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Express Pupuseria

4.4 (234 reviews)
InexpensiveSalvadoran, Delis, Mexican
Open • 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Order Express Pupuseria Takeout or Delivery

Express Pupuseria Latin American Restaurant Photos

EXPRESS PUPUSERIA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Casual
Good for kids
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Express Pupuseria

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Es lo peor para empezar la cajera súper pedante ni siquiera tiene amabilidad de saludar es muy pésima y ni quiera tiene buena presentación como q está mejor el chisme que la atención el aseo del lugar no es muy bueno está muy sucio y el lugar huele orrible pedimos una bolsita y una cajita y cuesta 50 centavos. Esto es increíble el peor lugar

Joseline M.

I've ordered take out from Express Pupuseria before and this time I decided to eat in. Unfortunately, that was a mistake. I ordered at around 7:40 and had some people after me as well at this time. I asked for 4 pupusas and an atol. The food didn't come out until 8:30 and the pupusas were cold, looked really ugly and were very tiny. The front cashier girl seemed like she didn't know where she was or what she was doing since I arrived. When I asked if my pupusas could be warmed, she got very upset and I heard her talking about me to the kitchen staff and about how I "pissed her off because I said the pupusas were cold". The people that ordered after me were also getting upset because they were waiting a really long time for their food too. One girl got her pupusas but they told her that she had to wait 10 more minutes for the rest of her order to come out- when she asked for a refund they said no that she had to wait for the rest of her to go order. I overheard her ask the cashier, "are you guys just really busy today?" The cashier answered, "no, we're not busy. We're just behind." It was just a very lackluster experience with really bad food and horrible service. I will never come back or tell anyone to go and try them. I rather make the extra drive and go to Panchitas in the mission.

Inside the pupusas!
Cynthia S.

Living in the mission it's hard to believe that pupusas elsewhere can be anywhere near as good as what I have nearby. This place is super unassuming but the people are nice and they have some of the best pupusas around! And they give you basically unlimited curtido and salsa!! Also, I know it's a "pupuseria" but definitely don't sleep on the tamales. The masa is super well seasoned and flavorful that it's tasty regardless of what filling is inside.

Terrible of their delicious pupusas and rice
Sammi L.

All my pictures are terrible because we always dig in too quickly - but Express Pupuseria has been a regular stop since my friends moved to Richmond District. We came on a recommendation from SF locals, and the pupusas were so good. We always get the revueltas, frijol y queso, chicharron con queso and pollo con queso - so delicious and comforting. The rice and beans and slaw slides are great with the pupusas, too. We always order ahead for takeout/pickup and have even gotten delivery. Staff are always friendly and helpful. Can't wait until the next time we pick it up.

Mango Fresca and Horchata
Sally Y.

Across from Lamp Plus on Geary Blvd. is Express Pupuseria, selling authentic Salvadoran fare in a hole-in-the-wall setting. We ordered at the counter: 2 chicken pupusas, a cheese and bean papusa, a pork tamales and 3 chicken pupusa combo. For drinks, we had a mango Fresca and Horchata. Everything tasted great except for the Horchata, which had a funky smell as if an ingredient (rice?) might've been store next to a cleaning agent. Restroom in the back was clean and I saw the ladies preparing fresh ingredients in the kitchen. No nonsense casual service and very affordable!

3 Pupusa Combo
Caitlyn M.

Came here for a late night dinner and got the 3 pupusa combo! It was only $12 total. Great value. Got a bean & cheese, chicken & cheese, and a cilantro & cheese. All were pretty good and freshly made. It also came with pickled cabbage and a mild hot sauce. This is a good neighborhood spot for a quick meal or a late snack! They have a good amount of seating inside too

Yuli O.

Came here after doing the cross town hike and it was the best decision of my life! When we came they were on a lunch break so we ended up waiting about 20 minutes which was okay. We were quickly seated and ordered. I got the 3 pupusa combo plate and got two bean and cheese and one queso con loroco. I also got a Mexican Coke to drink. The food came out fairly quickly. They gave us some large containers of curtido and salsa to accompany our food. The curtido was fresh and complimented the warm, steamy pupusas nicely. The filling for all my pupusas was flavorful and they are not at all stingy with it. They are also super affordable and this huge plate was $13. The inside of the restaurant is clean and there is lots of seating. Once we were done, they quickly came to remove the curtido and salsa from our tables which we interpreted as they wanted us to leave but other than that it was a great experience and I would 100% come back.

Inside, limited seating
Andrea K.

SO GOOD. I picked up a 2 pupusa combo for $10 on my lunch break, and it was everything I expected and more. Spinach and cheese pupusa: 10/10 get this! The cheese that leaked during cooking became CRISPY, and the cheese pull is unreal. Reveulta pupusa: 7/10 yummy, but the meat is not noticeable and was more like a bean and cheese pupusa. The combo already came with beans so I definitely will try other pupusas next time. Unexpected highlight: BEANS! Their beans are essentially a paste, but are delicious with the side of rice. TIP: order ahead because it does take a while to prepare if you don't want to wait.

please update your official business hours on your website and Google page. i've wasted time, gas money, and parking spot fees.
Brooke C.

every time we come here, it's closed. please update all business platforms with official business hours, as to avoid customer confusion and frustration. we've wasted gas, parking fees, and a lot of time trying to get pupusas at this establishment. do not come here unless you're willing to risk it!

Papusa
Blair P.

Delicious papusas! If you've never had a papusa, I suggest you try one here; it's a corn cake filled with various different ingredients. I got the cheese and bean papusa. They give you toppings, a cabbage mixture like sauerkraut and hot sauce. If you want a spicier hot sauce, ask them for it. I just left and am already craving more! The interior is simple, with basic seats and tables. Our food came out after about ten minutes, cooked fresh. Can't wait to return.

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3 months ago

Super good pupusas, stuffed with cheese and meat ! I have been coming here for years and they remain consistent

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3 months ago

SUCH GOOD FOOD!!! Plantains are the best. Food doesn't come quickly, but that's the price I happily pay for fresh food!!

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3 years ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

Great pupusas! We will definitely be back to enjoy more of the options for their pupusas.

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2 years ago

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10 months ago

Great papusas, don't sleep on the burritos, service is quick and friendly. There's a few seats but have always gotten to-go.

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3 years ago

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Express Pupuseria Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Express Pupuseria

Are the refried beans vegetarian?

Yes, they use ducal brand beans and they don't add any lard.

What's the best way to warm up leftover pupusas? Thanks in advance!

I like to warm them in a frying pan on low heat

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Panchita's Pupuseria & Restaurant - Mushroom and Garlic and Sausage Papusas Plate

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4.0(1.1k reviews)
2.9 mi•Mission
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The most AMAZING pupusa!!! My only regret was that we weren't that hungry so we didn't try more…read morethings. We got a chicken pupusa (to share), chips with salsa/guacamole, and plantains. Everything was so fresh and delicious! I will definitely return to this place when I'm back in SF! The restaurant itself is small, but the service was pretty quick so people were in and out in a pretty short time.

Been in the Bay Area my whole life and had not tried Panchitas until now. I'm so happy that they…read morestay open late. Went to this place with my partner who was raving about their garlic and mushroom pupusa's so you bet I had to try it. We both ended up getting the combo number one; I got mushroom and garlic and beef, and my partner got mushroom and garlic and chipotle. I definitely love the mushroom and garlic better than the beef. I think I was expecting more flavor from the beef, but it was still very good. Of course all of the sides were really good to dip the pupusa's in. I want to try all the other pupusa's next time. The place was pretty small. It is a very popular place so I expected it to be packed; it was when me and my partner came in. The place is right next to a club so throughout the dinner a lot of people from the club were coming in. I definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for late night bite for a good price.

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Balompie Cafe No 3 - Popusas

Balompie Cafe No 3

4.1(506 reviews)
4.0 mi•Bernal 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.

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Estrellita’s Snacks - Bean and cheese pupusa

Estrellita’s Snacks

4.8(26 reviews)
3.1 mi•Tenderloin

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

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El Salvador Restaurant

3.9(117 reviews)
3.1 mi•Mission
•$

Alright so I had a friend that wanted to try this place and I was like let's gooooo! This was my…read moresecond time coming here and wow... every single time they swing for the fences and knock it clean out of the park. The pupusas here are out of this world. I got the bean and cheese and the cheese and jalapeño and both were absolute flavor bombs. The outside had that perfect golden crisp while the inside was warm, soft, and packed with cheesy goodness. That homemade taste hits like comfort food poetry -- the kind that makes you pause mid-bite and just appreciate the moment. Each pupusa felt like a little edible hug straight from someone's family kitchen. This place is a true mom and pop gold mine tucked right into the Mission. The people here are so friendly and so hospitable it honestly felt like I walked into my grandparents' house for Sunday dinner. Warm smiles, welcoming energy, and food made with the kind of care you can taste in every bite. The restaurant itself is clean, organized, and full of that authentic neighborhood charm. Nothing flashy, just honest food that speaks for itself -- and trust me, it speaks loud. Now this is the Mission District so parking is basically a city sport. Park wherever you can and then walk, jog, or straight up power march to this place. Because once those pupusas hit the table, the smell alone will have you feeling like you struck culinary gold. The food here isn't just good... it's the kind of good that lingers in your memory long after the plate is empty. And when I'm back in the city, best believe I'll be following that pupusa trail right back here again.

Honestly these hit the spot. I paid like $9.34 including tax for 2 pupusas. They were GENEROUS and…read moreso delicious. I got revueltas. I absolutely loved the flavor inside and they left me full for so long. The lady was really nice and she was very sweet. The curtido was also very tasty and the tomato sauce (salsa roja) was perfect. Overall I really enjoyed my dish! The restaurant inside is nice and clean.

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Express Pupuseria - salvadoran - Updated May 2026

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