Salvadoreño Restaurant Continues To Bring Exquisite Pupusas to the Valley

By admin August 18, 2014 08:58

By: Jessica Danielle Ramirez

Who knows the art of preparing the perfect pupusa better than the eatery that proudly displays “I love Pupusas!” signs everywhere.

Salvadoreño Restaurant in Phoenix is one of several Salvadorian restaurants in the Valley, with one location also in California.

Yesenia Ramirez is one of the managers at the Phoenix location and has continued the legacy of authentic Salvadorian food using recipes from her mother and grandmother’s kitchen.

Salvadorian food is not like any other. It has a mix of Spanish influence and a Caribbean touch — exactly what you will find at Salvadoreño Restaurant.

“It’s similar to Mexican food because our dishes include rice, beans and tortillas,” Ramirez said.

But there is one element that separates Salvadorian food from other Latin cuisine: spices. These create original flavors but also bring in a variety of different cultures into their dishes.

“Some of our sauces for our main entrée dishes use spices found in Indian cooking,” she said.

Of course, one of the main attractions to the Salvadorian restaurant is their pupusas.

“I have not met anyone who has had one and did not get hooked,” Ramirez said with pride.

Aside from the exquisite pupusas, another must-try item is found on their dessert menu. The empanadas de platano are a popular order.

“One cool thing about plantains, which are used quite a bit in Salvadoran cooking, is that when it is ripe, it is a starch. One can make chips with the plantain, use it as a starch ingredient in recipes,” she said. “Once the plantain ripens up, it turns into a fruit and it can be used in desserts. In El Salvador, we make these plantain empanadas filled inside with a creamy custard.”

And for those who may not be a fan of platanos, the nuegados de yuca con miel are also a top choice. They are cassava hush puppies served with homemade honey.

The eatery is home to authentic Salvadorian food where each customer will have a taste of the rich flavors of Central America.

“Our goal is that when you eat at one of our locations, you will feel like you’re getting the good mom-style cooking you would get if your mom was Salvadorian and you were visiting her,” she explained.