La Paz Restaurant Pupuseria: Authentic Salvadoran & Mexican Cuisine in San Francisco

A friend that I was visiting in the Mission recommended La Paz Restaurant Pupuseria for lunch so I stopped by a couple of days ago. At about 11:30 am on a Sunday the place was completely empty so I was hesitant to enter but decided to go for it. It seems that it is a proper table service restaurant but as I was unaware I ended up ordering at the counter. I saw other patrons walk-in and take an empty table and then the one-man-operation behind the counter would walk over and take their orders. Anyway, now you know. I would generally get papusas at a place that prided itself in being a Pupuseria, but the first picture on Yelp was of a perfectly fried chimichanga. As I’ve been looking for a place that does a proper chimichanga, I decided to get a chimichnaga with carne asada ($9.25). While paying I saw surprised that they took cards. After ordering the old gentlemen behind the counter served chips and salsa. It was pretty clear that the salsa was homemade and not from a jar. The chimichanga followed in the next 10 minutes of so. The burrito was perfectly fried. It has the right balance between crispy and chewy. The meat inside was also very good. This was almost the best chimichanga that I have had. Pricewise it was pretty cheap as getting anything under $10 even for Mission is a challenge. I wish I lived closer to come and try some more stuff off their menu but what I got deserves a 5 star rating.

I stumbled upon this place by chance, without reading any reviews beforehand, and I don't regret it at all. The place is small, but it doesn't feel cramped. You can tell they keep it clean, well-maintained, and brightly lit. The staff is fantastic; they explain everything with a smile, and you can see them preparing your order as soon as you place it. Despite that, the wait time isn't long. I took pictures of the food almost at the end because I was so focused on enjoying every bite. So I can say their reputation is well-deserved. P.S. If you like spicy food, ask for their habanero sauce. It wasn't as spicy as I expected, but it does add that extra touch of flavor.

Mmm mmm mm! Just remembering what I had makes my mouth water. The pupusas were hot and delicious and the curtiddo and salsa were the cherry on top. Come try for yourself and you won't regret it

Appreciate the variety of Salvadoran & Mexican bocadillos and platos. The saltado con res was a perfect portion and flavored well. The flavor was not like the Peruvian version where they add soy sauce, but rather a tomato sauce. The mojarra frita was cooked and flavored well. What surprised me is they used Oaxacan quesillo in their frijol con queso pupusas. We enjoyed every bite of food. The only criticism I have is the menus smelled like an old wet rag. Kind of messed with my appetite in the beginning, but was back after the second bite.

Can’t believe I’ve never been here before. Came back a second time just a couple days later. Super friendly staff, family restaurant vibes, here for the food not the decor. The pupusas are made to order my the mother daughter duo and they are crispy and delicious especially with a mountain of curtido. The Mojarra was juicy and the rice was amazing just by itself. Caldo de res is a must on a cold day and comes with a little bit of rice/cebolla to add and some tortillas. Don’t forget to order a side of Platano Frito with beans and crema. Also try something new and get the Salvadoran horchata.

Good spot for lunch by the hospital. I got the pupusa combo plate 1 (two pupusas, some plátanos, and a couple fried yucca). It was a good deal and you get to try a bit of everything. If you get the combo, you have the option to get two different pupusa fillings, so I got one queso con loroco, one revueltas. I also got horchata which was good and came in a big portion.

Wonderful, cheerful spot right across from San Francisco General Hospital. Sofia, the owner is very kind. She makes good strong coffee, and my breakfast burrito was excellent. I’ll definitely return to try the lunch dishes..

This restaurant is awesome The food is great and the women who run it are very friendly. The burritos are huge too!