Arcense Restaurant y Pupuseria

My family and I have been going here for years, even at their old location. I’ve never had bad service or a bad pupusa. Whenever I have a craving for it I will usually go here because it’s so close to my house. :)

The best pupusas in the South Bay! They are perfectly made every time. I also recommend their fried plantains. Great food, quick service, highly recommend it!

Food is good service is horrible they have to have a better service this is my second time and the server go to you table and not even a one «how are you or hi nothing is like they don’t like the job again the food is great

The food was okay. The huevos con chorizo portion was very small. They only had 1 person (dark haired woman) working in the front who was greeting, taking orders, delivering the plates, working the cash register and cleaning the tables after. Terrible. You lose customers by this alone.
(However one of the COOKS came out to clean a table) While there we started to smell gas. I got up to let the woman know because we also had my niece with us so of course I was more concerned about it. The lady informed me that «oh, it’s fine it’s just the thing in the back, but it’s fine». Ummm… seriously? So this happens that often that it’s «fine» and you brush it off? And what «thing» is it you are talking about? I was not okay with this answer. I went back to our table and 5 minutes or so later the smell goes away… thank god! The customer service was okay since she was so busy she did not stop to see if we were okay or needed anything and others around us would look around to see when they would be helped. They really need to add another person to the front to help this woman and they really need to get their «thing» that has gas escaping every so often looked at. Not my first choice of restaurant, and I don’t think I’ll be back for a while.

Service was not good, very rude girl didn’t greet us ! Didn’t give us enough time to order was waiting the whole time by our table. I gave it 2 stars because the food was good but not the best ! I rather go to cerro verde on Hawthorne Blvd.

The pupusas revueltas are soo good. I have been going every other day to get some if you’re looking for some authentic delicious pupusas here’s the place to go.

Came here for lunch, food was okay but the service made it taste bad. That young (wanna be blonde) waitress had an attitude right out the bat for no reason. NOT GOOD FOR CUSTOMERS BUYING AND EATING THERE! first and last.

Im there every weekend !!! Love this place !!
Food is amazing and the customer service is awesome !!! Definitely recommend this place !!!
Ensalada and pupusas are delicious!!!
Cant go wrong with anything on the menu!

Legit pupusas! My 17mo hammered a pupusa de queso and I had two revueltos. Fun filled cheese oozed out with all its glory and the cherubs sang in the background. The server was very sweet and helpful. The service was fast and the atmosphere was pleasant. The restaurant itself was very clean and there was plenty of parking.

The food is horrible and the customer service was poor. The beans for example. A side, which I think is not to make was very watery and had lots of fat (lard)…Yuck! The pupusas had poor flavor and needed to be cooked longer. Even the cortido was bad… overall don’t waste your time.

This restaurant was okay. Nothing really stood out to me it was really average. My husband and I were looking for somewhere to eat, so as a true Unilocal-​ian I took to Unilocal to find a great restaurant to eat at. We only settled for this place because the first two restaurants were busy and they had a wait.
But enough of the boring stuff to stick to the restaurant, we ordered the chicken tamales. They were very average something you can buy in a refrigerated section at Walmart. We also ordered the puposas this is what our server suggested. Now we are not from a Hispanic descent so it was hard to read the menu, since everything was in Spanish.
We also ordered drinks and to our surprise we got a canned soda. This was definitely a negative. Our server had great Customer Service Customer Service but didn’t have a name badge on so I can’t compliment her. Overall this place was ok but I won’t be back.

I’m from el el Salvador, so I have been eating pupusas all my life
I been trying pupusas every where, and this place is the best the flavor are very good the price is reasonable and the staff is very kind I been eating in this place for the last 8 years so I recommend this place to every one

Food was pretty good, but the customer services is horrible. Our first time there and it felt like it. Felt like in the movies when a stranger wanders into a new town and is told, «You ain’t from around here are you?»
Other than taking our order, bringing our food & taking care of the check, the server never came to our table, yet asked everyone else how things were going & if they needed anything.
We were definitely treated as if they didn’t want us to return (which we won’t). There is another 1 star review that hit the nail on the head. Went through the same exact thing. Our fault for not checking Unilocal first. Even though there’s only one bad review, I guess my lesson learned is to check the poor rating & go by it.
I don’t see this place staying there for more than a year. How can a business survive just relying on regulars & not new customers? Hope this helps.

We come here for breakfast and decided to have lunch. The food is great at all times off the at and service is exceptional. Glad this place moved closer to home!

I have been a customer of arcense since they were open on El segundo. I love their Pupusas they taste great! Also the main dishes are delicious, and the employees always try to make everything how you want it. I would recommend this place to anyone.

Visited this restaurant when it was on El Segundo blvd. went in today at the new location on Inglewood Ave and the experience was a little different. Pupusas were good but we got a very small portion of cabbage for 3 people. We also ordered plantains decent tasting a little bland. The workers were exceeding loud and laughing extravagantly which was very uncomfortable considering only 3 tables were occupied; Their cackling could not be masked. Food was okay ambience not great! We will continue to go to our neighborhood location, Cerro Verde. Great food and very professional!

Was going to get Indian food but saw that they moved into this little plaza and couldn’t help myself. I used to work in the area a year ago and go on my lunch but I didn’t know that they moved. Now I do and I can have pupusas more often. Easier to get to than other spots in the area and just as good if not better.

This place is disgusting starting with the customer service of the older lady working in the front she is so disrespectful treats you like she does not need ur service. She’s rude and not helpful and most important embarrasses the restaurant with her attitude. The food is ok but now delicious don’t spend ur money on this crapy restaurant go to the one in Hawthorne.

Delicious!!! Great food great service. Pupusas on point! Todo todo todo delicioso!

We always pass by this place and decided to try it. The workers are friendly. The place is decent. I had the pupusas and they were delicious. My daughter, who is 5 and rarely finishes her food, got a hamburger and she loved it she actually finished it all and ate some of her dad food. He got arroz con frijoles and chorizo. His plate was delicious the arroz con frijoles with sour cream and queso was super good. If you’re in the area you must try this place.

The food here is very good. Had the pupusas one cheese and beans and one mixed pork and they were very good. I will be back soon my wife love it also the chicken tamale was one of if not the best I have had in the south bay and I only had a bite. The chicken pastelitos (looked like empenadas) were tasty but not much flavor compared to the other items, may have been lost in the other food flavors. The waitress was very nice yet there was a language barrier but we got through. Understanding each other or not I will be frequently going to this place.

First time trying pupusas so I don’t have anything to compare to but for me they tasted great! I tried queso and revueltos along with some cabbage and sauce they brought. Can’t believe I have gone this long without trying some. Price is also a plus.
For my experience, service wasn’t so great. First off server didn’t seem too friendly in my opinion. Server took our order and brought our drinks and never checked on us again even if there was only 1 other couple. But the place is small enough to call them over so no problem just a little inconvenient.
Overall the food was really good and I’ll be going again even if service experience wasn’t the best. Maybe it will be better next time, judging by other reviews.

I’ve been to the location on El Segundo Blvd. and was happy and excited to see that this location exists. My boyfriend and I came here after a day trip to the beach, we were hungry. I can’t remember which pupusas we ordered but they were all delicious. We also ordered some empanadas and I loved the El Salvadorean version. It’s not your typical dough and they are deep fried with a nice crispy texture. I also ordered a chicken tamale but I thought the masa was too mushy for me but it had a good amount of chicken in it. It was my first time ordering horchata from an El Salvadorean restaurant and wasn’t impressed. It just tasted watered down to me, unless I went on an off day? So glad this is in my ‘hood, I’ll definitely be back!

I’m confused. I know this Pupuseria moved to the location replacing Choices restaurant, but it doesn’t look like they’re going by Arcense anymore. It actually seems like they’re keeping the Choices name. In any case, if you’re looking for this now re-​located pupuseria, you will find it on Inglewood Ave next to the Dominos under the name «Choices.» Any folks looking for their old favorites at Choices will be disappointed because there are probably only four American Menu items on the list (your basic hamburger, chicken fingers, fries, etc).
Now. I’m stoked about this place’s new location which just so happens to be a mere couple blocks from me. I’m sure my thighs are pissed, but my tummy is saying, «Hell Yes!» The pupusas here are pretty good. Not necessarily the best in South Bay, but they do the job. The new location is actually pretty nice and roomy. It even has a jukebox. Definitely a huge upgrade from their last restaurant. The servers are all very friendly and seem to love working there because every time I visit, they’re always laughing and joking with each other. Perhaps they’re all family. Whatever the case, I like the vibe.
English here is minimal. I speak Spanish, so I’m fine, but I’m sure their extent of English will be understanding your order. If you’re going to ask a bunch of questions about the food, you may find yourself not receiving a coherent answer. Probably best if you know something about Salvi food before you come and order. My suggestion? Just go with pupusas. I only ever get pupusas de queso and I’m never disappointed. Revueltas are the most common pupusa and delicious if you like beans and chicharron. If you want an authentic Salvi drink, go with an Horchata. Just know that Salvi Horchata is different than Mexican Horchata, but it’s still very good.
I love that this place isn’t very busy like some of the other pupuserias in the area. I can place an order and pick it up within 10 minutes. That may change with its new, more noticeable location, but for right now, I’m loving it. Only thing that sucks is their hours. Not sure when they open, but they close at 7. That’s a little early for me.
Oh, if my memory serves me correctly, they serve beer too! BONUS! All in all, a great little spot for some authentic Salvi food.