H.

    I was waiting for my husband to finish his business and desired to walk on Mission toward 25th street. I saw this Elsy's that were offering Pupusas and chicken tamales wrap with banana leaves. I was kind of desapoyó Ted the chicharrón with cheese pupusa, lírico and zucchini ha more cheese that the filling a was expecting very skimpy on the meat and vegetables . Flavor was good, the pickle cabbage and the accompanying sauce were good . I will go to Ballompie for the pupusa at least it has more meat and vegetables than this restaurant .

    Salvadorian handmade tortillas
    JC M.

    The best pupusas I've had in San Francisco. Very reasonable prices. $3 for pupusas. They also serve breakfast. 2 eggs, plantain, sour cream and refried beans for $9.99 and it comes with 2 handmade tortillas. Their ensalada drink is very fruity and tasty. I believe it's about $3.

    Eating like a local
    Uli B.

    The original plan was to grab some burritos from La Taqueria next door...but the line was waaaaaay too long and so we were standing outside thinking about where could we eat instead. That's when we looked inside Elsy's Restaurant, which looks like the quintessential hole-in-the-wall: sparse decoration & locals eating. And when I mean locals, in this case it would be Salvadorians. And although I can't vouch for their ethnicity, just the fact that entire families including kids were enjoying their meals, was enough to convince me to try this out. We sat at the counter and right away our waiter came over. Having absolutely no idea what Salvadorian cuisine/food is like, we asked him what he would recommend: he then told us that the pupusas here were the most-wanted item on the menu. Pupusas, we learned, are blown-up tortillas with filling inside. They're quintessential Salvadorian! So, we opted for these and then also ordered the Salvadorian Steak, which comes with a pepper-onion sauce and is served with rice and mashed beans. As a drink, I ordered Tamarindo. Eventually the cheerful music would start - not unsimilar to the traditional Mexican tunes - and we knew we were in for a real treat. All in all, I very much enjoyed our visit here. The food was tasty and I especially liked the authentic feeling here...I really wish that with the ongoing gentrification in the Mission, places like this will still survive...

    Pupusas

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    3 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    1 year ago

    This Elsy's is better than the taco place next door with the long line. Food is great and the place is authentic!

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Love their pupusas! The soups are always a hit as well and served with a side of rice and homemade tortillas.

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    2 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Low-key feels like El Salvador because all of the paisanos there. Pupusas are my go-to here. I've heard the organic hen soup is good too.

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great pupusas and wonderful staff. Everything on the menu is solid and the wait time isn't super long ;)

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    7 years ago

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    Balompie Cafe No 3 - Popusas

    Balompie Cafe No 3

    4.1(505 reviews)
    1.1 miBernal Heights
    $$

    One of the best spots in the city for pupusas, hands down. I'm not listening to the…read morenaysayers--these pupusas hit the perfect balance of cheese, beans, and pork. Other spots I'm eating masa. Unlike many places that serve greasy pupusas, these are nicely made and not greasy. We usually order takeout since the dining area is small unless you go early. Parking can be a headache, but I've always managed to snag a spot (knock on wood). The staff are friendly, and we always leave full and happy!

    Here's a cIf I'm being honest, the only thing on their menu that lives up to any of the hype is the…read morepupusas. Everything else falls pretty flat. Even then, the pupusas are hit or miss. I'd give them about a 3.5 out of 5. On a good day, they come out with that perfect golden-brown finish. On a bad day, they look and taste undercooked to the point where I've had to throw them back on the stove at home just to make them edible. The ambiance doesn't do much to help. It's your typical Mission-style Latin restaurant, kind of sticky and worn-in, but in a way where you can't quite tell if it's part of the aesthetic or just a lack of upkeep. Now, let's get into why this leans closer to a one-star experience. The staff consistently come off like they'd rather be anywhere else. They don't smile and often come across as rude. Timing is basically a suggestion here. If you place a takeout order, plan well ahead, at least 45 to 60 minutes before pickup. Every single time I've called, I've been told 25 to 30 minutes, only to arrive and wait another 15 to 20 minutes. Without fail. And in a neighborhood where parking is already a headache, with limited meters and tight timing, you'll feel that delay. Your patience will absolutely be tested. Don't say I didn't warn you. Update: Today's order included a hit inside the cheese mixture of the Pupusas. Disgusting.

    Photos
    Balompie Cafe No 3 - Beverage station behind the counter

    Beverage station behind the counter

    Balompie Cafe No 3 - Slaw and salsa

    Slaw and salsa

    Balompie Cafe No 3 - Made fresh!

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    Made fresh!

    Estrellita’s Snacks - Bean and cheese pupusa

    Estrellita’s Snacks

    4.8(26 reviews)
    2.3 miTenderloin

    I've been going to Estrellita's since they were in the stall at the La Cocina space in the…read moreTenderloin (forget what that was called). My first visit there I wasn't sold on their pupusas but when their brick and mortar location here opened up I went again to see how it was since I love pupusas and now they are in my regular rotation. The space is big and service is friendly with the free coffee (which I don't actually drink since I'm not a coffee guy). While it's not the fastest, the food is terrific so I am fine waiting for my delicious pupusas! I usually get the pork, bean and cheese pupusas which are really good but mixed it up last time and got the jalapeno and cheese ones but felt like there wasn't quite enough cheese in those so I'll prob just go back to the pork, bean and cheese ones since they seem more balanced. I also love both Balompie locations for pupusas if you need a reference on the types that I like.

    I had the pork and cheese pupusa and it was BOMB. what makes it even better is that you hear the…read moreslapping sounds of them making pupusas fresh in the back. a single pupusa is $6 and generously sized. the server told me pupusas are only $4.50 on Fridays! on top of all this, you can get a free cup of coffee when dining in. yes this place is nestled in the tenderloin, but the food and service is worth it, and the bathroom is surprisingly clean

    Photos
    Estrellita’s Snacks
    Estrellita’s Snacks - Bean and cheese pupusa

    Bean and cheese pupusa

    Estrellita’s Snacks

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    Elsy's Restaurant - salvadoran - Updated May 2026

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