The food here is top notch delicious! I’ve never been to El Salvador, but it tastes pretty authentic to me! Don’t forget it’s cash only :) looooove the Pupusas, plantains, black beans, and their banana bread desert!
Siv S.
Place rating: 5 Los Angeles, CA
I have been here many times in the last couple of years and while I think the food overall is good I will tell you about my family favorite’s. First, this is a mom and pop, hole in the wall dive. Don’t expect much in environment. But that being said, the food more then makes up for it and we usually get it to go anyways. My husband(Salvadoran) and brother in law(Honduran) love the pupusas here. They also really, really like the quesadilla(pastry). Apparently it is very authentic and better than other places. I’m not a big fan of their pastries but then I didn’t grow up with it. The horchata is a family blend different from Mexican horchata but typical of Salvadoran households. I like the nutty taste and it’s very refreshing. I LOVE the black beans, plantains, and tamales here. I sometimes dream about the beans. Just thinking about it makes me salivate. The other thing that they make here but I don’t know what it’s called or if it’s even on the menu is their chicken sandwiches. It’s usually make with turkey and served during the holidays. Here, they make it with chicken and it’s usually available year round. Tasty. It like a cross between Vietnamese Bahn Mi type and a French Dip type sandwich because it has a meaty and crunchy element but you have this sauce that you can either pour over your sandwich or dip it. Now I don’t speak Spanish but I’ve been here by myself many times and I’ve never really had a problem with the service. They owner and her sister were very friendly and has always been very helpful. But they sometimes have people who work the counter that don’t speak any English so it’s good to know kind of what you want to get. Plus a lot of items are on display in the cases and the menu is listed right above. I hope this places stays around for a long long time!
Stephan Vladimir B.
Place rating: 5 San Pablo, CA
When we moved away from our previous apartment I was worried we might not have any good Salvadoran food within walking distance. Fortunately we ended up near La Usuluteca. Great Pupusas, plantains, pastries and breads. And the staff are super nice and helpful — even to a non-Spanish-speaker like me.
Michael G.
Place rating: 5 Los Angeles, CA
The best quesadilla bread around. Nothing comes close. I don’t know how they do it.(Seriously, I want the recipe.)
Gisselle S.
Place rating: 1 Rancho Cucamonga, CA
If I could give 0 start I would, my boyfriend tooked me to eat there because he loved the Pupusas las time he visited with his Mom. I want to give a try n food wasn’t the bad but service is horrible supposed to be the owner«Ana«she is too rude !!! I don’t know if she really was the owner but if she was I hope she goes n take some customer service classes, she not even give eye contact to clients l don’t think she realize that thanks to «Clients«she have a business! I feel sorry for her employes they seem been intimidated by her !! Hope she changes her attitude if she doesn’t want to loose her bussines !!!
K H.
Place rating: 4 Los Angeles, CA
My daughter wanted to try pupusas. I checked Unilocal and saw La Usuluteca and remembered I pass it daily! Always people inside(a good sign). She ordered the revueltas pupusa(pork, beans, cheese) and I ordered bean and cheese. Then I eyed the plantanos — ordered them too. And an ensalada to drink(I LOVE a good ensalada). Food arrived hot and fast enough. Both pupusas were delish, the plantanos were good. The ensalada was cold and refreshing. The pupusas came with a pickled cabbage slaw that was really good. We’re not El Salvadoran, and this was my second time eating pupusas. I was happy. The girl was happy. We’ll come back!
Maria c.
Place rating: 3 Los Angeles, CA
Has some good pupusas and a good variety too. Their ensalada is pretty tastey also, oh and the ensalada is actually a drink not an actual salad. But its very good. they have some good pastries. I would definitely recommend this place for the pupusas tho. My only complaint is the service is a bit slow
Julie S.
Place rating: 2 Los Angeles, CA
The pupusas are pretty good. I walked in and didn’t get waited on for a few minutes until I asked if I could order. After that, she still said, «ok hold on.» I was the only person there. The pupusas are good, just don’t expect the service to be up to par. Also, the sweet bread and bolillos are not. I prefer walking to the bakery down the block for that stuff.
Claudia A.
Place rating: 5 Los Angeles, CA
Best Salvadoran breakfast I’ve ate in Los Angeles. The bread is fresh and I always order the black beans with plantains, cheese, sour cream and scrambled eggs. Not a fancy shmancy restaurant but delicious nonetheless. I highly recommend it.
Nolee T.
Place rating: 5 Redondo Beach, CA
The chicken and cheese pupusas are so good! I also love their flan and tres leches cake, very good quality food.
Roberto S.
Place rating: 5 Los Angeles, CA
I’ve been going to this place ever since they opened about a year ago. They just keep getting better and better. Their salvadoran quesadillas are the bomb. They also have great tamales and all of their pastries are soooo delicious. The 2 ladies that run this deli are so corteous and polite that you feel that you’re getting served by a relative. It’s a bit pricy but I rather pay more for something good and delicious than pay less for something nasty.
Alicia T.
Place rating: 4 Los Angeles, CA
I take everyone here ! It is very close to my house, walking distance. At first I was really into the Salvadoran Tamales because they’re very similar to belizean tamales but as soon as I tried the pupusa I’ve been obsessed. They’re a nice size and they give you a nice amount of toppings for the pupusas. Inside is usually very quiet if you want to stay there to eat. I would give them 5 stars if it didn’t take 20 mins. To get my pupusas(now I call in advance) They also do not take Cards but they have an ATM on site.
MV R.
Place rating: 5 Chino, CA
Great service. they take care of you and they have a lot on thier menu. From Pupusas of all sorts and sweet breads. One word. Nostalgia.. Ok two words Deliciius. 2 thumbs up!
Martin A.
Place rating: 1 Los Angeles, CA
Reviews are not accurate. Terrible food rating and underwhelming pupusas. Buy the at Costco instead and save yourself the food poisoning.
Ivy M.
Place rating: 4 Los Angeles, CA
Tamales, plaintain, rice and beans, oh my! I was meeting up with a friend who lives in the area and she recommended La Usuluteca for a bite to eat. It’s a tiny, but VERY clean restaurant run by a few sweet ladies. My friend and I ordered the Tamal De Chiplin with a side of fried plaintain and the mixed rice and beans. I also ordered a very delicious fruit juice(not sure if it was the Ensalada or Maranon.) Our food came within 5 mins after we ordered and very delicious :) looking forward to the next visit.
Jack C.
Place rating: 3 Twentynine Palms, CA
A lot of people raved over this place, and I don’t see why. The service is definitely slow, but for hand-made food it is generally worth it. This time, it was barely worth it. I also see favoritism with Latin customers — being helped first, quicker. I was told by the lady behind the counter, «I am sorry, we don’t have an english menu.» I never asked for one!!! Then she helped the people who came in after us. We had to speak up and tell her we knew what we wanted, and were there first. ANYWAY! The papusas we ordered were super-saturated with grease to the extent that it was hard to taste any flavor but grease. The same with the chili relleno — nothing but grease.
Pegaita L.
Place rating: 1 Los Angeles, CA
i walked in and waited a while and no one waited on me. Then some men walked in and one of the women I saw behind the counter rushed to them and asked how she could help. I promptly told them in Spanish that I was there first. The woman behind the counter first looked surprised that I knew Spanish, pointed at 2 black people that had been there before I walked in and said, I just thought you were with them. I looked at them and they looked like homeless beggars. Apparently I look like a black american homeless beggar.
Natalie S.
Place rating: 4 Los Angeles, CA
I have been driving by this place for a bit and finally stopped by to try it and gotta say I was surprised. They have some Salvadorean items like plantains chips name brand(Dina’s), which if your salvy you know the name brand is original plus salvy pastries and awesome food. Like all the different types of Pupusas they have. Like chicken and cheese, shrimp pupusas, garlic pupusas and jalapeño with cheese pupusas. As well they have Salvadorean medicines and some cute items from El Salvador. I’m definitely dropping by to pick up pupusas for my co workers soon.
MJ S.
Place rating: 5 Los Angeles, CA
Well, thanks a lot, La Usuluteca. You’ve made me a pupusa junkie. A pupusa whore. I can’t get enough of your sweet, sweet corn pockets, fresh off the griddle and oozing with cheese and garlic. Yes… GARLIC. Also your yuca. In a word… YUMA. I don’t care if my jokes are bad. That’s how good the food is here. Plus the staff is super-sweet and the place is spotless. I wish it didn’t take so long to get the food once you order but hey — this aint fast food, it’s fantastic food. Go there but I swear to god if you do, and you screw this place up one iota, I will come for you.
Therese G.
Place rating: 3 Cheviot Hills, CA
Looks like a quality Salvadorean bakery, deli, and pupuseria is coming soon! The construction people are working diligently, and from observing the sign painter, the owners believe in first class materials and workmanship. I can’t wait to try their products. I will report back as soon as I put my foot in it(Haha! I hope they do too!) Update: I tried the quesadilla. It was a little dry. The pupusas were good, but you have to make sure they have a pupusa maker when you go, and not too close to closing time.