El Pulgarcito Pupuseria — Restaurant in Orange

El Pulgarcito is definitely worth a visit once you actually find it! My Apple Maps couldn’t even locate the place, so I had to switch over to Google Maps. Even then, I circled around for a good 10 minutes because it’s hidden in the back in a little plaza. So just a heads up: don’t give up, it’s there!

I even bought some snacks while I was there, but of course the main event was the pupusas. I ordered the jalapeno & cheese and the regular cheese pupusa. Portions are no joke these things are filling! I was only able to finish one and took the other to go. Everything was hot, cheesy, and super comforting. The curtido and salsa on the side tied it all together perfectly. Prices are very reasonable too, especially considering how generous the portions are.

The atmosphere is unpretentious with that true hole in the wall vibe, which makes it feel even more authentic. I went with my gf who’s Salvadoran, and she gave this place her stamp of approval. Our server, Ayli, was so sweet and really on top of everything, making sure we were well taken care of the entire time.

This place gets busy, and with food being made to order, patience is key. But if you’re craving authentic Salvadoran pupusas, this is the place. Just plan ahead for parking and navigation, it’s a hidden gem in more...

Read the reviews and I had been craving some good Pupusas so grabbed the husband and kiddos and headed over to El Pulgarcito Pupuseria. We ordered an assortment of pupusas and the kids got their first taste of these amazing creations. The pupusas were amazing and we tried them all! We also ordered the shrimp ceviche and the plantains and beans and we made sure to get the empanadas plantanos for dessert. Everything was so delicious, made to order and very amazing!

The only thing I did not like was the Salvadorian Horchata. I love the Mexican Horchata and wanted to try this Salvadorian version but at the first sip.... something wasn't right. It tasted like....chemicals. It was truly odd and very hard to explain. Everyone at the table tried it and we all had the same experience. I don't know if that is what it traditionally tastes like but....if so, I will stick to the Mexican Horchata. I didn't let this taint our overall experience because everyone has their own taste when it comes to food and drinks. The staff took the drinks off our tab even after we said we would pay for them but politely told them we wanted to order something else. That was very nice of them and unexpected.

We can't wait...

Highly recommend this restaurant!! I came here to support my students family and they told me it was really good so of course I took their word for it and I immediately loved the food here.

Service 5 stars Food 5 stars Cleanliness 5 stars Overall experience 5 stars

We had 3 different Pupusas tonight along with some fried plantains and a dessert empanada.

Pupusas Revuelta - pork, beans & cheese. Most popular one because it's flavorful and has a god balance of meat, beans & cheese.

Shrimp & Cheese - for the seafood lovers this is a great choice.

Squash & Cheese - one of my fav! The squash has a milder taste and complements the stronger cheese flavor.

Fried plantains plate comes with a generous serving of beans & sour cream. Two very long pieces of plantains. Definitely a great one to share.

Empanadas - not like the Mexican ones. There empanadas are made with smashed banana rolled into a football shaped ball, with milky cream inside, then fried. There is no pastry or dough to it. Just bananas and the filling. It has just enough sweetness.

I had a great dining experience here and can't...