La Esperanza Restaurant & Bakery — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I've now eaten a dozen or more times here and they've never disappointed whether weekday lunch, dinner or weekend. Back in my SF days I used to be a regular at the legendary Pancitas, and one Salvadorian co-worker has taken us to that legendary place next to LAX on occasion and his wife brings Pollo Relleno to our annual pot luck, so I have very high expectations regarding Salvadorean and this place does not disappoint.

Pupusas here are a bit too big and cheezy for my taste but the regulars love them.

Their Sopa de Gallina is the bomb! The roasted chicken is tender but done with a blistered crispy skin and absolutely spectacular, the salad is fresh and tasty and the soup is rich, perfectly spiced and the veggies are perfectly done, not under cooked and not mushy but bright and tastey.

The Guatemalan is a new treat for me so I tried their Pepian - a meat stewed in a thick "curry" of fresh pumpkin seed, sesame seed, chiles spices all ground and cooked into a paste slightly less thick than you typical Mole, with a bit of ground toasted bread and sour cream to bind it all together. I love me my curries of any kind and this one is sweet and spicy but not overly sweaty just perfect. The chayote/quisquil is a little crunch for my taste (It must be the preferred way for this dish because in the other dishes that feature it, the form is still tight but it is much more tender.) The tiny cilantro flavored tamales that come with it are another new favorite food of mine. I look forward to going through their whole menu.

The ambiance is very casual and friendly, the service excellent as is the English of the obviously well educated young relatives working there (it is of course a family run place) but for this Eurotrash ex-pat the two big screens on opposite corners showing football are a big plus -- and I mean the thing where they kick a ball with their footses. The one server showed me the owners ball signed by the players of FC Barcelona, doesn't hurt I'm wearing my Barca warm-up jacket. So during the big games - Classicos the place is evenly split among Real and Barca fans all very polite and friendly but be warned there may be an occasional cheer or groan from some in their team colors.

Sometimes on Saturday night there's a well groomed grey haired gentleman with an electric keyboard with a drum loop singing Central American Pop Chansons who reminded me of the elegant elderly Frenchman doing Thai Karaoke in Eric Bourdain's Northern...

The order's est ETA was 640-650 Through #GrubHub after ordering it @ 545.

I had to GO TO the restaurant and pick it up @ 730.

After getting some lip about how their driver dropped it off, not just "5 mins. ago & 10 mins. ago"- I asked them what the 2 bags were in front of me that my had my address on them? and showed them the GrubHub app. that said the eta was 735 (after they changed it seconds before- I was literally watching it on the screen change from 715 to 735 as we spoke) I was PISSED! They also had the nerve to tell me that they "weren't Carl's Jr. and they don't just deep fry their food for fast food". THEN they say that Grub Hub had only called 25 mins ago, and it took 25 mins. to cook it, as well as their phone was broken and they hadn't gotten the order. Still if they had just called since they updated the ETA- we would've known what was going on.

No apologies from them- and I get it, I can look scary and I was ANGRY. We ordered the food 2 HOURS before. I had a hungry 6 year old up hungry running around in his pajamas, asking where his food was at his bedtime- plus a wife who ate light at lunchtime. They did give me an extra horchata, which helped calm me down.

That being said: the pro's: The Pupusa Vegetariana were ok (we got them before and for some reason they were better then- did they forget the spinach or the zucchini?). The Pacayas were good- I'd say really good. (Although they forgot the extra tortilla's.) The gauc is good style and size (although my 6 yr. old said it needed salt & I added pico). The horchata is way flavorful- like it's made w/tamarindo (they said sugar)... but has a hefty price tag of $3.50. It actually tastes like Empanadas De Leche O Frijol which is a surprise.

There you go. I'd say give em' a shot- but, I'd call...

My bestfriend and I visited this spot since we were craving pupusas. The lady of the house assisted us and was extremely helpful and friendly.

She recommended CHURRASCO GUATEMALTECO. Though expensive, it tasted amazing. The meats include pork, beef, chicken, and chorizo along with guacamole and salsa. This was a great meat sampler.

Salvadorian Horchata was interesting in flavor because it is different from Mexican Horchata. This one has a nutty flavor (almond). My bestfriend liked it.

I got the Atol de Elote. It tasted like a warm 🤗 hug. It was predominantly condensed milk flavor but it has some spices in it along with corn. I bet this would be great cold, too.

Lastly, the Chicharron pupusa was my favorite from all the other pupusas we got (cheese and the other is shrimp). It was toasted until crispy on the outside and still warm and soft on the inside.

I recommend this place 100% and will come back to try other food they...