The best pupusas in Northgate Blvd and I've tried them all. Prices are higher here than the nearby competitors but Pupusa Central makes it up with better quality and flavor. The restaurant also features a small snack store area complete with flickering fluorescent refrigerator lights. Service exceeded both nearby pupusa restaurants. read more

Pupusa Central - The 2 pupusa special that comes with coleslaw, rice and very puréed beans that made a great sauce. - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

My husband and I had stopped here on a Friday morning about 30 mins after they opened. We walked in and were greeted by people who were sitting at the tables (which I assume are family). The guy at the register (I didn't get his name) had greeted us as well when we came in. We had ordered 6 papusas total, 3 revueltas, 2 chicken cheese, and 1 pork cheese. My husband also ordered the carde asada fries. To drink we were going to get horchata but the guy at the register was so nice to give us samples of the drinks and was super educational about them. He was explaining the difference between their horchata and the Mexican horchata. The horchata was delicious! I had so much flavor and it had a more herbal flavor to it due to extra ingredients that they add in. He also gave us a sample of what he called a salad, which I googled and was actually called Fresco De Ensalada which is a mixed fruit drink. Let me tell you this was the best thing I've ever tasted! It wasn't overly sweet and so so refreshing we had to get a big cup of it. Our food came and the papusas were amazing! My fav was def the pork and cheese papusa, the cheese itself gave it so much flavor already! I do wish they gave more cabbage slaw for the amount of papusas we got. The hot sauce is pretty mild but the tomato sauce paired so well with the slaw and papusa. The ambiance was great, it felt like I was in a salvadorian home and I was invited for breakfast. They even greeted us on our way out. Really nice place, will def be back! read more

Pupusa Central - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Stopped by Pupusa Central and had a really enjoyable experience. It is a casual, welcoming spot that feels perfect for a relaxed meal when you are craving something comforting and flavorful. The pupusas were the highlight. Fresh, hot, and generously filled, they came out perfectly cooked with that delicious balance of crispy outside and soft inside. The curtido and salsa on the side added the perfect tang and spice to bring everything together. Service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was simple but inviting. It is the kind of place where the focus is clearly on the food rather than the frills. Overall, Pupusa Central is a solid choice for authentic, satisfying Salvadoran comfort food. I would definitely come back to try more of the menu. read more

Pupusa Central - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Delicious pupusas. Great flavor. Awesome Curtido I could eat it like a salad. Must have the pupusas bombs ! Especially the cheese and loroco. I've also had the Salvadoran enchilada and it was great. A crispy fried tortilla with fresh toppings. read more

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What an awesome experience! We wanted to try something different and I saw this place on Yelp and it had great ratings and mentioned a nice atmosphere so we stopped in. We were greeted by Jesus and he said we could have a seat and take a look at the menu and he'd be by to take our order. There is so much good stuff to try here but let me warn you won't be able to try as much as you'd like cause it's filling. I was trying to keep in mind I REALLY wanted the plantains for dessert but that didn't work out so I will be back again for those for a dessert only visit. We tried 3 different pupusas and shared and I also got an order of the pupusa bombas with another 3 fillings so we were able to try quite a bit. The pupusas are delicious and like a cross between a quesadilla and a tamale. If you haven't tried them before I urge you to come try them here! I had to bring two of the bambas home and let me tell you they reheat an air fryer perfectly! Jesus was awesome, I ordered the Horchata and he wanted to make sure that I knew it was Salvadoran and tasted different than Mexican which it did. There's a lot more flavors in the Salvadoran version and was very good. He also brought over two samples to let me try the passionfruit and the other fruit drink they have which I will definitely be back to get one of those when I get my plantains! Great, friendly atmosphere amazing food. If you get a chance, it's definitely worth a trip. read more

Pupusa Central - Pupusa with pork beans and cheese - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

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What the heck is a Pupusa ? Well it's like a quesadilla but wrapped in a pita like bread. That being said they were delicious. The carne asada plate tasted a lot like liver. Will not order that ever again lol. Lots of variations of pupusa's to try so we will definitely be back. read more

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Came here on a Friday to try some pupusas and was very pleased! The pork with beans and cheese was my favorite and the pricing is very reasonable! Only downside is parking, it was very small and cramped since it's next to a car/smoke shop. They give you free chips and salsa too! read more

I love pupusas and Salvadoran food in general. When I worked in Woodland, there was a awesome pupusa spot which was my go to place. Now that I don't work in Woodland, I had to find other alternatives. Luckily, I discovered Pupusa Central in Natomas. We went on a Saturday evening, and the restaurant was busy. Luckily, we were able to snag one available table. We weren't sure how to order: at the counter or via a server. However, one of the ladies seated us and told us that she would come by when we were ready to order. We ordered our usual bean and cheese pupusas. My friend ordered the shrimp pupusa. They had a menu item called Pupusa Bombs, which were basically deep-fried pupusa. I was intrigued and ordered a bean and cheese filled. I also ordered a Salvadoran style chicken tamale and passionfruit agua fresca. The food came out very quickly, and the pupusa bombs were indeed the bomb. When you cut through the deep fried exterior, the blend of bean and cheese were magical. I had to wait until it cooled off enough so that I wouldn't burn my mouth. But it was so hard to not bite into it. I added cortido to cool it off and it was the perfect bite. The tamales were good, but I prefer dark meat chicken instead of shredded chicken. And while they had potatos and green bell pepper, it wasn't a lot and I wish they had put in olives. However, the masa was outstanding! It was cooked perfectly sealing in the steam so that the masa wasn't dry. Service was a bit challenging at first because I think the server was having a hard time understanding us. I was too embarrassed to use what little Spanish I knew. But we got through the ordering process and got what we wanted. They checked in on us often making sure we didn't need more water or side dishes. Added bonus for having the perfect cortido- too vinegary and the cabbage was nice and crispy. We will most definitely be back to try their brunch. I have not had Salvadoran breakfast in a while and can't wait to try theirs. read more

Pupusa Central - Salvadorean chicken tamale, pupusa bombs, shrimp pupusa and cortido - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

Came here with my girlfriend for lunch. The spot was clean and organized. It was packed, but there was no wait for seating. The customer service was great. Everyone was so kind and helpful. The waiter got our order wrong, but we are the food that was brought. When he realized we did that and didn't complain he apologized and still gave us a discount on our meal. Even though we did not ask for it. We got a pupusa plate with bean and cheese pupusas, a quesabirria plate, and two pupusas of bean and cheese. All the food was excellent. The pupusas were really great. Such great flavor. The quesabirria tacos were also very good. The rice was good. While the beans were just above average. I plan to come back. Especially for the pupusas. I want to try the pupusa bombs next time, and get some birria on top of my pupusas. read more

Pupusa Central - Plato de Pupusas / Pupusas Plate - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I've eaten a lot of pupusas from a lot of different places in California. But this place has quickly become my favorite! The people that work there are very friendly and attentive. The pupusas were absolutely perfect...YUM! They give you a bottle of their fantastic red sauce, rather than a little plastic dip cup. Oh, and the cabbage salad was good and I don't usually eat that. I was in the area for work, and hope to return often! read more

I was around the area, I looked for something to eat on Yelp. I love pupusas and I don't see a lot in Lincoln so I had to eat some. My son loves pupusas as well. As soon as we walk in, we got greeted by Sonia she was so nice and inviting . she started talking to my son about his game and asking him what he wanted to drink. Her service definitely went above and beyond very attentive. The inside is clean and organized. They also have a little market section where they have chips and Salvadoran products. They have complementary chips and salsa. They also have a lot of aguas frescas to choose from. I ended up getting two pupusas one bean and cheese and the other revelta . My son got two bean and cheese . These pupusa's were very cheesy and very delicious. The portion was very generous . I got full off two of them . They of course, came with the fixings to put on top . Overall, we had an amazing time here the service was above and beyond. The pupusas were very delicious . We ended up checking out the little corner and bought some Salvadoran chips. They were bean flavor , kinda like Fritos but with a twist . They were very good. I really enjoyed them. I highly recommend this place if you're craving some good Salvadoran food. read more

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Amazing pupusas! Especially the cheese and jalapeño ones. I also LOVE the curtido. I've ordered here many times and the quality is consistent and always fresh. read more

Since I don't work in Woodland anymore, I get my pupusas fix from Pupusa Central! Private lot. Tortilla chips and salsa are self-serve. I tend to stick to the Revuelta (beans, cheese, pork) and Calabasa (zucchini squash) fillings for my pupusas, but they also have Beans & Cheese, Cheese & Pork, Cheese & Chicken, Cheese & Jalapeno, Cheese & Spinach/Garlic, Full Cheese, Cheese and Loroco Flower. Two pupusas are pretty filling, and I also like to get it as a plate with rice and beans, and curtido spicy cabbage slaw. Their horchata is also Salvadorean (Horchata de Morro) and has a more nutty/toasted flavor profile than Mexican horchata. Other aguas frescas are jamaica (hibiscus), tamarind, passionfruit, mixed fruit, fountain drinks and bottled like Jarritos, Kolashampan, Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sangria soda. Hot coffee or chocolate too! I've also tried their yuca frita con chicharron and carne asada fries too. They also have Pupusa Bombas, deep fried pupusa balls (3 per order) and Pastelitos which sound intriguing! Also, their chicken tamales are wrapped in banana leaf, but the elote tamales are in corn husk! I'm also curious about the platano/custard-filled empanadas for dessert! If you're feeling like a whole fried tilapia or camarones diabla, they have that too -- and Mexican dishes like birria, burritos, tacos, sopas, quesadilla also on the menu. read more

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Amazing spot they have really incredible and authentic food!! Price is great not too expensive with some incredibly amazing and authentic food read more

Pupusa Central - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

I am sooooooooooo unhappy that I live an hour away from this authentic Salvadoran restaurant! The owner and his family are incredibly nice and very helpful in answering questions if you aren't familiar with any of their amazing dishes. I crave their papusas so bad when I'm home so I'm happy I do travel to Sacramento frequently so I can get some. They are the best papusas I have EVER had! Don't forget to try their hot sauce! I could drink it it's so good. read more

The staff were friendly. The little market section had lots of little goodies. The best part is the food. The pork and cheese Papusa with the curtido and spicy salsa? Insanely delicious. I'll be back. The Atleti decorations inside might have made me like them more. I'll forgive the Barcelona ones. read more

The food is amazing. Service is great too! Nice people and bomb pupusas. Reasonable prices as well.

Best pupusas in the sac/greater sac area. Great customer service. Extremely accommodating. Their habanero sauce is the best!! We completely indulge here. read more

Amazing staff, portions and quality of food. It's authentic and delicious, you must try! The music and atmosphere is very family oriented and great to stop and eat or pick up to-go! read more

Pupusa Central - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

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It's good to expand one's horizons. I think overall my first pupusa experience is worth a 4. First, the food, I would give a solid 3 based on personal preference, with a caveat. The only disappointment was the rice and beans tasted good, but they were lukewarm. Perhaps sitting around too long? Good potential, but would prefer them hotter. I ordered the two pupusa plate, with birria pupusa and a pork and cheese pupusa. The pupusas were made to order, and came out hot. The meat, cheese, and beans were hot and had good flavors. I think, personally, I'm not a fan of the actual pupusa's texture. I myself won't return on my own, but ky sister loves pupusas, and would happily take her here. I think if you enjoy pupusas, you will enjoy this place. A high score for customer service. The cashier was very friendly, and answered a lot of my rookie questions. Even the owner/cook was very friendly when refilling my soda. I went during lunch, and while I for the most part was the only customer eating, there were constantly people coming in to pick up take out orders, so definitely a good sign for a restaurant during a weekday lunch hour So overall....probably not my jam, but if you like pupusas, definitely give them a try read more

Pupusa Central - Two pupusa plate....good, but please ensure rice and beans are hot - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

We will be stopping by again. Coming in, the place was steadily busy during our visit. The food came out promptly without much wait for us. The music was loud enough to enjoy but not overbearing to where I felt like I needed to raise my voice to speak with my significant other. The staff members were friendly and super helpful with any questions we had. Pupusas were delicious and the sauces complimented the items very well. Their Horchata is a great compliment side item to enjoy sipping on while eating your pupusas here. read more

My family are local loyal to this family business. We appreciate vegetarian options papayas! We usually do sit-ins but one day decided to order takeout for a family dinner. Upon arrival, the worker read my correct order and I checked out. Unfortunately, we didn't check the bag or box of our order and we were 2 papusas short. Learned lesson to open and check what you order before paying. read more

The smells were so good when we walked in. If you eat in - grab yourself a menu at the counter and find a table. They'll take your order at your table. The bathroom was basic and decently clean - I judge a place a bit by the cleanliness of the bathroom. To me it's a sign of a business owner caring about cleanliness everywhere. The dining room needed more attention- I would suggest each time a guest leaves sweeping up around the table and clear it immediately... otherwise the place looks unclean... and it did. But once our pupusas came out - I'd excused it. Ordered two a la cart (cada una) and one two pupusa plate. Flavor was good! I'm Mexican so I must say the beans and rice are different than my culture. Not bad but different. Hubby liked them. Me not so much. The beans have a good flavor depth but also were bit sting in onion flavor which is not my favorite. Very creamy! Had a passion fruit and jamaica agua- the small was huge! Both quite sweet. The place seemed family run and they were very friendly. We came in around 2pm Saturday afternoon and they were busy but not slow for service. The parking lot is shared with a busy garage but parking wasn't too difficult. I'd go back and order just pupusas to go. They were good! When you are done eating get up and pay at the counter - kind of odd... they took our order at the table but never brought a check to us. Well, that's ok I guess. read more

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I have ordered from this place twice through door dash. Everything has been great. this second time the curtido was much better that's the first time. I have tried about 4 different types of pupusas and they have all been yummy. Bombas also yummy! It was fast and everything was included. I haven't been to their location yet but I will soon. read more

Definitely one of the best Mexican food places on Northgate. Correction El Salvadoran food places 5 stars for me.

Every once in awhile, I enjoy a craving for pupusas which are essentially a Salvadoran staple that is a thick flatbread complete with an endless amount of fillings. This includes beans, cheese, proteins and accompanied by curtido (a fermented cabbage slaw). This takes me none other to "Pupusa Central". Located in the South Natomas neighborhood, this place is situated in a small strip mall directly on Northgate Blvd and just south of San Juan Rd. They have been opened since early-2023 and have received lots of positive reviews as they are the only pupusa (and Salvadoran) restaurant in this part of Sacramento. I arrived here during the afternoon of Friday 9/20/2024 at around 2:00pm. I will say that parking isn't the greatest here as the parking spots are very tight. So if you have a newer car and/or large truck, I would advise being extra careful. Once inside, the layout is actually quite spacious as they offer quite a bit of tables for dining. Additionally, there is a small grocery area that sells Salvadoran snacks and other basic food essentials. My lady and I were seated immediately while being given iced waters. The restaurant itself has a traditional waiter service where you order your food at the table and they bring it out to you. Their menu is quite extensive with a variety of Salvadoran favorites as well as a generous amount of Mexican food items. I ended up going with their "Queso con Pollo" pupusa (chicken & cheese), a "Frijol y Queso" pupusa (bean & cheese) and a "Carne Asada Taco". I completed my meal with a "Salvadoran Horchata". Total price for everything came out to around $15 which is not a bad deal at all. Since I was unsure of the Horchata, the waiter explained that it is unlike traditional Mexican Horchata. This had a darker, grainier texture with a mildly richer taste to it. It is a little hard to explain unless you actually try it for yourself. As for the pupusas, these were made to perfection as they packed a very respectable amount of meat and beans in them. I was definitely a fan as these tasted as good as some of the competition in the greater Sacramento area (mainly "La Flor" in the Arden area and "Las Palmas" in South Sacramento). The taco was just average though as I would come here specifically for their Salvadoran favorites. And with their menu being as extensive as it is, they have a ton of options including breakfast entrees, seafood, sopes, and other fan favorites. All in all, "Pupusa Central" is a breath of fresh air if you're looking for something other than another traditional Mexican restaurant. The staff/employees were very friendly while the prices were absolutely reasonable. And since they are open for business 7 days a week from 9am-9pm. they offer very flexible hours of operation. Good service, above average food, and excellent prices. My rating, four stars. read more

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After living in Sacramento for 15 years, I finally stumbled upon a fantastic Pupuseria! I've tried other places, but none compared to this one. Being from San Francisco, I'm spoiled with many great pupuserias, so I was excited to find one close by. It's called PUpusa Central, and it's a welcoming place with a casual atmosphere. It's not fancy, but it's the perfect spot to enjoy some delicious Central American food. We decided to indulge and try a variety of dishes to take me back to El Salvador. We started with the Pupusa Bombs, which were a must-try! I've never heard of them before, but they were absolutely delicious. The cheesy one was my favorite, and the revueltas were a great side dish. Next, we tried the Yucca con Chicharron. The yucca was perfectly fried, and the chicharron was crispy and flavorful. We also had the Revuelta pupusas, which were a tasty combination of cheese and meat. And for dessert, we tried the birria pupusa with consume. It was just like how I remember them - cheesy and perfectly portioned. The only downside was that I wasn't a fan of their curtido (fermented cabbage). It didn't have the vinegar taste that I'm used to. I usually enjoy it because of the fermentation process, which gives it a unique flavor. Overall, the food was great! They had a small chip bar with a few salsas to choose from. My husband also had to get his fries, and they were good too. This is definitely my new go-to spot for Salvadoran food. I'm planning to try their platano Fritos plate next. I haven't had that since my mom passed away, so I'm excited to try it again. The service was friendly throughout. And as an added BONUS--they have a little store with some of your Salvadorean treats such as Cheese, Sour Cream, Sweet Bread (quesadilla), chips and sodas all from El Salvador. read more

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Food is amazing!!!! This brings back so many feelings of nostalgia. Told my mom about it and she went twice in a week. It brought her back home with the flavors she grew up with. If you are craving pupusas definitely give this place a try. You won't be let down. read more

Pupusa Central - Panes con pollo and revuelta pupusas - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

In a nutshell; nice place to visit if you're interested in trying pupusas. It's in a rather conspicuous part of town and as you park in the lot the place windows are noticeable blacked out, which I believe is for safety reasons. Going in we were kindly seated by one of the servers as we got close to the cashier. Server was accommodating and kindly answered all our inquiries. The place may get rather warm as it doesn't feel as there's air conditioner but just fans but that wasn't that much of a bothersome. The pupusas were great, didn't take too long at all to arrive. Burrito tasted alright and was filling. There's the usual free chip station as alike with other Hispanic or similar themed establishments. Overall neat Salvadoran pupusas. read more

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Came here for breakfast on a Sunday and the wait was about 25-30 min but it was well worth it! The pupusas were fresh & had great flavor! The customer service was great. Inside the restaurant was nice & clean & they even had sodas, cheeses and jersey's from El Salvador in the corner of the store made it feel authentic. The prices are great as well! read more

The pupusa bombs are bomb! If you have had pupusas before this will feel familiar with an extra crunch. The friendly waiter let me know that I could choose three different flavors for an order of three bright crispy balls. I got the bean and cheese (frijol con queso), the bean, cheese and pork (revueltas), and cheese and zucchini (queso con calabaza). The orange dough also reminded me of pastelitos (Salvadoran savory empanadas). As I waited for my order I noticed that they also had a mini mercado with Salvadoran goodies like chips, refrigerated cheese, candies and soccer jerseys. There are also images of a volcano and a beach on the wall reminiscent of El Salvador's beautiful landscape. I felt fortunate to check out this spot which has been around for about two years while I happened to be in Sacramento for an arts conference. read more

Pupusa Central - Pupusa bombs! - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Food was excellent, pupusas and Yuca were just what I was looking for! Even tried a Salvador beer, Regina, excellent lager that went well with the meal. Will definitely be back! read more

Pupusa Central - Yucatan and chicaronnes - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

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A year later, and Pupusa Central is still delivering the best pupusas around. I was feeling lazy and didn't want to drive, so I ordered through DoorDash. I was a little nervous about how everything would show up, but they did not disappoint! Everything was packaged perfectly--the rice, beans, salsa, and curtido were all secure, and the pupusas were placed on parchment paper so they didn't stick together. I got the chicken and cheese pupusa, and it was so good. Super flavorful, cheesy, and just hit the spot. I had to tell myself to slow down before I choked. And the jalapeño and cheese? Still top-tier. I have one I think I'm saving for tomorrow, but it's probably not making it to morning. Also, I know curtido is technically a topping, but I always just pour it into a bowl and eat it straight because it's that good. This place is a local, family-owned business that consistently puts out amazing food. Do yourself a favor and pull up, support, and get some 10/10 food. I wish I had pictures to add to this review, but unfortunately, I ate my food like a Tasmanian devil. Maybe next time. read more

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Giving Pupusa Central another absolutely excellent food! The jalapeño Pupusas are delicious read more

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I stopped by here on the way to Tahoe and loved my experience. The staff were so nice and attentive. I ordered the birria and pork belly pupusa and it was fire. The consome and birria was so flavorful. I'd 100% come back if I'm ever in the area! read more

Pupusa Central - Salvadoran Near Me - Sacramento, California

Pupusa Central is so good that that we went back twice in one week!! Their pupusas are delicious, but I also tried the steak taco ( so flavorful and full of meat!!), quesadilla ( very melty cheese and also very filling), the chicken tamal and the corn tamal. The service is so fast and they have a great memory because we had a very large family order!! They have quite a few tables inside, but it didn't feel cramped. I loved the salad that came with the pupusas as well. read more

I ordered a Pupusa plate which came with 2 pupusas and rice and beans. I got the revuelta and bean and cheese. They were delicious. They were piping hot but the rice and beans were cold. They were good anyway. The Curtido (cabbage) and salsa were so good too. I got an horchata Salvadoreña and it was good but too sweet so I watered it down. We also ordered a queso con loroco à la carte and that was yummy too. Also had the yucca and chicharron and it was delicious. My kid had the carne asada pupusa plate and an agua de tamarindo and she loved it. Service was amazing and we didn't wait long for our food. We'll definitely be back. Sorry I forgot to take pictures. read more

I discovered pupusa Central purely by accident. I drive by the location fairly frequently, and noticed that there was a new sign on what I thought used to be a burger place on Northgate Boulevard. I don't tend to frequent a lot of the restaurants in that area, but when I do, I have found some real winners. I'm hard-pressed to find really good pupusa's in Sacramento, and this might be the exception. We literally tried a variety of the different pupusa's, and each one was damn delicious. On a basic level, you can't really go wrong with cheese, meat, and bread, can you?! From a flavor perspective, everything comes together in each and every bite and it will leave you wanting more. This is one of those hidden gems in Sacramento that needs to be discovered They gladly will do take away, as well as dine in. When I was there, the place was packed, so much so, that they were running out of items. The pupusa's are about four dollars each, and you will literally wanna try one of each flavor. The queso con carne Asada was my favorite. They just finished grilling the beef and had just made the pupusa's right before I got there. Talk about fresh! They do offer other items and it's closer to Salvadoran flavors. Super tasty, super delicious, and super reasonably priced. This is a hidden treasure that you need to discover! read more

Incredible authentic food, kind service and great prices! Atmosphere was well taken care of with good volume music and soccer on the tv.

I was very impressed by the quality of the food at Pupusa Central. Definitely the best.Pupusa's I've ever had! If you've never had one now is your time to try them . My favorite was the chicken , pork and cheese and also the spinach. We are lucky to have this restaurant in Sacramento. The service was wonderful, the people upbeat and kind. read more