Elsy's

First time at Elsy"s restaurant I order sopa de gallina India and wow very good choice .rice salvadorian style refied beans and hand made tortillas just like home. Visit Elsy"s.

Easily one of the best Pupusa restaurant in the Mission. Love this place! They use pork belly for their pupusas.

If you want typical Salvadorian food, then head to Elsy's. The wait time might be little slow, but we'll worth the wait. Pupusas are outta this world. The hot chocolate awesome. I highly recommend it. Enjoy a piece of El Salvador.

Delicious pupusas paired nicely with their curtido. My favorite was the zucchini and cheese. The staff were super friendly and accommodating as well.

Well I decided to make the 3 he drive for a day trip w my 10 or old son 18 yrs ago I lived a block away from the mission n oh how we take for granted n authentic taste of culture well I looked at my son n said I am dying for pupusas always made from scratch now of course u have a choice of meat stuffed nice n warm me always have a simple caso this is not fast food n a very simple take ur order have a seat n enjoy the locals gather over coffee Salvadoran horchata n a taste of home do not ask for tacos no no that's the other guys for my son I ordered him there specialty A beautiful marinated flank steak so tender grilled veggies white rice n salad first he wasn't sure looking at his glass bottle of coke then back at his meal all he needed was that first seasoned to perfection taste my pupusas awesome but hey think I can have a bite of colorful deliciousness n wow my 10yr old was in heaven I ordered myself 2.more pupusas for the drive home n that huge plate of food was just about done n I said oh Sf style bring it w u the meter maids will get us in 2 mins He just looked at me so a lot of amazing taste for under 40 including drinks n well deserved tip my son n I will b going for another day trip next week can't wait mom can we go back to the Salvadoran restaurant? ?? It was sooo good! U bet I smiled

Authentic food. I mean , chicken soup done right. Tortillas the right kind. The clientele and guests are as SALVADORAN as you can get: mannerisms and expressions. I go there to commune.

Went to go to more famous place next door but couldn't stand the lines so ducked in to eat pupusas and soo glad I did. The pupusas were excellent and the rice suelta (loose) beans excellent. Great choice

"Delicious, poetic, perfect pupusas at Mission’s Elsy’s," says Wendy Hector of the SF Examiner (July 6, 2014). I planned on having tacos at La Taqueria but, due to a long line, ended up having a couple delicious pupusas and coffee here. After eating at 2pm, I was so full that I had to skip dinner.

I've been coming to Elsy's for years and I love it! The pupusas are always so fresh, filling, and delicious. I have never been disappointed yet.

This is one of the best places I have gone to for pupusa's. The were so warm and gooey. The revuletas pupusa was so good.

Really yummy papusas and authentic tamales (which are giant!). I love that you can watch them being made as you wait. Really cute spot.

In my opinion, some of the best pupusas in the city. Try the combo and the traditional loroco and cheese. Out of this world. Don't forget to ask for some crema to put a dollop on top.

Excellent papusa, and the service was great. I recommend stopping here if the line next door is too long. Food was out in 15 min, no line, and the prices are incredibly low. $15 for 4 papusas is a steal, and fed 2 people with no problem. The cheese is so good.

great food, good service, and defineitly will fill you up. great size if you eat alot, a little too big if you dont.

Love this place for pupusas. My kid loves the rice & beans and making hats out of the Salvadorian newspapers. I'm confused by all the reviews talking about rude service. I've been here like a double-digit number of times, and that's never happened to me. On the contrary, one time I actually forgot to pay, and they were really nice about it. Plus they always put up with my kid's mess and the fact that 3 or 4 of their free newspapers have turned into hats.

Jolee Evans

Really yummy papusas and authentic tamales (which are giant!). I love that you can watch them being made as you wait. Really cute spot.

Clarissa P.

In my opinion, some of the best pupusas in the city. Try the combo and the traditional loroco and cheese. Out of this world. Don't forget to ask for some crema to put a dollop on top.

Nicholas DeHaan

Excellent papusa, and the service was great. I recommend stopping here if the line next door is too long. Food was out in 15 min, no line, and the prices are incredibly low. $15 for 4 papusas is a steal, and fed 2 people with no problem. The cheese is so good.

Eric Lazaro

great food, good service, and defineitly will fill you up. great size if you eat alot, a little too big if you dont.

Paul DeMello

Love this place for pupusas. My kid loves the rice & beans and making hats out of the Salvadorian newspapers. I'm confused by all the reviews talking about rude service. I've been here like a double-digit number of times, and that's never happened to me. On the contrary, one time I actually forgot to pay, and they were really nice about it. Plus they always put up with my kid's mess and the fact that 3 or 4 of their free newspapers have turned into hats.

Walked past it by accident and OMG it’s AMAZING

Pupusas ....the best ones in the mission. Food has a home made flavor,anything on the menu.

Absolutely incredible food. An absolute must for anyone visiting the city

This is a fantastic place for authentic papusas! It was recommended by our friend’s mom from El Salvador and it did not disappoint. It was delicious and the staff was very friendly. Highly recommend this place!

I run a food tour in the Mission District and have brought dozens of people here for pupusas. There’s a reason why Elsy’s is our first stop! Consistently great service, excellent value and incredible food- thank you Elsys!!

The best pupusas in SF! The staff here tend to speak Spanish, so I enjoy the opportunity to practice. They're very patient and kind, despite my poor Spanish skills! I love seeing and hearing them making the pupusas fresh and to-order! This is a wonderful place to eat.

James T

The best pupusas in SF! The staff here tend to speak Spanish, so I enjoy the opportunity to practice. They're very patient and kind, despite my poor Spanish skills! I love seeing and hearing them making the pupusas fresh and to-order! This is a wonderful place to eat.

Apples 26

Walked past it by accident and OMG it’s AMAZING

Chato Boii

Pupusas ....the best ones in the mission. Food has a home made flavor,anything on the menu.

ryanwilsonbackup

Absolutely incredible food. An absolute must for anyone visiting the city

B. Elias S.

This is a fantastic place for authentic papusas! It was recommended by our friend’s mom from El Salvador and it did not disappoint. It was delicious and the staff was very friendly. Highly recommend this place!

Eric Curry

I run a food tour in the Mission District and have brought dozens of people here for pupusas. There’s a reason why Elsy’s is our first stop! Consistently great service, excellent value and incredible food- thank you Elsys!!

This tiny place has the best pupusas. Go with a friend or two and get a big plate with 3 kinds of pupusas.

I've seen plenty of demonstration kitchens but Elsy's was my first experience of a demonstration papusa grill. OK, serious papusas, but for me the main attraction is the breakfasts. People stand in line forever for breakfast on Valencia. These folks, who look to be so hungry they can operate their their mobile devices, could be inside Elsy's enjoying an excellent breakfast instead of twiddling their thumbs.

I love to eat here, huge portions all kinds of delicious. Cheesey savory and spicy.. Be ready to eat.. not always the cleanest for dining in..

Elsy's is strictly a no frills old-school fixture. The decor seems like it was from the early 80s. A few counter stools and loose tables with booth. Service is warm, but after payment you're nearly forgotten. Known for their handmade pupusas, I went ahead and got two pork and one chicken tamal. Chicken tamal is too soft almost watery. However, pieces were in chunks and I pref chunks of meat on any tamal. Flavor was a little off, but I knew this since they're not know for tamal. Pupusas are hot and fresh with slight burnt crisp exterior on both sides. Gooey cheese and shredded pork made it even better in taste. Douse some hot sauce and you'll have a meal instantly.

Yes you have Mexican food every but Elsy's has some really amazing food. The owners are from El Salvador and they are really serious about Pupusas but they also serve amazing bean/rice combo. If you have a cold, you have to try their chicken soup. Their coffee is really good. Usually they have a guy playing his guitar and he is singing a tradional Salvadorean song. You don't have to tip but he is a great singer. Where else can you have great food and live classical Latino music played for free?

Good honest Salvadoran food & good service. The non pretentious menu attracted my attention and decided to try. The place is small and cozy and the specials where handwritten in brightly colored cardboard given the ambiance of a rural kitchen. (See pic) I ordered what I always order at a Salvadoran restaurant to test the chef: “carne deshilada sin huevo” which was absolutely ………delicious! (See pic) I’ve also purchased pupusas to bring to a friends party later on and they where awesome as well!! Keep doing what you doing guys! Your food is well served and tasty!! (The only reason I don’t give five stars to this place is because the seats at the restaurant are more for a kindergarten than a restaurant! I mean it! Very small and uncomfortable.) By the way, on my way out I shout “gracias!” and lady at the cash register shout back: -“Que le vaya bien!”- I love that. .

Food is super legit 😋. First time I ever had Salvadorian food. However, the service was ok 🙂. The atmosphere was super busy! While I'm not into crowded places this might be for you if you like super busy places.

The pupusas were delicious! I would recommend eating there and not taking it to go. Took a little long to get the food and not the friendliest staff but they were pretty busy. It was worth the 15-20 minute wait.

Señor Maldonado

Good honest Salvadoran food & good service. The non pretentious menu attracted my attention and decided to try. The place is small and cozy and the specials where handwritten in brightly colored cardboard given the ambiance of a rural kitchen. (See pic) I ordered what I always order at a Salvadoran restaurant to test the chef: “carne deshilada sin huevo” which was absolutely ………delicious! (See pic) I’ve also purchased pupusas to bring to a friends party later on and they where awesome as well!! Keep doing what you doing guys! Your food is well served and tasty!! (The only reason I don’t give five stars to this place is because the seats at the restaurant are more for a kindergarten than a restaurant! I mean it! Very small and uncomfortable.) By the way, on my way out I shout “gracias!” and lady at the cash register shout back: -“Que le vaya bien!”- I love that. .

Ernesto Sanchez

Food is super legit 😋. First time I ever had Salvadorian food. However, the service was ok 🙂. The atmosphere was super busy! While I'm not into crowded places this might be for you if you like super busy places.

Sara Hershberger

The pupusas were delicious! I would recommend eating there and not taking it to go. Took a little long to get the food and not the friendliest staff but they were pretty busy. It was worth the 15-20 minute wait.

Service and pupusas were great! The revueltas were tasty, yet I wish we would've got more curtido for 4 pupusas. Horchata was different than the Mexican traditional flavor I expected (I now understand this may be a Salvadorean recipe). Just a heads up! Good food, Gracias!

Noemi C

Service and pupusas were great! The revueltas were tasty, yet I wish we would've got more curtido for 4 pupusas. Horchata was different than the Mexican traditional flavor I expected (I now understand this may be a Salvadorean recipe). Just a heads up! Good food, Gracias!

Nice pupusas, but they always seem to take a really long time. Not a place for a quick bit. But the service is friendly!

Food is good but service many times I have gone Poorly... they ignore you when you ask a question. Take too long to serve you or even take your order

Price is good, but expect to wait 15-20 minutes for a couple pupusas. Good flavor but very oily.

Comfort food for sure...I go for the Pupusa's.....👍 Cash only... Friendly Staff...love the fact there making the Tortillas Freshly

Roberto Roman

Comfort food for sure...I go for the Pupusa's.....👍 Cash only... Friendly Staff...love the fact there making the Tortillas Freshly

They charged me for extra chips even though on the menu it says free refill. Then I order the 4 pupusa plater, they didn't mention the rice and beans were extra on the platter. They charged me for 2 pupusas on the side and 2 pupusas plater to trick me. Not that good of a first experience won't go back because of that. I would recommend another place for pupusas, down the block and better quality and better prices.

Food was great, but unfortunately the service was not. We ordered takeout via the online platform from their website and selected the option to pay at the restaurant. We received confirmation for our order and that it would be ready in 30 minutes. As we were in the neighborhood, it was no problem for us to walk down to be there on time. When we arrived, we were told that our order wasn’t even started because we didn’t pay upfront. At no point during the ordering process was it stated that we had to pay in order for our food to start cooking. So we ended up waiting while our food was prepared, which took another 20 minutes. Huge waste of time which resulted in a lot of unnecessary frustration.

Kate Taylor

Food was great, but unfortunately the service was not. We ordered takeout via the online platform from their website and selected the option to pay at the restaurant. We received confirmation for our order and that it would be ready in 30 minutes. As we were in the neighborhood, it was no problem for us to walk down to be there on time. When we arrived, we were told that our order wasn’t even started because we didn’t pay upfront. At no point during the ordering process was it stated that we had to pay in order for our food to start cooking. So we ended up waiting while our food was prepared, which took another 20 minutes. Huge waste of time which resulted in a lot of unnecessary frustration.

Rob Rem

They charged me for extra chips even though on the menu it says free refill. Then I order the 4 pupusa plater, they didn't mention the rice and beans were extra on the platter. They charged me for 2 pupusas on the side and 2 pupusas plater to trick me. Not that good of a first experience won't go back because of that. I would recommend another place for pupusas, down the block and better quality and better prices.

Awful customer service. Very rude.. took about 25 min for 2 pupusas that the cook forgot to make in our order... not even an apology for the delay. We asked to have a drink exchanged, since it tasted like dirty water not Tamarindo and the waiter/owner refused to exchange it.. arguing that we had already tasted it. Not to mention the $11 she charged for her tip... very disappointing.

Terrible service. I walked inside and stood there for 20 minutes and it was empty! Then a Hispanic couple walk in and get immediate service! Felt racially discriminated at the highest level and advise no one to eat at this hope in the wall, not to mention the food was very cold and toooo much grease! No star if I could!!😠

For one the seating is too tight and they take a while to even notice you. The food had absolutely NO FLAVOR! The fruta de ensalada tasted like jalapeños! The yucca con chicharrón was TOO hard and overly cooked! Tasted like burnt oil. The ensalada tasted old like it’s been sitting! The combination plate was a joke! The prawns were ok but the chicken half was too much salt and the other side no flavor the steak was too cooked and rubbery. The rice tasted like plain white rice and was kind of hard, beans were ok just a little liquified. The red sauce tasted like straight ketchup. The pupusa revuelta tasted like the inside of a taco de papa, same texture as a taco. I got a stomach ache later and just didn’t end well. SMH being that a lady said that this place was “very good especially on Tuesdays” VERY DISAPPOINTING FOR $87. And OVER PRICED FOR BAD QUALITY FOOD. Would not recommend.

Gabriela Ramirez

For one the seating is too tight and they take a while to even notice you. The food had absolutely NO FLAVOR! The fruta de ensalada tasted like jalapeños! The yucca con chicharrón was TOO hard and overly cooked! Tasted like burnt oil. The ensalada tasted old like it’s been sitting! The combination plate was a joke! The prawns were ok but the chicken half was too much salt and the other side no flavor the steak was too cooked and rubbery. The rice tasted like plain white rice and was kind of hard, beans were ok just a little liquified. The red sauce tasted like straight ketchup. The pupusa revuelta tasted like the inside of a taco de papa, same texture as a taco. I got a stomach ache later and just didn’t end well. SMH being that a lady said that this place was “very good especially on Tuesdays” VERY DISAPPOINTING FOR $87. And OVER PRICED FOR BAD QUALITY FOOD. Would not recommend.

My plate had hair I ask the guy to change it and he said that it wasn't his problem he had an attitude in total bad service i think

Katherine Cifuentes

My plate had hair I ask the guy to change it and he said that it wasn't his problem he had an attitude in total bad service i think