Eliza M.

Ya got a hankering for some seriously delicious Latin American food? Want to taste a yummy pupusa? Got some time to kill to sit around, watch some futbol, and enjoy a delicious meal? Tu Casa is a local fave and slowly finding its footing among tourists. The staff are quite friendly and the food is delicious. I often get the taquitos or the chicken mole, hubs usually gets a burrito. We ALWAYS get pupusas, a traditional Salvadoran dish. Be forewarned - this is leisurely, Latin American eating at its finest. You will have to wait for your food, sometimes it feels like a long wait. If you know that going into it, you'll be fine. Just don't expect hop-to-all-we-need-to-do-is-reheat-a-plate-of-food speedy service. This food is made, as you order it, in the amount of time it will take. If you're like me, you just like sitting and listening to the families all speaking in Spanish, watching some futbol on the tiny TV in the corner. They make their green salsa every single day. It's wonderful. Also - closed on Saturdays!

Anh T.

Hidden little germ in Portland. Not a nice classy restaurant but definitely a place for good and local good. The pupusa is interesting. It would taste really plain on its own but once you add the pickle veggie that comes with it and the sauce (LORD the sauce), it tastes so good. Their portion for food is huge! Overall, I like the place and have been a regular there already.

Ashley T.

NOM! At the looks of the place it's a shack. But the food is amazing and really traditional. SO good!

Becky M.

I really wanted to love this place. Looked a bit sketchy from the outside, had odd decorations and cafeteria-style chairs with a tv playing football. All extremely promising things in my book. The place had a family-owned vibe and the chef herself brought the food out. I loved everything about all of this, but the food fell short... I could tell that it was home cooked and fresh but was either a bit odd or nothing special. Per other reviews got the pupusas, which were good, but really just some fancy fried cheese. The fried plantains were also again good, but not "need to go back and get more" good. Vegetarian taco included lettuce, sautéed broccoli and zucchini? Wasn't bad but was just odd... Chips and salsa were simply not good, tasted like both came from a grocery store. Hot sauces also did not knock my socks off with any other flavor besides HOT. I love a good flavored hot sauce. All of the food just seemed to lack flavor.. Including the fish tacos. Again, I really wanted to LOVE this place because nothing beats a good family owned, mildly awkward, non-touristy restaurant... But really it's all about the food.

Dawn T.

Eager to try foods outside of American cuisine all the time, I picked the right dinner companion to enjoy foods from Salvador with since she's from Bolivia and certainly understood the menu and provided gentle guidance. Decidedly casual and authentic, there's no question this is a family affair where Spanish is the primary language. Another friend had recommended highly the Horchata, a sweet cold milk drink with spices reminiscent of cookies. Great idea, it was terrific, I will remember this and order it on every visit. The food was ample and came from the kitchen in a reasonable amount of time. The seating and acoustics do not allow for much privacy so we conducted what should probably have been a more exclusive conversation with the hope that the diners next to us were disinterested in our conversation. Way to much food for the two of us, we packed up a large take home container, divvied up the the $28 bill and were on our way in under an hour. The longest wait was for the bill which never came, I had to approach the counter to ask for it, then approach the counter again to pay. My dinner companion informed me that it is customary to let the diners stay as long as they want and not to interrupt. Hmm, I would have preferred not to have to approach the counter, but overall - not a big deal. The price was outstanding for the quantity and quality of the food we got, the service was appropriate for the genre of restaurant, and the timing made me smile. The only thing that would have made this a better experience for me might have been a more engaging atmosphere.

Ryan J.

Montangero or how ever you spell it. Unreal and add a few papusas. I have been coming here for years. It's the best of the best in Portland.

Billy Z.

Of the variety of restaurants I have tried since moving to Maine 4 months ago, Tu Casa was absolutely amazing. The food was wonderful, and the employees are friendly. I came with a guest too that agreed the food was authentic and worth coming back for more. A parking lot is available with on street parking too. There is outdoor and indoor seating for whichever you prefer. The prices are fine, especially because it's hard to find Latin places in the area serving up authentic style cuisine. I would definitely come back and recommend this to people I know! Don't hesitate to come

Matthew B.

No frills dining areas do not scare me. In fact, I tend to be a bit more optimistic when a restaurant remains open without depending heavily on environment or location. Tu Casa proved my point. The seating was simple and sort of retro without trying but the food was fresh, delicious and undeniably traditional. If you're new to the foods of El Salvadoran start out with a puposa. They're cornmeal filled with cheese. My not too open minded about food dad was even convinced to try one when we compared it to a "cornbread grilled cheese" and he LOVED it. They also make them with cheese and bean or cheese and meat. Simple, handmade and delicious. They give you some fresh chopped cabbage and hot sauce to spice it up nicely. I'm also a fan of the fried plantains (of the ripened variety.) They're sweet and could almost substitute a dessert. Super affordable prices. The futbol match kept us entertained as we waited for the food. Remember, good food is worth waiting for. They also have an outside seating area with umbrellas which is nice during the warmer months. A small onsite parking lot makes for convenience as well.

Lester L.

Tasty, fresh and inexpensive Central American. Get the lengua tacos! (Not on the English menu)

Marcus W.

Ordered pupusa de loroco, pupusa revuelta, bistec encebollado and the Plato montanero. Everything was absolutely delicious. The beef was very flavorful and the pupusas were perfect. The service was great, came in at a slower time of the day. The food was very authentic. Several Salvadorians came in to order take out. A must try. Portions are great too.

Gary B.

I just finished off the Plato Montanero and I am satisfied and delighted. I have been here twice and twice I have not been disappointed . I was the only one in the restaurant at 5pm on a Sunday and they brought my food out in timely fashion. All the food was hot and delicious. Still trying to figure out if it's counter service or table service when you order, either way you're going to get a great meal !

Christina B.

I love Tu Casa! The pupusas, tamales, enchiladas are always perfect. It can be hard to find spicy food in Maine, but this place has good salsas to increase the heat. This is a family run operation, which means service can slow down when they get busy. The outdoor patio is great in nice weather, and parking in this part of town is easier than other Portland neighborhoods. The only thing I don't like are the hours- they close pretty early and are never open on Saturdays. As a family business, I can't fault them too much for needing time off.

Jimmy H.

Great find! My girlfriend is Hispanic and gives this a two thumbs up for their food and pupusas. I live the whole fried tilapia!

Abby B.

Great friendly service. Food was delicious and too much for one meal. Will come here again.

Trisha C.

When my friend suggested we go here I was a little hesitant, but I had no reason to be. Food was delicious and inexpensive. It did take a little while to cook, but I didn't have a problem with that, it was worth the wait.

Forest K.

I used to eat Pupusas three days a week in San Francisco. I haven't eaten Salvadorian food this good in a few years.

J P.

Authentic salvadoreñ food. I had their traditional food such as the papusas and tamales and liquados. I do not know how their mexican food is.

Cassie M.

Tu Casa is incredibly delicious. Great vegetarian options, friendly people, lovely deck. Perfect.

Christian S.

II got food poisoning here!! I was violently ill. DO NOT EAT HERE!

Asher S.

Delicious, authentic Latin food... the Pupusas are amazing and I have tried quite a few items on the menu but am addicted to the Enchiladas Salvadorena con pollo... Yum!!!

Apolinaras S.

Good honest food. Pupusas, tacitos with lengua, chicken enchiladas are all good.

Tiffany B.

Finally back in New England and we drove 3 1/2 hours to have lunch here! As good as it always is! So good, we ordered 4 (yes 4) to take with us back to Connecticut! Sadly, I think passenger man left one of the bags of food on the roof of the car or in our hotel room (and dangit - it was the bag that had the cups of their habenero sauce!) That is some good stuff! Day later and I'm enjoying my take out! Wish I had some El Yucateco Salsa Picante de Chile Habanero in my fridge. We love you Tu Casa! Well worth the drive!

Dino R.

Stay away. For tourists, slackers, and no nothing hipsters only. No one in this place knows what food is. I ordered the Plato Mananero...steak, plantanes, avocado, with rice and beans. The most $$expensive$$ item on the menu. I asked for the steak rare. I GOT shoe leather which had been pre-cooked -- I got there at 5:45pm!!! -- and a plantan that had been heated in a micro wave. There should be a warning label on this S#%tHOLE.

Craig B.

I loved it and thought it was great Latin food for the Portland area. Since I've moved here, I have been very disappointed in the Latin selection, but this made me happy. I say give it a shot!

Alex K.

Food can take a while, but there's nothing better than a beer and a plato montanero on a summer night. Steak is always well-done, but delicious. Don't hold back on the hot sauce.

Cory S.

I want to agree with Dino and tell you to stay away, to not come here. But that's because I want this little gem all to myself and the small community of peeps who love it. The funny thing is, so many are turned off by the location, the atmosphere, the whatever, that this place will never blow up with a line out the door. And that's fine by me. Call ahead and order to go. Wait 30 minutes.

Since I've had pupusas in El Salvador and Honduras, when I heard there was a pupusería in Portland, Maine, I just had to mosey on down south to check it out. Am very glad I did. For those not in the know (and most who are informed are either Central American or gringos who go adventuring in this part of the world), a pupusa is a round patty of masa that is filled with maybe cheese, maybe meet, or maybe a combination of the two. It is very different in Salvador or Honduras, but the pupusas I had in Portland, Maine, were a good effort at reconstructing the original dish. Or maybe I was nostalgic for some good Central American cooking This time I was not concerned about the santitation and in fact, while the exterior of Tu Casa is very modest and simple Maine, the interior is clean and cozy. The fellow at the counter did look a bit uninterested and was distant, even though I automatically ordered in Spanish. A gringa apparently can't speak the language even if she's speaking it to you but I persisted, and at one point he kind of smiled. I'm used to this, because in the US many latinos are protective of their culture and do not understand others are simply wanting to communicate normally. They are surprised when not meant with the English Only mentality. I was pretty much the only non-latina in the place, but that was fine. There was CNN en español to watch and clearly locals stop in for a meal that resembles their home cuisine. The menu has a good variety of typical dishes besides the pupusa - such as tamales and more. Also, I recommend the jugo de marañón, which was good although it is doubtful that it was made on the premises. Not sure the marañón fruit is often imported to the US. What was fun for the language-oriented person was to read through the menu and see how many errors it had, not just in English but in Spanish. No offense meant, but it was the work of someone who was not used to writing in his or her native language. There was an impulse to take out the red pen and make corrections, but that was suppressed. The pupusas (mine were queso con loroco) were $1.75 each and with the juice, the meal was under $6. Other dished were also inexpensive and on a second trip I plan to check them out. This could be a place to go on a regular basis, practice Spanish if you feel so inclined, and especially to get a bead on the local Hispanic immigrant population. One gets the sense that the regulars would eventually try to get to know you, even if you're a gring@. Meanwhile, if dining unaccompanied, there's always the Spanish TV and if you're lucky you'll see handyman Bob Vila, who is hispanic but doesn't know the language trying to make a sales pitch to those who do, in a heavy gringo accent with lack of noun/adjective agreement. Lots of cultural levels in this small space. Probably as much a reason to go to Tu Casa as the good prices and Latin American menu.

Jill M.

Really really good food. Super affordable. Everything on the menu is kind of the same, we had "smoothies" (sort of milkshake-esque) and papusas and fried plantains, then enchiladas, and it was enough for a second dinner later. The sit-down area is low key and less like a restaurant than a sort of waiting room kind of place. That's fine, fits the price range, but the fresh and authentic food makes you feel like you're somewhere fancier. Only problem was a really long wait, but whatever, I would go back for sure.

Rebecca B.

I absolutely love this place. But I usually stuff my face so much here that I always say never again. The portions are big and it's very filling. The atmosphere is very casual and family friendly. Best thing I've had is the Chicken Enchiladas Salvadorenas. The first time I had those it was a revelation because as most of you know Portland has NO good Latin American restaurants. The papusas are also great. If you are bringing your kids, be sure to get them a smoothie...which is more of a milkshake. They also have great plantains. If you are looking for an authentic experience and you are very hungry, you must try this place. It's worth the sometimes long wait, and the grease.

Sara M.

So deliciously refreshing and authentic! Everything on the menu is delicious, you cannot go wrong. Prices are more then fair. Try one of the yummy smoothies, they also have beer.

Stanley H.

It was alright, decent portion size, good taste, quiet and literally cold setting

Ashley M.

This is my most favorite place in the whole city. It's so authentic, so simple, so cheap and so delicious. It can take some time to get your food but it's worth the wait. Try a pupusa revulta, it'll blow your mind. Even something simple like the quesadilla has so much flavor. Check it out if you're in the mood for something a little different.

K M.

Very tasty pupusas (Salvadorean specialty). Great plantanos & sour cream. Horchata was good too. Hole in the wall. Off the beaten track but worth a detour. A few off-street parking spots next door, across the street from Veteran's Services.

Jason P.

We went to this great little hole in the wall El Salvadoran restaurant for lunch, based on the recommendation from Bon Apetit... They got that one right. It isn't in the ritzy touristy part of town... In fact, it's across the street from the Veterans Services building. Nothing fancy, just tables and chairs similar to an old 80's Holiday Inn banquet hall, with some great wall murals. But the food is great and hearty. My girlfriend had the three soft chicken tacos, no matter how much I tried to pester her into MY second choice meal of the chicken enchilada with mole. The tortillas were perfectly delicious. The chicken nicely marinated. As a whole, tasty, but not outrageously so . I, on the other hand, had the Plato Montanero... Red Beans and Rice, topped with half a Sweet Plantain -- alongside a deliciously marinated and seared piece of flank or skirt steak, much like a Mexican Carne Asada, with avocado atop. Add drizzles from the two hot salsas on the table in maple syrup carafes, and I was in a Latin-inspired heaven: Slurping down my Negro Modelo with lime, and munching through my too-quickly depleting lunch. My mouth waters. All the better? Paying the $13 bill for two at the end of our mighty-tasty meal.

at S.

Great, inexpensive taquitas, burritos, enchiladas, you name it. The pupusas are outstanding. Good salsa, good horchata... no complaints.

Great restaurant. Pleasant ambiance.

AJ P.

Great salvadoran food. But closing at 6pm on Friday nights?!?!?! I don't even get out of work that early on any weeknight. Their papusas are nice and cheesy. Adding a little salsa, especially the neon green habanero stuff, adds just enough heat. If you're really hungry get the Plato Montenegro plate: huge slice of beefsteak, rice, beans, fried plantain, and some avocado.

Allan G.

Was in the neighborhood after finishing a tough mudder race with a friend and comming from Boston it was our first time in Portland so didn't know what was good so thought we could go for a nice filling spanish meal. Now i've been to my fair share of Mexican/Salvadorian resturants and this place, while not having the best decor, had some of the best pupusas ive ever had. Loved how crispy they were which is different than im used to. Got 2 pupusas and a steak plate. Steak was nice and soft and rice and beans were good too. Was starving and still couldnt finish my meal. Would recommend this place if your looking for a good central american meal.

Kelly A.

Ok, so I live in the outskirts of Boston, where Salvadorian food abounds, and I have several Salvadorian friends who have shared with me their authentic cooking. I am no novice to Salvadorian food, is what I'm saying. So imagine my surprise to find amazing Salvadorian food in MAINE! I did not think of Maine as a place to find authentic ethnic foods, but seriously, this place was no joke. Their dishes are the real freaking deal. Our order included: horchata, pupusas, plantains, a burrito, and a taquito plate. Had a noticed the special 'pastelito' sign before we had ordered, I would have ordered that too. Oh, and everything we ordered was vegetarian. And also DELICIOUS. The pupusas, oh the pupusas! They were so delicious that I'm getting hungry just thinking of them. Everything was good. And the service was friendly to boot. Plus they had the women's gold medal hockey game on, so basically, this lunch could not have gotten any better. It was the perfect lunch.

Linda Y.

I came in on a Sunday just before the lunch rush at noon. Louis was my server and he was very friendly. The horchata and enchiladas salvadorenas were delicious. The enchiladas salvadorenas looked like two freshly fried tostadas topped with shredded chicken and a cabbage slaw. Red and green sauce were included on the side in little dispensers. The portion size was very generous and came with rice and pureed beans. The prices were very reasonable! Next time I will come back for the pupusas and tamales.

Sonia C.

Authentic Salvadorean food!! The papusas were awesome !! The place is small and clean. The service was friendly and prices were reasonable. Would definitely go there again.

TJ S.

Most people will purport this as THE place to go for "Mexican" food in Portland. Though it is technically Salvadorian, they have many variations that are Mexican inspired and as well have Mexican dishes along with Mexican-American dishes. It looks legit from the outside, and as well the inside, and has many locals eating there so you hope for maybe a chance of getting something good. Not so. Weird service, food that is all the same shade of white. This place may be good if you've never had legit food of this ilk before.

James B.

Unforgettable, delicious and tasty food. It's not fast though, be prepared to wait. No alcohol as of 2013.

Stickman J.

Great, reasonably priced latino food. Not as quick as you'd think but that's a good thing. I haven't tried the whole fish. Some interesting shakes. Lots of veggie options. Eat in if you like soccer on tv.

Brent W.

A lot of older reviews here so maybe that's the problem. We walked into this place when Sillys up the street was closed. We didn't try the pupusas but if they are anything like the food we did have I'm not upset. Food was incredibly slow and either bad or just simply not good. Never again. Ah, not cheap either as some other older reviews have said.

Stephen P.

Tu Casa quickly made my favorites list around Portland. If you've never had papusas you must try them. Pancake like in appearance, they are filled with cheese and herbs or meat. They come with pickled cabbage, and two sauces on the side that can be added according to taste. The combination of the cabbage and sauces is heavenly. I only wish they had them filled with beans which is how I was introduced to papusas in Belize (this may not be traditional). The rice and beans is also terrific as is the enchiladas with mole sauce. Prices are very reasonable as well. The atmosphere is a little austere - it feels like you could be in a small family restaurant in El Salvador, but that just adds to the charm. Service can be slow so avoid if you are in a hurry and they are closed Saturdays which is odd. Despite the shortcomings I love this place and would give it 6 stars if I could!

Jennifer B.

pupusas! i love them! AND the fish tacos put el rayo to shame! fresh food (ingredients and preparation) friendly service, not fast... but so worth waiting for!

Sean B.

I was introduced to this place by accident, upon walking out of the world Market across the street so many times, I finally decided to go in. I was not the only white person and my basic spanish language was welcomed by the owners. Friendly, clean, good food ample portions.