El Padrino Restaurant — Restaurant in Calgary

My daughter came and picked me up for dinner. She wanted tacos and there was a new restaurant on 17th she wanted to try. It was Il Padrino. Now, the outside may not be enticing but once you get inside, you are transported to somewhere south of the border - the US border!! The restaurant is small with three booths in front of the bar, some stools around the bar, and two booths in the upper part behind the bar. And, despite being hidden away, it is a very busy place!! The first time we went, we were the only people seated. The owner and his wife chatted with us a bit. He was very friendly and explained the menu and the food items. There are many choices. The Pupusa, a Salvadorian specialty, is a must try! There are several awesome combination plates to try. We choose the #3 with 2 Papusas and 2 tacos. We also ordered some taquitos. Later, we saw some glasses of Horchata being served. We were excited as we love horchata but it is difficult to find some that isn't a powdered drink. We quickly ordered two glasses. We were in heaven with the first sip. Just the right amount of sweetness and cinnamon. Yummy!! When the food arrived, we were in awe! It looked so delicious! We dug right in. Now it is hard to say what was our favourite. We both loved the tacos! They were the reason we came after all. But the papusas were delish especially when eaten with the 'coleslaw'. Very refreshing. But, for me, I really enjoyed the tacquitos. They were crispy flutes of goodness! The dipping sauces added to the tastes. There was a green sauce which was a bit milder than the red sauce, but both were great. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The authenticity of the food really took you away from Calgary! But, the owner's concern for his patrons was a true passion, I am sure. He was very attentive, friendly and 'a really nice guy". With his wife's authentically delicious cooking and his Salvadorian hospitality, this place will flourish! *. It has been just over a week since I first went to El Padrino and, already we were back. You know when you have something so good, you just had to have it again. I wanted tacquitos and horchata so badly, we went again. But, strangely, we did not order tacquitos but we shared an order of shrimp and chips and another order to tacos. The shrimp and chips were so fresh and tasty! The shrimp were in a light batter that did not over power the delicate flavour of the shrimp, which were big and plump. The chips were homemade with just the right amount of salt on them. It was served with a sour cream dip which had quite a kick to it. Delish!! The tacos are served on two corn tortillas with onion and cilantro. We chose chorizo but they have lots of meats to choose from. These were fresh and tasty. Of course, we both ordered a horchata. Again, a very good meal. The owner had to do his weekly shopping but he stopped by to thank us for coming again and to say his nephew would look after us. His nephew, about 14, is already a great host! I guess he learned from his uncle! Needless to say, we will be back. Really soon!! Thanks again for...

I've been to El Padrino once before and the food was amazing and staff super friendly. This past Sunday I wanted to take my husband and the little ones as they also enjoy Salvadorian food. I told the owner that we were in a bit of a rush because I had to work. We ordered a 'sopa de res' and a combo. 20 or so minutes later these family of 2 young men. a young mom and a baby sit besides at us... ok no problem... 5 min later they got their order, 3 sopas de res and a bunch of pupusas, their servings were HUGE so we were like ok, wow they serve a lot.... not really... unfortunately, the family was friends with the owner and they got service first, double the food and the owner didn't even had the courtesy to let us know that we were going to have to wait longer than the people next to us. My husband was like maybe they ordered in advance. Judging by the way one of the young man was looking at me, almost in a mocking way I can freely assume that he and his family were enjoying a higher level of preference by the owner.The young man was definitely not shy to show it off.. The most frustrating part was not being warned, acknowledged or excuse for the owner's misdoings. At the end of our visit he barely talked to us or say bye, I could totally tell that he was embarrassed. I am aware that in our Latin culture we are prompt to favoritism, but ... This is Canada! oh and one of the guys was criticizing out loud Latin parents that speak to their kids in English - he was targeting me for talking to my little ones in English- I might not talk to them in Spanish when I am in a public place.. because you know... I respect that no everybody speaks my language in an ENGLISH speaking country, even if I am in a Spanish place. The food there is pretty amazing. It's just very disappointing how the owner handle our visit and our service. He totally failed a customer...

As a Honduran family in search of an authentic pupusas place, we stumbled upon a true hidden gem. From the moment we arrived a few minutes before opening time, the staff at this small, unassuming restaurant made us feel welcome and seated us right away. The friendly service set the stage for an exceptional dining experience.

We decided to try a variety of dishes, including the beef tostadas, beef and beans soup, and of course, the pupusas. To our delight, everything we ordered was simply delicious. After a somewhat underwhelming experience at Que Chivo the day before, we were thrilled to discover a place that truly excelled in the art of pupusas. Even my mom, a discerning pupusa connoisseur, was thoroughly impressed.

What makes this place stand out is its unique blend of Mexican and El Salvadorian cuisine. The flavors and authenticity of the dishes transported us back to the streets of both countries. Despite its modest size, with perhaps four tables and some bar stools around the counter, the restaurant exudes a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Additionally, the ample parking space and clean washrooms added to the overall positive experience.

With such a delightful experience, I can't wait to return, this time with my wife. I'm excited to put her Mexican palate to the test and introduce her to the amazing flavours this place has to offer. This hidden gem has earned my highest recommendation.

If you're in search of mouthwatering pupusas and a genuine culinary experience, look no further. This restaurant will satisfy your cravings and leave you...