Armando's Place

This restaurant's Yelp profile is misleading - Armando's Place is actually a Salvadoran restaurant, not Mexican. I tried to change its cuisine in the profile settings to reflect this, but "Latin American" is the closest match I could find, unfortunately.

Note to Yelp tech dudes: please add "Salvadoran" as a cuisine option for restaurant listings!

Anyway, I tried this place recently and found the pupusas to be on point, just as Hank J. had mentioned. Definitely the best ones I've eaten thus far in NJ and among the best in the Greater NYC area. They're made to order (be patient, as it takes 15-20 minutes) and emerge from the kitchen hot, fresh, non-greasy, and surprisingly light. This was a pleasant contrast to most of the other pupusas I've eaten in the NYC area, which have been rubbery, greasy, and heavy.

I didn't get to try anything else on their menu, but would like to come back for their breakfast or lunch/dinner entrees. It seems that they have a happy hour from 7-9pm, so maybe I'll stop by during that time.

One huge caveat:
This place definitely isn't user friendly for the average gringo. First of all, it's located on a random side street in a very obscure, out-of-the-way neighborhood of Elizabeth. The exterior windows are tinted dark, so the place looks very sketchy from the outside, as if it's a front for an illegal business. And then once you enter, everyone stops what they're doing and stares at you momentarily if you're an obvious outsider like myself.

The waitresses only speak Spanish, so if you don't speak the language, you'll have to do a lot of pointing and gesturing at the menu. And the interior is extremely bare-bones and divey, adding to the potential discomfort. There's a TV playing Latin programs and a jukebox with Spanish music tunes, which is nice if only because it gives you something to look at while you sit there uncomfortably.

But no worries - if you're an adventurous eater like myself who enjoys checking out authentic ethnic restaurants, things like these come with the territory. Come with an open mind, and you'll probably agree with me that this place is a real find.

This place is very solid.. Though, I have only ordered a few items off the menu, i have been eating here for the last few years...

Firstly, they have excellent pupusas.. There are 4 or 5 people in town selling them but, these are clearly the best.. Made to order, covered with a coleslaw and some hot sauce.. Technically perfect...

I have also ordered there breafast items.. The typical platter which comes with beans, fried plaintains, crema, and tortillas is a hearty breakfast.. And it's so inexpensive..

I also really like there fried tacos served with beef.. You get three huge tacos for like 6 bucks.. Way more than you should eat..

There daily specials are very inexpensive.. Today was chicken stew with fried yucca, salad, rice, and chicken soup all for 7.50 bucks,...  

There chicken soup which at first seems pricey at 7 dollars is a wonderful bargain.. You get a whole drumstick in the soup, boiled yucca, chayote, rice, noodles, huge amounts of carrots.. This all served in a quart container.. On the side you are also given a plate of rice and some bread.. The soup is a perfectly made stock.. No cubes of chicken flavoring going into that..

The food is good, the prices are cheap...

You must speak Spanish though.. That's the only issue.