Lunch Ladies: El Salvador Restaurant a rare find
The Lunch Ladies loved their recent visit to El Salvador Restaurant in Provo.
Gabby's meal at El Salvador Restaurant included Pupusas and Pastelitos.
Jennette's meal of Pollo Encebollado and Pupusas Revueltas at El Salvador Restaurant in Provo.
Janell's meal of Carne Asada and Pupusa Revuelta at El Salvador Restaurant in Provo.
Sometimes in life you have to take chances. You have to venture out on an unsturdy, somewhat shaky limb with bold confidence even if you are not exactly sure of the conventional prudence behind this gamble.
Often these audacious undertakings, when done with a defiant gleam in your eyes and an unflinching resiliency in your step, yield brilliant and wonderful results. This is how I felt over the last few months, every time I had to defend the many ridiculers who did not believe that my beloved Broncos would both make it to and win the recent Super Bowl.
Every time I took the chance of more and more definitively proclaiming their upcoming victory, I knew I was stepping out further and further on that shaky limb, but I did it. Every time. With pride. With conviction. The mocking increased, the Cam Newton and Panthers’ defensive stats flowed, but I stood by Peyton Manning, increasing my daring nature. I proclaimed that DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller would have the game of their lives, and made sure all in my circle knew my thoughts, leaving me with no room to back down.
Well, as most humans, sports fan or non-alike know, my payoff was big. My hometown Broncos won with glory. Their passion rewarded my risk, and the chance I took of publicly, and I mean publicly, preaching their virtues, was fruitfully rewarded. So, yes, sometimes gambling on the dark horse is the way to go.
This was definitely seen on our recent lunch hour. The Lunch Ladies wanted to try somewhere completely new. Somewhere that seemed like a hidden gem longshot. We realized that we lived by El Salvador, a very small restaurant on Center Street in Provo, not on the newly remodeled blocks with all their glamour and newly manicured facades, but the older side by 5th West.
We had, in all honestly, constantly overlooked this restaurant due to its older looking exterior and fold up picnic style tables inside. But we were wrong to do so, and fortunately we finally decided to try this Pupuseria and its authentic Salvadorian food. And man, were we glad we did!
Immediately when we entered we had to hurry and snag the last available table. This place was hopping with what seemed like regulars, people in the know who had not ignored the virtues of this eatery like we had for years, metaphoric Broncos fans.
I’m not going to lie; I inwardly chastised myself as I perused the bilingual menu, sensing I had needlessly been missing out. We contemplated the many tasty authentic options; I personally was excited at the many corn-based selections, and the chance to have pupusas, which I love! We discussed what everyone was getting, and then placed our orders.
Here is what the Lunch Ladies went with:
Jennette: Pollo Encebollado $8.00, Pupusas Revueltas (Pork and Cheese) — $1.60
Sometimes you just crave some good homecooked food served in a friendly, homey environment. Well that is exactly what I needed, and that is what I found at El Salvador. The staff is very friendly and treated us like we were old friends stopping by for lunch. I decided to try Pollo Encebollado and I couldn’t pass up on a famous pupusa. My lunch was a thigh and leg of chicken on the bone topped with onions, tomatoes and green peppers all served with rice and refried black beans. The pupusa was filled with pork and cheese. All combined, my lunch was fantastic. I was able to provide my fellow Lunch Ladies with a little chuckle as I tried to pronounce the name of my lunch as we checked out. I guess I need more practice. El Salvador does serve Diet Coke in a can.
Janell: Carne Asada $8.00, Pupusa Revuelta (Pork and cheese) — $1.60
With the closing of my favorite restaurant, I have been on the lookout for a replacement. I think that I have found a contender. I ordered Carne Asada, which was a large piece of steak. It was accompanied with a large amount of rice and refried black beans. It also came with a side of fluffy, soft corn tortillas. With the option of creating each bite with uniqueness, it made for a surprising flavorful lunch experience. Being able to tear off a piece of tortilla and then add the right amount of rice, beans, and a piece of steak made for a filling and satisfying bite. I also ordered a pupusa with cheese and pork. It was a nice complement to my simple lunch. The shredded pork and cheese surrounded by the homemade corn tortilla created a well-rounded lunch that anyone can enjoy.
Gabby: Pupusa Revuelta (Pork and Cheese) — $1.60, Pupusa de Queso con Frijoles (Cheese and Beans) — $1.60, Pastelitos con Carne de Puerco (Pork) — $4.00
So deciding what to order was rather difficult for me. Ever since my brother came back from his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Venezuela, he would cook for me and my family with masa flour. So I am a big fan of fried, corn flour dishes. I finally decided on two pupusas and pastelitos. So first, let me tell you about the delicious pastelitos. They are similar to empanadas. They are salted corn pies filled with pork, potatoes, carrots, onions and tasty seasonings. The outsides are super crispy from being deep fried. You get two for $4. A great deal! Now for the star of the show, the pupusas. These are stuffed homemade corn tortillas. Please don’t misunderstand, not filled tortillas, but plump, stuffed in the middle of the actual tortilla itself. They are soooo good! They use a white cheese that melts right into the tortilla; this combined with black refried beans is such a great combo. The salty flavorful pork with the cheese was also fantastic. I probably could have been fine with getting either the pupusas or the pastelitos, but I’m glad I tried both! Que sabroso!
The Lunch Ladies more than enjoyed our authentic lunch at El Salvador Restaurant; we officially added it to our permanent lunch rotation. We took a chance on a complete underdog and are glad we did! And though we might not be able to award El Salvador the Vince Lombardi trophy, we would like to give them a standing ovation, and we definitely have to give the pupusas the honor of MVP!
El Salvador Restaurant — 332 W. Center St. Provo. Open Monday and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Closed Wednesdays.)