C B.

I will give them one more try, but sorry KC, these are not pupusas. They completely lacked any flavor, the curtido also had no flavor, nor did the sauce. I just spent over $40 on a bunch of crap. I have had pupusas at every pupuseria in KC and none have lived up to what they should be.
(1)
Michael J.

BEWARE, THE PORTIONS ARE HUGE! El Pugarcito is one of those rare restaurants that doesn't look like much on the outside but serves up some authentic ethnic cuisine that will make you want to come back for more. The location is a bit out of the way and could be hard to find if you don't own a GPS. But nevertheless, don't let that deter you from trying this place. El Salvador's cuisine is very similar to many other central American cuisine. A staple of beans and rice and lots of grilled meat (chicken, pork, beef) with a little bit of salad on the side. However, the catch is El Salvador also has pupusas, a kind of fried tortilla filled with various meats, cheeses and vegetables. It's delicious and a MUST if you go to any El Salvadorian restaurant. Please steer clear of the Mexican stuff on the menu. Not saying that it's not worth a try, but why come to an El Salvadorian restaurant if you want Mexican? The soups are also a specialty and will surely warm you up on a cold, chilly winter night. Kansas City has tons of Mexican joints but only a dearth of El Salvadorian ones. You can count them with one hand. If you're into Latin cuisine and want something a little different, come to El Pulgarcito. You won't regret it. And please, remember, their portions are huge. Two pupusas and a tamale makes a meal for a grown man.
(5)
Wes D.

I travel to El Salvador a lot. I love pupusas and El Pulgarcito makes the best I've ever tasted. I ate some there and got some to take with me when I left for breakfast in the morning. Highly recommended. If you read my reviews, I don't give that recommendation out very much.
(5)
Christy K.

I've been going to El Pulgarcito for a couple of years now and am always happy with the tasty Salvadoran/Latin American food. It's a hidden gem, a hole in the wall, a small Mom and Pop and Grandma type of very casual diner. I've come here alone, with a couple of friends, and (with advance notice) with a group of 12. I've also called ahead for takeout. Always friendly, attentive service. Great pupusas, tamales, empanadas. Very reasonable prices. The spicy slaw served with the pupusas is fantastic! If you haven't tried this place, you should!
(4)
Michael T.

This place is definitely a hole in the wall gem! It's usually very loud with customers letting their children watch loud videos on their phone, run amok and roll around on the floor but the food made me soon forget about that. It is imperative that you order a Pupusa at this place. I ordered 3, with beef, pork and shrimp + cheese. The cheese was super rich and even the cabbage you pair with the meal is excellent! Now these little pancake-looking delights are incredibly dense and could easily fill you up eating just one. Needless to say, it was hard for me to stay awake the rest of the day after having experienced this! The best part of all? You can get a very filling authentic meal for less than $6.
(5)
La Cebolla ..

This is my new favorite restaurant. Cheap. Delicious food. Good service. What more could you ask for? Get the pork/cheese papusas and a mango drink. Yummy. If you want some fancy dining with white table linens, this is not the place for you.
(4)
Jessica L.

My boyfriend and i love coming here and do so regularly. This place reminds me of taquerias back in CA with the bright colors and awesome, authentic food. We always get pupusas ( cheese and loroco is our favorite) and the cabbage slaw which comes with them is bomb. The tamales are amazing too, perfect texture and great flavor. I cant decide whether i like the chicken ir the pork better. Be sure to top them off with red sauce though, it goes with both. My boyfriend enjoys the barbacoa tacos and i like the carne asada. Both kinds are great. As a last note, try the fresh juice. Ive had pineapple and mango and they really go great with the meal. El pulgarcito has loads of high quality, tasty food for a bargain.
(5)
Jacob R.

I absolutely loved this place. Has a great lunch prices, great burritos. The papusas are a great side for whatever you order. I loved this place and it's authenticity/feel until I looked them up on the Kansas department of agriculture website and viewed their health department inspections. Dead cockroaches, mouse droppings, etc. see for yourself. Reports were from 2012 I believe
(2)
Lilian O.

This hole-in-the-wall serves up the best and cheapest pupusas I've ever had. My fiancee and I ordered one squash and cheese pupusa and one jalapeno and cheese pupusa. We smothered them with curtido, Salvadoran spicy pickled cabbage an went to town. The big jar of curtido was full when the waitress brought it to us but we ate a quarter of it by the time we were done. If you like your food spicier, you can squirt red hot sauce onto the pupusas. The drinks are excellent and we tried the most exotic sounding options of maranon (cashew apple) and the Guatamalen atol de platano, a steaming thick plantain drink with milk, cinnamon, and honey. We also ordered plantain empanadas with a milk filling which was very good. My friends used to come here quite often and now I can see why.
(4)
Chad S.

When I read the following I was more than disgusted: "El Pulgarcito Restaurant had 14 critical violations on an April 2, 2012 inspection following a complaint. They included a case of moldy bananas in a store room; no soap at the only hand sink; and 14 live adult roaches in a storage area and 25 to 30 fresh mouse droppings on top of all coolers in a back storage area." Some things I cannot look past. I won't be going back here anytime soon.
(1)
Starr A.

I've never had a pupusa before, and I wonder how I've managed to ever be happy without them in my life. Delicious! We enjoyed fried plantains, several different pupusas, and another app whose name I can't remember, but it was wonderful. They were very kind to us as we were obviously new to the place. I'm taking my whole family back soon. (BTW, we took a coupon that required us to spend $20. It was difficult for two people to spend that much. We were stuffed beyond belief and still took home leftovers.)
(5)
Reed N.

The place gets the 5-star due to several things. 1]Smiles 2]Small dive-type of ambiance, which is my cup of tea 3]Pupusas loaded with wonderful cheese 4]Refried beans that actually have flavor [which probably means lard] 5]Chili Rellenos that are delicious and loaded with wonderful cheese 6]Cheese enchiladas that are loaded with wonderful cheese Did I mention the wonderful cheese? ; ) Cheese is one of my favorite foods. This place is a lactose intolerant persons nightmare, but a dream for me!
(5)
Aimee W.

Let me preface this and say I haven't ever had El Salvadoran food before. However, after seeing a yelp email about all the Mexican restaurants in the area that I haven't tried, I thought it was time for me to branch out. Unfortunately, I didn't branch to a new Mexican place...I found this little gem instead. When I was at my old office, this place was like 5 minutes away. It is also really close to a friends' house so they are willing to meet me for dinner now and then when we go here. We went one evening and it was fairly busy. We sat down at a largish table and the server came immediately. The food is made to order so there is a little wait but I have to say it was worth it. I had the pupusas and they were good. The one with loraco was not super flavorful. The one with the pork was delicious. The cheese one was cheesy. I had tamales which were amazing. Again, I had pork and that was delicious. I think I had chicken too and that was great. I am a huge fan of the tamales. I had the tongue tacos - delicious. The cabbage slaw was spicy and delicious. But almost too spicy for me. I fear I have allowed myself to become a spice wuss. Gotta work on that. I had the dessert ...dumplings? I cannot remember the name. The bean ones were eh but the milk ones were delicious. I need to go back and try some other things. I am taking a list of what you are all eating. okaybye. Aimee
(4)
Diana K.

Still so good. Still love the papusas. Still love the fluffy tamales, though seems less meaty these days. Cabbage is served as a side dish now instead of a big jar on the tables. Had the pineapple and mango frescas. Yum! Tried the appetizer platter special they had. Got to try a little of each appetizers. And had a pollo entree. Great flavor, but chicken wasn't so juicy. So full by the end of the meal. Best was we ended up only paying $12 for everything. So good and so cheap.
(4)
Diane S.

A little small but the food is delicious and they serve alcohol. I ordered several different papusas and wasn't disappointed. My favorite is the papusa stuffed with sweet corn and milk!
(4)
Tresha G.

I just ate here again for probably close to the hundred time. My Guatemala roommate and I love this place from the moment we heard about it way back in 2006. That was back when it was a true hole in a wall. We've seen it grow and grow. Today we saw that they've busted down the next door wall and expanded. We mainly go for the chicharron y queso (pork & cheese) pupusas. We've learned that usually 2 is too little and 3 is too much. So we get 5 and split the third. We have our way of stacking them like pancakes and red sauce in between each layer. Then a big heaping of curdito on top (I avoid the jalapenos, she avoids the onions). Then more sauce on top. We have tried other things. In the winter I like the caldo de res (beef stew). Roomie loves the drink, atol de platano (blended plantines, to me taste like baby food). The tacos are ok, but you get a better value with the pupusas. We love this place. If we are out and know we are going to pass this place we got their number saved for calling in an order to go. If you're a big eater of sauce and curdito make sure to ask for more. They usually don't pack enough for us.
(5)
jennifer j.

Wow! I really loved my food experience at this place. The inside could really be any restaurant, it is what is on your plate that makes the difference. It was a weekend afternoon and we dragged out of bed late. Had to stop in Merriam for something else and remembered all the great reviews on this place. I ordered the pork & cheese pupusas. I watched a family next to me load theirs up with the spicy sauce and the spicy pickled slaw that sits on each table. I followed their lead. The flavors and textures took me to a place I had not been. It really woke up the old taste buds. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about the tart, savory and spicy combination. Really glad I stopped. So cheap and SO good!!! Can I get a jar of that slaw to go?
(4)
Greg N.

This place is fantastic...We made the mistake of having one of those 25 dollar gift certificates if you spend 35 bucks....spending 35 bucks for 2 people at this place is a challenge...So I ordered the 17 dollar bowl of seafood soup! We also ordered the carne asada, pupusas, and a tamale--needless to say it was way, way, way too much food. The only downside about the soup was the faux crab-which doesn't cook well-it was loaded however with mussels, shrimp, snow crab, octopus, squid and fish....It doesn't need the fake crab meat, it is fantastic on its own. It was kind of embarrassing when our bill came to 10 bucks when we had so much food. Read the other reviews and go to this place...if they only had beer......
(5)
Andres E.

I'm a first generation Cuban-Salvadorean American transplant from San Francisco. One of the things I never imagined getting here in the KC Metro area was a great pupusa. I've had authentic pupusas made by my grandmother in El Salvador (as well as street vendor ones) and also have had some really good ones in California and in New Jersey. However, my all time favorite pupusa is made right here in KS at El Pulgarcito. My favorite variety is the revuelta (mixed) variety. I also like the pork tamales quite a bit. My wife and 2 daughters are big fans of the pupusas also. In fact, my 2 daughters (of the fast food generation) actually ask for pupusas quite frequently. My dad who visits every year from California also agrees these pupusas are great. The only thing keeping me from giving a 5 star rating is that the platanos maduros (fried plantains) are hit and miss.
(4)
Susie Y.

This place is AMAZING! The prices are cheap, and the papusas are to die for! They are filling (you can get 2 for about 6 bucks). The waitresses are very nice and honest too!! Another part that is amazing is the spicy, pickled cabbage they have at each table. It is kind of a hole in the wall and a little dive-y, but you don't even think about it , because the food is so comforting and tasty. GO!
(5)
Justin F.

Went here on a whim. Good experience. The Pupusas we exactly what I expected. I'm not a huge cheese fan, so the melty goodness seemed a bit overwhelming at points. But, good flavors and a great cheap meal on a cold day. The best part was the pickled cabbage condiment that comes in a huge jar with tongs. It was spicy and delicious and helped cut the greasy heaviness of the Pupusas. For a $5 lunch that filled me up I can't really complain. I want to go back and try the plantains sometime soon.
(3)
Lizzie B.

My husband has been looking for beef tongue tacos since he tried them at a dive in Houston that was popular among migrant workers in the area a few months back. We had heard rumors about them existing in the KC area, but could never get a precise location/address out of our source. This weekend, we over heard Beth - the owner of Succotash - recommending a place for shrimp tacos and good South American food to the table next to us... so we had to find it, and using YELP! we did! Thanks to other reviews, we knew we were going to a place that served beef tongue tacos. So our menu for the night: Bean and Cheese Pupusas, Plantains, Beef Tongue Tacos, and Steak Tacos. Each item was delicious. And speaking of menus, you may want to brush up on your Spanish... which the menu is in primarily... only the back side was in English! We had never had Pupusas before and we plan to return to try some of the other selections... we loved putting the spicy pickled cabbage on it, but didn't feel the hot sauce provided was necessary. The tacos were cantina style: soft corn tortillas, cilantro, and onions with your meat selection... The Pupusas and tacos run about $2 ea. I've already passed on this restaurant to a friend - she saw the pupusas in a pic that my husband posted to Facebook while we were eating and wanted to know where we were...
(5)
Joe D.

Although a"southern gringo", I found the food here outstanding! The cole slaw was a specialty that was delicious!
(4)
Amy S.

We were looking for something new - Loved the spice on the Carne asada. My husband enjoyed the fried chicken Even my picky 12 year old enjoyed her steak. The papusas were yummy next time i might do that as my meal Would go back!
(4)
Meghan M.

Wonderful pupusas! The other food we had was good, but the pupusas are what would bring me back. The AC was not on or working when we were there (in august) which was pretty uncomfortable. We saw lots of people do take out while we were there so that's what we might do next time (if we go again).
(4)
Rachel A.

Fantastic! Will eat here every time I roll through town. Delicious.
(4)
Ian B.

We were happy to stumble upon this place since we happened to be in Merriam and hungry for rice & beans. The staff and service were GREAT and very helpful (we're not experts on Salvadoran food). The pupusas I had were delicious - especially the cheese and jalapeÃ±o. The maduros were tasty, Elsa and Iana shared fried yuca (didn't need the breading, but still tasty). I'd say give this place a try if you like pupusas and a little something different. Al personal y a los dueÃ±os de El Pulgarcito - bien hecho, y que sigan experimentando Ã©xito.
(4)
Ryan F.

There is a small number of El Salvadorian restaurants in the greater KC area, and this one is unquestionably the best. To begin, if you're serious about food and exploring new and interesting dishes from around the world, Kansas City has a number of interesting and quality options; yet here's yet another to add to the list. Now, I've never been to El Salvador, but if the food there--that is the food in all its authenticity and lip-smacking deliciousness--even slightly approaches what the folks at El Pulgarcito serve, then I may rest myself assured that I will not be disappointed should I incline to El Salvador for my next food-driven and inspired vacation. Now...on to the review. I found this place a few years ago while meandering westward on Merriam in search of something new and interesting for lunch, and I was clearly NOT disappointed, especially since these aimless ventures often end with a stamp of the mediocre, and thankfully only occasionally with a stomach ache! But, I digress... The dishes themselves (and more to that in a moment) are simple, and I suspect (on the basis of the indigenous names given the dishes) claim an ancient lineage dating back to the Mayans. Perhaps in my subconscious effort to pay homage to that great civilization, in this "their year" of 2012, I've visited El Pulgarcito no fewer than three times since January. And, if the Mayans have garnered attention vis-a-vis the apocalyptic possibilities awaiting us at the end of the year, I found I thought of them only indirectly as I seized the opportunity during these last three visits to cast my net rather widely in the sampling of El Pulgarcito's small, yet pleasingly varied menu. I should say that though the dishes are different given what we are probably used to in terms of Central American food, they are prepared with familiar ingredients and in a way allowing for each dish to exclaim its El Salvadorian uniqueness. They offer several caldos (res, pollo and pescado) as well as interesting variations on what may be viewed as a typical Mexican tamale. The empanadas, too, are worthy of trying, though I would order them for dessert as they are more on the sweeter side -- though still delicious! The real star of the menu, however, are the Pupusas. The pupusa is a traditional El Salvadorian dish made of a thick, hand-made corn tortilla often 'stuffed' with beans, cheese, peppers, or with an array of meat possibilities should you be more disposed to the carnivorous. They are simple dishes, yet bursting with flavor on the taste buds. I shoudl add that though I have no difficulty singing the praises of the pupusa, what really accentuates them, I think, is the curtido, which is a traditional condiment made of lightly fermented cabbage with red chilies and vinegar. Delicious! So, with this endorsement, get down to El Pulgarcito soon, and certainly before December 21st! Over and out!
(5)
Igor C.

As usual the pupusas were great. But I added a fish taco from the specials board. Grilled fish, onion, and cilantro only. It was wonderful; a different style from what I'm used to coming from SoCal but everything was perfect.
(4)
Bodie M.

The papusas are just as good as before! Also had the yuca dish (boiled instead of fried) and it turned out quite tasty as well. Horchata ain't bad either. I haven't strayed back to the burritos, so I can't give any update there, but like I said before, there are plenty of good options for that kind of fare elseware in town. Go get some papusas (mixed with beans, cheese, and meat, or go for the loroco and cheese!). Now.
(5)
June K.

Wow this place had one of the best pupusa's I've had outside of El Salvador and even in Seattle. Had the cheese and cheese and pork pupusa and steak tacos. The jalapeÃ±o/cabbage vinegared slaw of sorts gave their food a nice crunch. Some friends had the cheese enchiladas which were chock full of cheese. Also tried the plantain and beans appetizer which wasn't the way I prefer my plantains but it seems my friends liked the accompanying bean sauce. I prefer my plantains sweeter and greasier. All in all, all of their foods were really flavorful and soooo cheap! Definitely give this hole in the wall a try!
(4)
Alicia M.

My husband and I went here a few days ago. The food was very good, but the service could have been a little better. Half the menu is Salvadorian food and the other half is Mexican. They also randomly threw in hamburgers, for kids I'm guessing. Between the two of us we had: a shredded pork and cheese pupusa, a chicken tamale, bistec (seasoned steak), a chicken chimichanga, and pineapple fruit drinks. I thought everything was amazing. My husband couldn't decide if he liked his steak, but I loved it, so we ended up trading. This was my first time trying pupusas, and I must say they are absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to try the other kinds they have. There was something besides pineapple in the drink, I have no idea what, but it was very good. My only other complaint besides the service that wasn't especially great, was that the drinks menu isn't translated. Over all I think it's a great restaurant and can't wait to go back
(4)
Michelle M.

The pupusas and tamales are amazing and the food is so cheap! Hole in the wall is right, but as the owner told me himself, what do you need a fancy looking place for when the food is sooo good? Agreed. I will be back. There is also another location on the Missouri side.
(5)
Roxanne A.

What do I do when I get sick of the same ol' same ol'??? I go to El Pulgarcito! Good food, very inexpensive and good service. They've remodeled a little since last year, so it's bigger than it used to be and they got a new TV for watching lucha libre.
(4)
Tim T.

I love the pupusas. They are surprisingly filling -- just two of them (stuffed with pork, beans and cheese) are enough to satisfy me. Make sure to top them with the tomato salsa and curtido (the pickled cabbage stuff) for a spicy kick. The first time I walked in, I almost thought I was in the wrong place -- it was so hole-in-the-wall. It didn't help that they were just about to do some renovations, so some of the bar stools were torn down. I was starting to feel quite uncomfortable until the man who owns this place sat down beside me and we had a friendly chat. When he found out that I had ordered the pupusas with just plain pork, he gave me two free ones with pork, beans and cheese. What a nice guy...
(4)
Kev L.

5 stars is for as good as it gets. And when it comes to El Pulgarcito, their pupusas are most definitely the best in all of the metro. Nobody comes even close. As DLC already pointed out, the restaurant is run by an El Salvadorian family. The locale as you may have also read is pretty run down and old, but the location is extremely safe. (It's Merriam for crying out loud) For those that are afraid to venture into KCK and Northeast KCMO for great Central American food, this is your rare treat. I quite honestly only come here for the pupusas. I don't order anything else due to being Latino myself and knowing how to cook whatever I want to eat myself. Pupusas however are about as picky in taste as tortillas. Many people try to make them and only few can master the craft. Be sure to try the pork & cheese pupusas or you can get a cheese/bean only pupusa. Also be sure to try the cabbage topping called "curtido" (Thanks Linh N!) . It is seasoned very well, and although it uses the same veggies as cole slaw, it taste NOTHING like it. Believe me as I am a staunch opponent of cole slaw and it's many disgusting and deceptive ways. The place is also open till 9, which is a rarity for restaurants that specialise in that type of central American food. Give this place a shot.
(5)
Michelle F.

This place is kind of a hidden gem tucked away in Merriam. My husband and I were in on a Thursday evening. It's a small place, wasn't crowded, and a nice mix of families and teenagers enjoying the cuisine. Service was fast and friendly. We ordered 6 of the Papusas to share, loved every one of them. I also liked the sauce, flavorful and vinegary but not hot at all. The husband enjoyed the pickled cabbage. We'll be back soon to try other entrees. We live really close so it will be super convenient for take out.
(4)
Sarah S.

This place looks rough on the outside, but has great food and service. Pupusas are delicious but don't be fooled by their size. They are very filling. Spicy slaw and tomatoe-y sauce are also excellent. Highly recommend the tamales too. Will definitely return to try other entrees.
(5)
Anush J.

Been here twice. We LOVE it. Friendly staff, home-style food that is flavorful and so delicious, and you can't beat the price. We love the plantains, breakfast options, and whatever entree we have tried has been quality. I want to add that this is a very casual joint, and the location is sort of random.
(5)
Ryan A.

The pupusas here will blow your mind, and the curtido they make is spicy and delicious. I'm sure the rest of the menu is great, but I've yet to order anything but a couple pupusas and maybe a tamale (which are also excellent). Reading the other reviews, this seems fairly common. Why buck such a delicious trend?
(5)
Angela A.

I feel so fortunate that I live close to El Pulgarcito. The pupusas and the fried fish dish are must tries! Add a little escabeche to both and yum! I personally think they have the best beans (frijoles) I've ever tasted outside of Mexico and Honduras. The service can be spotty at times, but the food is always tasty. One February night we went in and it was colder inside the restaurant than outside- so take a jacket!
(4)
C L.

Yippee kai yay! I am so ecstatic that I finally tried this place. I'm a fan! Say WHAT?! After reading how fantastic their pupusas are, I went to witness for myself. Oh, my! Yelp reviews told me that folks seemed to favor the pork varieties. And being a pig-lover, I tried one pork and cheese with corn tortilla, and one pork, cheese, and bean with rice tortilla. FABULOUSNESS. At first, I thought the rice one was better than the corn one, but after several more bites of the corn, I thought both were equally good. They were dripping and oozing with grease, and it was pure elation. I don't typically like my food with a gallon of oil, but these were well worth it. I agree with another reviewer that the pickled cabbage really helped to cut the grease. Each table had a huge canister of this(had to look it up, "curtido") and I ate a quarter of the sucker - no exaggeration. I also got a regular steak taco, which was quite good. My only complaint is that they must've warmed the corn tortillas in a greased pan. My hands were coated in oil. They had a variety of horchatas, though I didn't sample any. I also got two pupusas to-go for my kid. I put them on a hot pan for two minutes on each side, and they warmed up beautifully. He also enjoyed the curtido and the hot sauce that accompanied these FAB pockets of ecstasy. Great service, great food. I can't wait to go back. Four pupusas and a taco for $9.15!? I'm sold.
(4)
Trecia M.

$1-YES $1 papusas on Wednesdays!!!!!!! Can I get an AMEN?
(5)
Dave L.

Great, no frills Salvadoran place here. Excellent pupusas and good, authentic tamales. Also homemade soups, fish dishes, tacos, and daily specials. El Pulgarcito has a real diner atmosphere but they are dishing out horchata and tamarindo water instead of hot coffee (though they have that too). This place is one of my favorites in this neck of the woods.
(4)
Susan B.

I really like this place! It's tricky to find, but the pupusas and tamales are amazing! It's fairly plain inside. Don't pay attention to other reviews that are less than complementary about this place. Any restuarant could have some issues immediately after a major renovation that happened over a year ago. The owner is very responsible. This place is clean and has good food, or I wouldn't be going there! :)
(4)
Stephanie P.

This is the kind of food that inspires, calms, and excites you all at once. I can't rave enough about the pupusas. I chose the cheese and loroco and the pork and cheese. They were both amazing. The pork was perfectly seasoned and melt in your mouth. The service was excellent. You really need to try something new, it makes you a better person. This food will definitely draw you back to El Pulgarcito. Muy bueno.
(5)
Ann M.

I love Central American food and this is the best place in KC to get it. The pupusas are big and generously filled - this is what I order most of the time. I also recommend the tamales. The fried plantains paired with cream and/or beans are fabulous. I have not had anything here that I didn't like. Very authentic, very tasty. Try it!
(5)
Kim C.

Really enjoyed this place. Friendly service and fantastic pupusas and tamales. Am looking forward to trying more of the menu.
(4)
Melissa R.

Love this El Salvadorian place on the "wrong side of the Merriam tracks." The carne was delish! The hubby and I split an order of the carne, a pork/cheese pupusa, and fried plantains. The perfect amount of food, absolutely authentic and delish! Only thing better would be if you could bring in your own brews, which by the way would definitely be worth asking about.
(4)
Katia S.

The service at El Pulgarcito is very good. And, the food is unique for our area. I love the rice, beans and cheese/bean pupusa. And, the fruit drinks are very tasty -- just need to add some water to make them less sweet. Oh, and the prices are low.
(4)
Joe H.

El Pulgarcito is a gem in this area. It is so hard to find an authentic restaurant of any sort in the KC area, and we're lucky for the ones we do have. El Pulgarcito is one of those authentic places. The food is delicious and cooked from scratch, the portion sizes are very large, and the service is friendly. I highly recommend giving this place a try.
(5)
Lannette G.

This is a complete and most definite hole in the wall, but it has really good latin food. Try the carne asada and the salvadorian popusas filled with cheese, pork and beans. On the side order platanos maduros. The place looks like an old 60's dinner and is always filled with local salvadorians. After they closed down the only Colombian restaurant in KC this is our new latin food favorite.
(4)
Sharon L.

The food was good but there is no air conditioning and it was 93 outside/inside. It didn't make me feel much like eating. I asked the server about the air and she said they've tried to fix it but can't. They have three very large industrial fans going. VERY uncomfortable. I might go back in the winter. It is a hole-in-the-wall-dive to the 10th degree.
(3)
Amanda D.

Love the pupusas here! I could eat the spicy curdito all by itself. The rice is nice and buttery with chopped vegetables in it. My husband had the carne asada plate served with thick freshly made corn tortillas and was totally smitten with it. The agua de pina rounded out my savory, spicy lunch just perfectly. Definitely don't judge a book by its cover when it comes to el pulgarcito. Delicious!!!!!
(5)
Phil R.

Cheap and amazing. No air conditioning. They didn't sell beer, but talked to the owner and he was more then accommodating;)
(5)
Debbie G.

One of my favorite restaurants in KC Metro - I only wish they had a branch closer to where I live and work. I seriously would eat there or get carry out once a week. The pupusas are delicious and it's great that you are able to help yourself to as much curtido as you'd like. Their version is particularly good. The refried beans, plantains and cream is my favorite side. I wish I could say I've tried more of the menu, but I can't resist the pupusas.
(5)
Jen D.

I was craving tacos the other day (thanks, Billie), and El Pulgarcito was the nearest place I could get my fix. I walked in and looked at the menu and decided that what I actually needed was a pupusa AND a taco. Of course, because who DOESN'T need a pupusa and a taco?? Anywho, I had the pork and cheese pupusa and the carne asada taco to go. The pupusa was hot and the cheese was melty, and it was accompanied by a generous portion of curtido. The taco was also flavorful. Although I felt the wait time was a little long, around 20 minutes, the food was definitely worth the wait, and moderately inexpensive to boot!
(5)
Jo T.

You're done shopping at IKEA...now what? To their cafeteria? Well, today my friend and I were craving something with lots of cheese, lots of carbs (crossed out IKEA). I went on Yelp and saw good reviews of this place, so we decided to check out El Pulgarcito! The exterior of the restaurant was a bit sketch. When we first walked in, my friend and I automatically walked to the counter. Whoops--you actually seat yourself. My friend decided to get the Chiles Rellenos ($9.89), while I got the Pollo con Tajadas (Chicken with Plantains, $10.25; everything on the menu is English and Spanish, but the receipt only shows the Spanish names). The portions are pretty big, and I only ate half of the dish before I was diagnosed with a food coma. There are styrofoam boxes for leftovers, but something told me that my dish wouldn't taste as great if I let it sit...(my plantains were already getting super soggy from the sauce/chicken). Meanwhile, I dug into the papusa ($2.50, Pollo y Queso/Chicken and Cheese) and regretted that I didn't order at least one more. A papusa is almost like a quesadilla, except with a thicker tortilla. It was cheesy and yummy and definitely carb-y (for lack of better words) and it was exactly what I needed! So asides from the really annoying flies in the restaurant that came to see us more than our server (she didn't refill our drinks once), it was a nice little "hole in the wall" to try out. I'll definitely come back for some more papusas in the future.
(4)
Jimmy N.

I'm so close to this place yet it was hidden from me this whole time. El Pulgarcito offers Amazing carne asada, pupusa, and seafood soup. You can't go wrong with the tacos here either. I haven't had anything I haven't like here. I encourage Yelpers to check this place out. Cheers.
(5)
Keri F.

Loved it!! So authentic. Delicious food!!! Do not leave without having a Pupusa!! Tamales are thick and filled with lots of meat. Bistek entree was huge, very tender and very flavorful. The pupusas are a thick filled tortilla. Lots of fillings, spicy slaw isn't too spicy. "Hot"sauce isn't too hot. Fried plantains with dip is a great appetizer.. Will definitely want to come back next time we return to KC!
(5)
Ralphie S.

This has to be one of the ugliest, unkept and boring restaurants that I've been to that actually seems busy and serves great food. They serve pupusas as good as you can buy from a roadside grill in the hills outside San Salvador. Their curtido is not as tart as i like but with a good squeeze of the salsa rojo, it is damn near perfect. They also have great "street tacos" and my buddy had a chicken dish with veggies and rice with a broth so savory he soaked it up with tortillas not to leave any behind. Excellent food in Johnson county shack.
(4)
Adam D.

Picked up a variety of papusas here one day and they were all very good. Will definitely return to try other items on the menu.
(4)
Charlie I.

We love this place, it is a classic "hole in the wall" The decor is non existent but the food is great. We really love the papusas (along with the other entrees). The food was just as good as our favorite Salvadoran restaurant in San Diego. El Pulgarcito, vamos a revolver! Deliciosa!
(5)
Arla J.

Wow. So glad we had lunch here! Fried plantains and I am in heaven! Fast and super super friendly service. Todo bien!
(5)
Cali O.

Was at Ikea and the boyfriend and I wanted to see what was near by. The first place that showed with high ratings was here. We never had pupusa, always heard it was good. So decided to try. Ordered the pork pupusa. Very very tasty. We also got some steak enchiladas and there steak tacos. Sadly, both dishes were over salted. :( but the rice and beans were perfect! Overall, it was good. Will be coming back for there pupusa and maybe try some of there soups. :)
(4)
Katie O.

Pupusas and tamales are as authentic as it gets. Be careful about how much you order though because portion sizes are big so if you want more than one thing I suggest splitting with a friend.
(5)
Bobby N.

My wife and I tried El Pulgarcito for lunch carry out. Based on the reviews of my fellow Yelpers I was pretty confident that we would be happy and our experience here did not disappoint. We ordered an assortment of papusas. We also brought home lingua tacos, and a side of rice and horchata. The rice was tender and flavorful. It had a nice homemade consistency and sheen. I believe that another reviewer referred to this as the lard in the recipe. I refer to is as the "love". lol! I'm typically very critical of rice when eating out, but I really enjoyed this. I'm no stranger to the off cuts of meat, but I couldn't stomach my taco. It was flavorful and fresh, but I found the texture of the tongue off-putting. It is not for me. It had too much tooth to it. Ive never had this before so I don't know if it was the preparation or if this was typical. Regardless, I wont be trying this again anytime soon. The horchata here is very sweet and delicious. It has a nutty flavor that I had not experienced in other recipes. Overall I did enjoy it. We brought home a few different papusas to share including chicharron, chicharron and frijoles, camaron and cheese. Each variety was very delicious and still hot when we got home. The papusa was tender and a nice way to eat your selected filling. My wife was really into the curtido which is a pickled cabbage. I really couldn't get into it, but I could be just really finicky today since everyone else seems to love the stuff. The sauce accompaniments where spiced very well but I couldn't get into them either. There was a green spicy sauce and a red one that was more mild. My wife who considers herself a connoisseur of sauces (she pulls three jars from the fridge when dinner calls for any sort of taco or chile sauce) did enjoy it. Instead of drizzling the sauce over top she dunked each bite in her container of sauce. For me, I just wished it had more body and more tomato flavor. So... four stars from this guy. The papusas where awesome, so was the rice. Curtido and sauce where meh. I'll totally be back. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get here!!
(4)
Fuoco D.

I had a couple tacos and a tostada . Everything was delicious and fresh. I didn't try any of the Salvadoran dishes but the special (tostada de camaron) was fantastic. I highly recommend the lengua tacos and the barbacoa was delicious too. Can't complain about the price either.
(5)
Max C.

Been here many times and the food is home style. One of the best places for asada tacos. They are known for their pupusas (salvadoran meat pockets). It gets busy during meal hours, but the wait is relatively little to none.
(4)
Jason P.

Pulgarcito gets better every time we go!! Much cleaner and hard to beat. I'm a huge fan. Dog gone it I gotta give 'em five stars
(5)
Jocelyn M.

If you have not ever tried a pupusa, El Pulgarcito should move to the top of your list. Notes: they have recently remodeled. The bar-type thing is gone and there are more tables. They painted, I think. They also now keep the curtido refrigerated until your food comes. Even though it is in vinegar/pickled, there is something that makes me feel better about it not sitting at every table all day. :) Get the Revuelta with Chicharron, Loroco...who am I kidding? They are all delish. The bf always gets their street tacos too. I haven't been able to tear myself away from the pupusa, but the tacos come highly recommended.
(5)
Billie H.

I was in Merriam and excited that I was close to Grand Slam Burgers. After getting my windshield repaired I headed for burgerdise! Along the way I noticed the El Pulgarcito sign and remember the talk post that suggested this place often. I turned around and headed back. It is a little confusing when you enter as to how things work. Do you order at the counter? Have a seat? Where is the menu? I saw another group sit down and the lady behind the counter grab some menus and take them over. She quickly came back over and after finding out I was eating there gave me a menu and silverware. After looking over the menu and wanting to try everything, I settled on a pork pupusas, a bean empanada, and a couple of different tacos. I started with the tacos and they were good. Well flavored meat, dressed with only onion and cilantro. They came with some green sauce and a bottle of red sauce was brought out. The sauces were ok, but I prefer a taco bar with many different options like some other places have. The pupusas was pretty good. I ordered the pork and cheese. It was a touch greasy, but in a good way. The cabbage stuff they bring out was pretty darn good. Eating it with the pupusas was amazing. A great blend of flavors. The empanada is not a typical empanada like you might be use to. I ordered one with beans. The beans could have used a little more flavor. They were wrapped with a thick dough and fried. Sugar was sprinkled over the entire thing. My first bite left me thinking, nope, not for me. A couple of more bites and I was ok with the combination. It isn't something I would want to make my main course, but a nice side. Service is efficient and friendly. Soda was not calibrated correctly at all. Overall good food, not the best, but you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Joe G.

This is a quaint place where only the locals show up. I thought giving it a try was worth it. I'll be back to try again. We ordered the creamy chicken plate, which was a tad like getting velveeta cheese on chicken. It was ok. I do think there are probably better dishes. I'll let you know....
(3)
Azile Y.

Fresh hot pupusas! The best I've ever had! And only $2.50 each. Chicken with green plantains dish was outstanding but MASSIVE- I'd recommend slitting it between two people, or enjoying leftovers later. Really friendly service here. I am usually the other non-Latino in here, so you know it's authentic!
(5)
Caroline L.

It might be in a scary area (I was nervous when my boyfriend drove us here for lunch), but the food, what I had, was delicious! I ordered pupusas and Horchata. The pupusas were made fresh and came too the table hot with a side of slaw. A definite improvement over the last place I found in KC that also had pupusas. While the food was delicious, the ambiance definitely needs something more. The tables we were siting at were shaky and quite possibly falling apart. Not to mention the area was somewhat scary....and the restaurant itself was also somewhat dark and dingy. The ambiance isn't enough to discourage me from returning for more yummy pupusas.
(4)
Adam H.

Having lived in central america for two years, El Pulgarcito is a slice of nostalgia every visit. Their pupusas are authentic, which translates to delicious and the maduro plantains satiate the sweet tooth. They serve Mexican street tacos & horchata, as well. Seat yourself, order from the server, pay at the register. Buen provecho!
(5)
Kole M.

Every once in a while you enter a restaurant that has an atmosphere that truly transports you to another country. No customs, no airports. You just step in the door and you know. Sometimes there's a little clue, a sinking suspicion that you're about to embark upon a magical journey. Perhaps a faded blue sign with a cartoon sun and palm tree, the name vanished long ago. It doesn't matter. Inside the blue is less faded, in fact it's brilliant. The dÃ©cor is minimal. Table and chairs low end restaurant supply. But there are children who play between them, fashionable cowboys in booths, and maybe the odd scoundrel. Overseeing it all is a matronly figure sitting behind the cash register. A young woman takes your order and brings you hot, fried plantain chips with a cool tomato dipping sauce. Then returns with fresh, delicious pupusas that you chose at random because the menu was dizzying. You're surprised by the coleslaw that accompanies them, its cool crispness countered with a spicy kick. Finally, the fried chicken dish you chose for its homey familiarity arrives. A strategy that usually backfires pays off like hitting the jackpot. You devour the most amazing fried chicken madly until you crunch down on a little bone and realize you're not in the food court. You will eat a different culture's food on their terms and love it.
(5)
Amanda S.

If you enjoy stopping at a cluttered restaurant, that doesn't look like much from the outside but has wonderful food, you have found the right spot. We picked our own table when we entered. No one was waiting to seat us, but the waiters and waitresses smiled as we came through the door. After we were seated a waiter came over to bring us a menu and take our drink orders. It was difficult to choose what to eat. The man and I decided four street tacos (2 barbacoa and 2 leguna) and four papusas (2 jalapeno & cheese, 2 pork & cheese). The 2 corn shell tacos came out dressed with onion and cilantro; lime, red sauce, and green sauce on the side. The meat on both tacos was extremely tender and flavorful. The papusas were fresh and hot. I had to cut mine into four pieces and let them cool slightly. They were both delicious, but the pork was my favorite. Very tender. And the side of cabbage salad for the papusas was excellent also. This will definitely be on my list to try again. With steaming bowls of soup and too many entrees to choose from, I believe I'll be back soon!
(5)
Jillian C.

I enjoyed the quaint nature of this seeming 'hole in the wall' place. I'm a huge fan of Salvadorian food, especially plantains! The fried green plantains were good, crispy enough to have a bit of crunch but yummy and soft in all the right places. The special sauce that came with them was good. When I asked what was in it, the waitress couldn't tell me (point off there people...). My tablemate decided on a mix of ketchup, mustard, some pureed relish, and maybe some seasoning salt? It was alright, regardless. As for my pupusa, I had the shredded pork. I wanted to get a shrimp or steak one but they both come with cheese and apparently they can't be made without. Made me wonder if they're made fresh or premade? Anyways, my one shredded pork pupusa was alright. It was drier than I wanted and had cracked on both sides. It also was charred on one side. So, yea, I've had better. The curtido was yummy though and perfectly spicy.
(3)
Teague P.

I've been going here for years, not sure why I haven't reviewed it before. It's totally a diner, not a fancy place. I really like it, it's a very good place to have dinner, over and over again. It's right off 35 in old downtown Shawnee, convenient if a person drives south from work in MO (me). Very reasonable prices. The pupusas are excellent (masa pancake or thick tortilla, stuffed with cheese, beans, pork, or a combination of those things). They're a little crisp, corny masa, savory filling. They come with curtido, a chile hot, vinegary cabbage slaw. You can't go wrong with these, and it's usually what I get. One is enough for me with a side of beans, they are quite substantial. But this is a diner, so other things are worth trying. They make several tasty soups, sometimes the broth seems a bit heavy on the msg/salt boullion base but they are still yummy, i like the caldo de pata, a rich beef foot and vegetable soup with lots of carrots, yucca and cabbage in an unexpectedly yellow broth, it's an awfully satisfying meal on a cold winter night when you have worked late and the can of chicken noodle waiting at home depresses you. They also have dinner combos such as chicken in cream sauce and pork ribs, sort of a blue-plate deal which come with beans and rice and pretty large salad garnish. For when you need a square meal. And they serve breakfast - available anytime - I highly recommend the el salvadorean full breakfast, with black beans, fried plantains, eggs and fresh farmer cheese. I've never eaten off the mexican portion of the menu, because why. Generally when I am here there are families having dinner and a lot of single men who look like they have just gotten off work. The service is usually well meaning and friendly, sometimes they don't speak much english but that's never ended up being a problem. Just point to the menu. Kitchen is fast. If you go there in the afternoon they often have some kind of godawful south american metal blasting the dining room, but I haven't experienced that at dinner time.
(4)
Matt S.

After all the great reviews we decided to try it. The appetizers are good, but the meat is definitely sub-par. Service is great and friendly staff.
(3)
Vladimir A.

The pupusas were really oily and I could taste the dirty griller on them. The slaw was bitter and nasty, and the bean empanada was inedible. I did not eat more than a bite of each. I suspect this is a consequence of using the cheapest ingredients possible, taste be darned. 2 stars because I've been only once and the prices are good.
(2)
Christopher O.

Excellent and authentic, this is true home cooking; Central American style. The four stars are necessary, because of the enormous value. If you are not sure what to eat tonight and you are in the mood for something different, then you will relish the experience. If you have already developed a palette for Central American cuisine, then you will love it. The menu does have a few items that will feel close to home for less adventurous patrons. There are some American comfort food and Mexican "a al Frontera" dishes that are offered. Still, it seems to be almost a sin to come here and not dine on the authentic Central American features.
(4)
Ryan W.

It's amazing! Go. Now. Get a pupusa. Or six. You and your mouth will be so pleased with yourselves.
(5)
Karla M.

Pupusas revueltas! YUM! Central American food is similar to Mexican food but doesn't pack the same "punch." One thing you'll notice from Central and South American food is that it's not as spicy as Mexican food other than that it's all very similar. With that said, El Pulgarcito does Salvadorean food right! When you think of Salvadorean food you immediately think Pupusas - if you've never had one, they're sort of a thick tortilla sliced to make a pocket (kinda like a pita but made with corn) and then filled with all kinds of goodness (cheese, chicharron, beans). They're served with a tomato salsa that isn't spicy and pickled cabbage with jalapenos and spices, also not spicy. I like to order a side of fried Yucca, so goooood and very authentic. It's a great little spot - total hole in the wall off I-35 on Johnson Drive. The people are super friendly and this place is never "dead" there's always someone there enjoying the good eats.
(5)
Alice H.

Craving pupusas? I would recommend this spot. No it's not fine dining in any form but damn is it delicious. Quaint restaurant with some authentic El Salvadoran food. Try a variety of them... It's worth it. And soooooo cheap! I got introduced to pupusas a few years ago and I am glad I have a spot to go to if I need to.
(4)
Ashery G.

Walked in and was seated at a table with dirty plates still on it. The server didn't even wipe the table off. Ordered the appetizer combo ($9) - super greasy and bland. The slaw was old looking and brown and tasted like it was made with sink water. The fried plantains were so mushy and greasy I couldn't even eat them. The empanadas were all cracked open and grease was pouring out. Ordered the pan con pollo ($8). The chicken was super tender and the bread was nice and soft. Also tried the bistek ($12) and it was bland and chewy. If you come here, I would just stick with pupusas ($2.50). I would recommend going to El SalvadoreÃ±o in OP for better food and same to cheaper prices.
(2)
Kerry P.

Aside from the great food because really, it is quite delicious... best pork tamale I've had! the cow tongue tacos were delish and the pupusas were OK...I like arepas better... Unfortunately...I just can't like this place as much as I was hoping too. My reasoning is the ambiance - it's sketchy. Don't get me wrong, I too agree the best places are the hole-in-the-walls...but I've came in twice by myself (which was a mistake on my part) and I felt like I was being howled at by wolves. Yuck. My second time going there... it was so bad that I just walked out before I was even able to order. I'll have to go next time in a group... So my rating is based on the food... but the service/ambiance would have to be a 1
(4)
Daniela G.

SO MANY OPTIONS - there is just SO much on this menu that looks good! We decided to stick with the reviews and go with the pupusas and tamales, this was probably the best decision we had made all weekend! Everything was delicious! The pupusas revueltas were delishhhhh! The cabbage slaw has a welcome kick from chili flake that offset some of the creamy/heaviness of the meal. The tamales, while cooked in a banana leaf rather than a corn husk like their Mexican counterpart, were stuffed full of meat and incredibly moist. I would definitely come back, this time we'll explore the menu a bit further.
(4)
Laura D.

Loved it! Not a fancy place by any means but really good food that won't break the bank. My daughter and husband loves papusa and enjoyed El Pulgarcito's rendition. The slaw Is really good as well. This is a dive spot but I loved the plaintais and the fish taco's are really good. Come hungry but don't expect the ambiance to be upscale. This place is a dive certainly. Friendly staff. Good food. Local Dive.
(4)
Adam S.

I read the great reviews before going and had to see for myself. Pulling into the parking lot the curb appeal isn't great, which in my experience means next to nothing. Some of the best food can be found in places that aren't much to look at. Anyway, its definitely not a Mexican restaurant, so if you are looking for a breakfast burrito type place, this isn't the place. The food is amazing!! Everything comes with slaw that I could eat as my main course. It's unlike anything I've ever had. Order the papusa's - pork was amazing! They are cheap and one is almost enough for one person. It's a good place to order several different things and share.
(5)
Darius R.

Great little dive with great food. Came in on a Monday night and it was empty. But had a great meal. Will be back.
(4)
Alisa C.

Delicious!!! This place is absolutely fantastic! If you've never had Salvadorian food before, this is the place to go! They serve authentic pupusas, which is basically like 2 tortillas stuck together with a filling inside (like beans, cheese, pork, etc) that is fried. It's inexpensive (~$5 for 2 pupusas) and very filling! The pupusas are also served with this spicy cabbage slaw on the side and you can add this watered down salsa sace on it as well (definitely do that people to get the full experience!). I've also tried the tamales here and they are very tasty as well, but they're not like your traditional tamales. Beef tongue tacos are also tasty, but they are very small and they are about the same price as a pupusa. The fresh fruit milkshakes are also very good too! Not too sweet and you can taste the fresh fruit as well (it's not doused in sugar like at some places). Pros: -Staff there are very friendly and very quick -Food is always piping hot and delicious -It's very reasonably priced! (Even poor med students like me can afford it!) Cons: -It's not very appealing from the outside and the area looks a bit shady (but they have recently renovated the inside and it looks great with the coral-colored walls now) -There is NO AIR CONDITIONING....so it is VERY HOT inside on those muggy spring/summer days -You have to go up to the counter to pay for your food.....made the mistake the first time of just waiting for the waitress to bring the bill until I watched what some of the locals did Why I gave it a 4...... If it was possible, I would have totally given El Pulgarcito 4.5 stars. Food is AMAZING (I stop by about every month!), but I just wish that it was a little cooler inside on those hot summer days
(4)

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Address : 5921 Merriam Dr
Shawnee, KS, 66203
Phone (913) 384-3887
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes

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El Pulgarcito

5921 Merriam Dr, Shawnee, KS, 66203

El Pulgarcito Menu

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