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    Pupusa Central

    4.6 (237 reviews)
    ModerateSalvadoran, Mexican
    Open • 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Pupusa Central Takeout or Delivery

    Pupusa Central Photos

    Business Info

    PUPUSA CENTRAL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Pupusa Central

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    Reviews With Photos

    Mariel I.

    Came here around 9am on a Friday. I have been here several times. This is a small family owned restaurant, service is always consistent. I ordered the 2 Popusa plate with rice and beans, it is so filling! Their food is always full of flavor. The beans and rice are super delicious, I just love the flavor. I also tried their breakfast plate for the first time and no complaints. If you're in the mood for plantain, eggs and beans, you'll enjoy it. It's not in the best neighborhood and the parking lot is pretty tight. Aside from all that, this place is worth trying. In my opinion, they have the best Popusa's in Sacramento.

    Anuja S.

    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.

    Pupusa with pork beans and cheese
    Heidi W.

    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.

    Papusa
    Dorothy R.

    Good and service was excellent. Happened to be in Natomas for a massage and wanted to try something out of my norm for lunch. Glad that I checked on Yelp and found this place

    Salvadorean chicken tamale, pupusa bombs, shrimp pupusa and cortido
    Judi M.

    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.

    Plato de Pupusas / Pupusas Plate
    Ricky P.

    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.

    Kids menu
    Aly A.

    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.

    Carne Asada plate condiments
    Douglas Y.

    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.

    Michelle L.

    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.

    Alyssa V.

    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!

    The 2 pupusa special that comes with coleslaw, rice and very puréed beans that made a great sauce.
    Howard K.

    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.

    Alondra V.

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

    Pupusa bomb queso con loroco

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    2 months ago

    Pupusas are awesome staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Great food selection. The food always taste great.

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

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    2 months ago

    Food is amazing and authentic. Estuvo increíblemente bueno. The reviews are correct; it's a hidden gem.

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    Page 1 of 6

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    Las Palmas Pupuseria & Carniceria

    Las Palmas Pupuseria & Carniceria

    4.0(275 reviews)
    10.0 mi
    •$$

    The tamale had not so much flavor. Had just one small strip of chicken and a little small piece of…read morepotato that's it. I don't think I will be buying this again.!! the pupusa's were very good, but the encurtido wasn't good, no vinegar, & chile. This was my first time eating here , but maybe I would like to go back and try other dishes and see how they are.

    Okayyy, so we went to this place called Las Palmas in Sacramento, and this was actually my second…read moretime going--and let me just say... this is BY FAR one of the best Mexican/Salvadorian restaurants I've ever been to! The first time we went, we got the pupusa plate, and it was SO good that we took some home. And y'all... by the time we got home, the food was STILL piping hot and just as delicious! The second time around, we decided to sit down and eat. Now, it did take a decent amount of time for our food to come out, but honestly, if you want fresh food, you're going to have to wait for fresh food--and it was absolutely worth it! This time, we got a wet super burrito, a kid's quesadilla, and I ordered one pupusa since I wasn't that hungry. Well... that one pupusa came out, and it was SO good that I immediately had to order a second one! And as you can see from the plate with the burrito... that thing was getting DEMOLISHED! So if you find yourself in Sacramento, PLEASE go give Las Palmas a try! The food is authentic, fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. And tell them Kiana sent you! Alright, that's a wrap!

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    Carniceria market side.

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    Las Palmas Bakery & Pupusas

    4.1(94 reviews)
    11.1 mi
    •$

    We visited this place a few months ago as a recommendation of our daughter and her boyfriend. We…read moreare so glad we came. It is a family run place and you can see the joy they have in making the food and the food was amazing. We asked the server Diana to provide her recommendations on what to order and so glad we went with her suggestions. The food was so flavorful! I also love that they serve cans and bottles for your drinks. The store next door also has wonderful snacks! We will definitely be back when we are back up north. Don't skip this place!

    Las Palmas has been on my radar (aka my Yelp "Want To Try" collection) for months. This past week,…read moreI stopped by for lunch, and ordered three pupusas. Three was actually wayyy too many. Oh my gosh. If you are a female thinking about ordering three pupusas for yourself, don't do it. Trust me. Two is enough. One might even be enough, depending on your appetite/lifestyle. Apparently, my eyes were feeling much larger than my stomach, so, I ordered one each of queso con frijol, queso con jalapeno, y revueltas (pork and beans). Best pupusas I've ever had in my life. Hands down. The woman running everything, who seemed to probably be the owner, was super friendly to everyone. I noticed her asking other people in Spanish if they wanted more salsa or tortillas, and, when my food came, she asked me the same questions in English. Since I asked for my order to-go, the salsa and cabbage were served in plastic baggies. This was a little bit messy, but, honestly, I would rather have a decent amount of salsa in a little baggy than have to mess with like seven plastic ramekins. The salsa and cabbage mix were both so bomb. Five stars for those alone. I ended up picking off pieces of my pupusas and just drenching them in salsa. Dining in would have definitely been a smarter option-- good thing I always have wet wipes with me, because they were necessary. As to the pupusas, I was surprised by which one was my favorite versus least favorite, because it was exactly the opposite of what I expected. My favorite was definitely the revueltas, then the queso con frijol, then the queso con jalapeno. It may have been partially because I ate the revueltas first, when the tortilla was still the most hot and fresh. By the time I got to the jalapeno, it was getting cold. I've never had pupusas this fresh. The homemade soft tortilla shells were falling apart in my hands as I ate. All of the fillings were so flavorful and amazing. My sister called me while I was eating them and I asked, "Have you ever had a pupusa?" "No, what's that?" "It's like.... like the calzone version of a taco. It's taco fillings, but stuffed inside of a soft tortilla shell." (A pupusa is to a taco as a calzone is to a slice of pizza.) Best pupusas ever, and the price was not bad. The proportions were generous considering the price, as opposed to most taco shops. Would definitely eat here again.

    Photos
    Las Palmas Bakery & Pupusas - Las palmas

    Las palmas

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    Pupuseria La Familiar - Birria & Queso Pupusas

    Pupuseria La Familiar

    4.6(164 reviews)
    9.9 mi

    Elva & her team catered at my wedding this Saturday. Her and her team were so wonderful and…read moreEVERYONE loved the pupusas and aguas frescas. We have received nothing but compliments from our guest! 10/10 would hire again. Cant wait to taste these again at the restaurant!!

    The Spot That Made Me Fall in Love with Pupusas…read more This is the place that made me fall in love with a pupuseria. My wife and I were out one day, decided to try something new, and found this gem up the street from our church. One thing I always look for with cultural cuisine is who's actually eating there. When you walk into a place and see people who grew up in that culture enjoying the food, it tells you everything you need to know about authenticity. This spot checks that box. It feels like the kind of food you'd get at a friend's house, not just something made to look the part. The staff was friendly and personable, which made the experience even better. Now, let me set expectations--this isn't the kind of place where your water glass is getting refilled every five minutes. But you can grab a soda or a horchata and you're good to go. The open kitchen is a big part of the experience. You can see everything being made, and more importantly, you can smell it. You start eating with your nose before the food even hits the table. You take it in with your eyes, and then your taste buds finish the job. I've recommended this place to a few people, and they've gone back again and again. That says a lot. If you like authentic food and want something that feels real--not staged--I think this could easily become one of your new favorite spots.

    Photos
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