Arcense Restaurant y Pupuseria — Restaurant in Lawndale

Visited on March 17 2019.. Ordered 4 pupusas, pastelitos de carne, and the Arcense Especial. First off, the chicharones tasted sour, the pastelitos and yuca were burned and the curtido was like this bland tasting, green looking salsa stuff with peppermint or something in it? Even the pupusas were bad!!? (Basically everything tasted like the same grease) Then to top it off, service was non existent.. The food was finally brought out after 20 something minutes and we realized we didn't have silverware as waitress briskly walked away.. tried calling her back but she went with the other ladies to watch the soccer game and wouldn't look back at us as I flailed my arms like a 1st grader.. I finally got her attention and waitress said she'd bring some.. but then proceeded to bus the other tables, then she went in the back and never came out. So after about ten minutes of no silverware, I went and asked front counter for some. When waitress finally came back out, it wasn't to bring us silverware it was to continue watching soccer game!!? By this time we're pretty much done with the service and the food, but had to sit around waiting for the waitress to NOT bring us the check! Again, I had to go to the front and tell them I'm ready to leave because our waitress was now in the back again doing who knows what.. Check came out to $54!!! Wait, what?? For THIS FOOD!? for THIS SERVICE!? 😮😤 .. Needless to say that I did NOT leave a tip (and I'm usually a very good tipper)... I've bought HUNDREDS of pupusas from here over the past 15 years (if not closer to the thousands) So I don't know what happened to them... They actually made me feel unwelcome. Like my family of four were an unwanted burdon and shouldn't be there. With so much competion in the area I really hope they get it back together cuz this place USED...

First and last time here! I ordered 5 pupusas and they are horrible! Taste like Taco Bell food, canned beans and fake cheese. On top of that they have no flavor! Maybe also because they do not put any meat on the filling! I basically ate a cheese and bean dry chalupa! (See picture)! I feel robbed because each one is $4 and the quality is very low. Beware! I won’t be coming back that’s for sure!

P.s look at the salad! Looks like it’s been sitting for about a year! It’s old and it stinks! My spouse almost threw up! What an embarrassing...

The pupusas are so good. The pork & cheese have a lemon tatse that my daughter just loves. Every thing is ALWAYS fresh. They haven't even been rude & my food is ALWAYS done when I get there to pick it up. The only thing is it is VERY hard to get them to answer the phone! That's a big deal, they probably loose sales on the daily for this simple mess up. I've called back to back & let it ring until it stops. Once I wait 30 mins on between calls & finally someone picked up after a full hour of calling. But other than that...