I REALLY wanted to like this place because it was my first time visiting Florida and I wanted to leave with a good impression of the food. Â Unfortunately, I've had better pupusas and rice in my hometown of Los Angeles. Â The pupusas lacked flavor and so did the rice. Â We were the only customers in this establishment the entire time we ate.
Parking is free and shared with a couple other restaurants.
After a 5-star review and at least a good half-dozen meals here, this last visit was bitterly disappointing to the point where I probably will not return. Â Really sad because I've been raving about this place to nearly everyone I know. Â Here's the story: Â On our (literally) last visit to El Guanaco, we saw an empty booth and quickly made a beeline for it, eager for yet another delicious meal. Â (Now, to reiterate, this is not our first time here, and, granted, we don't expect everyone to know who we are, but, coming here at least a half-dozen times you'd expect a modicum amount of recognition. Â Nada.) Â So, we take a booth. Â This particular evening, I note that a particular waitress is the waitress-du-noir -- one that wasn't particularly friendly our last encounter with her. Â (Granted, this is a Latin joint, so I don't expect anyone there to be palsy-walsy with us, esp. since we speak minimal Spanish, despite my Spanish surname; however, this particular gal (from what we've noticed) is especially friendly with her Spanish-speaking customers (which is just about everyone else) and on the cold side with our table. Â That said, that was our first and only encounter with this gal the last time around.) Â Tonight, this gal's customer service attitude apparently has not changed. Â She's chit-chatting with all the other tables, and leaves us sitting there for at least five minutes before she finally comes over to acknowledge us with menus. Â Okay, not the best start, and I'm feeling the negative vibes radiating off of her. Â She takes our order for drinks, then returns to take our meal orders. Â (This evening is a particularly busy night in the kitchen, as I note that they're working frantically on a number of take-out orders, as well as the orders for those of us seated in-store. Â Naturally, I'm expecting our meals to take a little longer than usual.) Â As the minutes start to tick away, and we're sitting there with growling stomachs both, I'm expecting our waitress to bring out the fresh tortilla chips and salsa that is normally de rigueur at this restaurant. Â She's having a fine ol' time with other Spanish-speaking customers, but nary a look our way. Â A good 15 minutes have now passed. Â By now, we are both at the irritation point. Â I decide to sit in my booth facing the outside, while strumming my fingers on top of the booth bench -- pretty much just to maybe get a little attention from our wayward waitress. Â Nada! Â 20 minutes. Â I finally, as she walks by our table, ask her if we don't get any chips this evening. Â She says to me: Â "Oh, we're all out of chips." Â Let's just say that I could BARELY contain myself...!!! Â I asked her if maybe she could've told us that when taking our order? Â She simply looks at me as if she doesn't speak English. Â From that point, we got up to pay for our sodas, and a minor ruckus ensued because, ironically, she said that our orders were ready. Â NO THANKS!!! Â It's hasta la vista, baby, to El Guanaco for us...!!! Â (It's such a shame, too, because we really liked the owner, as she was so generous welcoming us there upon our first visit....) Â :(
Review Source:I'm a fan of this place. Growing up in Southern California, I was spoiled with great Mexican food on every corner. Â South Florida is lacking in this area so when I find something good, I'm really grateful.
Casual, tasty and friendly. Price is a bargain. Â Reminds me of El Tarasco in Hermosa Beach.
First time visiting, I decided I'd try a few items to get a good feel for the place. Â Bean and cheese papusa was pretty good, the chorizo taco was fine, but the al pastor taco was ridiculous! Â 5 stars just for that alone. Â My buddy got the sopes, which were also very good (and tastier than both the papusa and the chorizo) but when I go back there is no reason for me to get anything but al pastor! Â I recently moved out here from California, and until I came across this delicious bbq pork I hadn't felt like my craving had been met. PS the salsas have some zing (in a good way)!
Review Source:Pupusas. Now if you're of hispanic descent but not from El Salvador, winner for coolest country name ever btw, and you don't snicker and giggle at the sound of that word, there's something wrong with you. Let me tell ya, these pupusas are nothing to laugh at. More like, drool at. Order those, cause my wife and I daydream about these things now. The ones with cheese and lorocco. Also, if available get a big glass of refresco de chan, cause you'll love this sweet yet refreshing and unique drink made from a tree. You also won't complain at the service, the people in there are super accommodating and nice, they explained everything and brought everything out with a smile on their face. Speaking of smiles, the burrito my wife had and the tacos I had were great! Packed full of flavor. This little place has a place near and dear to my heart and I'd recommend it to anyone! Now go get your pupusa on! (chuckle...hehe...oh not funny) :)
Review Source:It baffles me when a Latin restaurant doesn't know how to prepare something as basic to the cuisine as rice. Â Their rice was inedible, and that was the consensus of everyone (5) in our group. Â It was dreadful converted rice with peculiar spices, that hadn't been cooked completely. Â The handmade tortillas and pupusas, on the other hand, were very good. Â Two in our group ordered bistec and found it inferior to many other Latin restaurants in Broward County. Â The oxtail special, which three of us had, was pretty good and a bargain at $8.75. Â A very sweet lady took our orders and served us our food. Â There were only two other customers on a Saturday night.
I guess I might go back for pupusas, but other than that I'll pass on El Guanaco. 3 stars, if the rice had been edible and at least average.
This restaurant is simply incredible. From the hand made tortillas (they literally shape and make the tortillas from scratch) to the fantastic refried beans, to their aguas frescas (PASSION FRUIT!) this establishment will take you back to mama's kitchen in Mexico. The service was as excellent as their perfectly seasoned guacamole. Don't let the off-the-beaten-path locale drive you away from this place, you are in for a treat! Their dessert is just too good as well.
Review Source:Wow! I have been to this place 3 times now. The people here are so nice and willing to accomadate anything you ask for. The food here is out of this world, with the freshest of ingredients. Make sure you order the Papusa. They are like pitas filled with deliciousness. If you like queso dip with your chips, you have found the best place for it. Order the queso with chorizo, and youll want to eat just that. When I came to this place they did not serve alcohol because they didn't have their license for it, Yet. They told me they were working on it. It has been a couple months since I have been back, but by talking about it now gives me the urge to go back for lunch today. Im sooo excited. Im a huge foodie who loves Mexican food. They have authentic Mexican/Central American food. I try something new everytime I go. Their juice drinks are so natural and tasty. They taste like fresh squeezed fruit made just for you. I walk away from this establishment with a smile on my face and a full belly everytime. If you enjoy REAL Central American food, come here. They will give you memories you'll never regret.
Review Source:omg I dream of the horchata and tacos here. I came here starving and ordered way too much food but ate it for bfast the next day, yea nothing beats tacos and pupusas for bfast! Â Yuca con Chicharron y Cuajada, delicious, Revueltas con Chicharron pupusa, awesome, 3 tacos al pastor, chorizo and steak with rice and beans, fresh salsa. I could seriously tear some deliciousness right now. its a small stand alone place, a lil warm inside, nice friendly staff
Review Source:Ok, found this place while attending a business training, it's a little hole in the wall, but c'mon that's where the best food usually comes from, little spots like this. Â There chips and salsa were delicious and the Tacos were very good. Steak and chicken tacos were very flavorful and simple, not cluttered with sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo, they were simple and that's what made them great. Â The chorizo tacos is what nailed it for me, the best I have ever had. Â Definitely need to come here again, soon :)
Review Source:Count me in as another who tried this place solely based on the Yelp reviews. I can't say I would have given this unassuming little storefront in Oakland Park a second look otherwise.
Lately I've had a Mexican food craving that just won't quit, so I trolled Yelp for recommendations and this was the best of the best. Sadly, it failed to live up to the hype. I dutifully followed Yelp's recommendations and ordered a pupusa, a steak burrito, and an order of chips and salsa to round it all out. First, the pupusa was very good. To whoever called it the cousin of an arepa, you're dead on. Whereas an arepa is almost like a sandwich, a pupusa is a thicker corn tortilla and stuffed with meat, cheese, beans or whatever you choose to order. I tried a cheese one and it was very tasty. The pupusa was fresh (complete with grill marks), had a strong corn flavor and a delicious hint of butter brushed on. Honestly, if I came back, it would be for the pupusa and the pupusa alone. Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about my entree. The steak burrito was nothing memorable, and bordered on fair. The meat was on the tough side, and overwhelmed by a huge amount of sliced pepper. Stuffing a burrito with cheap ingredients - particularly when that burrito costs about $10 - felt cheap and just doesn't sit well with me.
My mom tried a pupusa and the pork tacos. I tried a taste of the pork taco and enjoyed it, and I don't even like pork. The taco itself was a work of art, all of the fillings fresh, colorful, and meticulously chopped. The meat was marinated and very flavorful. If you're coming here, I'd stick to the pupusas and tacos and you should be good.
The chips and salsa, which others have raved about, were pretty bad. The chips were cold and tasted like they had been sitting out for a long time - not fresh in the slightest. The salsas were incredibly watery and too spicy. I realize spiciness is a personal taste issue, but this drippy salsa lacked texture and just looked pathetic and gross. Sometimes food can look unappetizing but taste great, but this looked and tasted like someone yakked in the cup and called it salsa.
Considering the atmosphere they're trying to cultivate (shabby local taqueria), I thought the prices were kind of high. At ~$10 or more for an entree, I expect something pretty good, and they just didn't deliver. Most places include an order of chips and salsa with your meal, but here they charged extra for it. Furthermore, they take the shabby local taqueria thing a little too far. The dining area and kitchen didn't look very clean to me, and the whole restaurant was dingy and dimly lit, never a good sign in my book. Furthermore, it was incredibly hot and stuffy, almost like they had didn't have the AC on - big no-no in Florida.
One thing I did like was that all the food was made fresh to order and you could see the cooks in action right behind the counter. However, keep in mind that made to order means it'll be a long wait. If you're taking out and not big on waiting, I'd advise calling ahead.
This place has some strengths (pupusas and tacos), but the rest isn't anything to write home about. Sorry Yelp, you overhyped this one.
I decided to eat here solely based on Yelp reviews. I was not disappointed.
The food is definitely fresh, and it's authentic too. Â I ordered three tacos, and did not realize that they came with fresh raw onion, and cilantro. The folks there were very nice, and re-did them for me after I let them know I don't care for raw onion or cilantro. Â They explained that the food is prepared in an authentic style. I so appreciated the friendly service, and the way they accommodated my pickiness.
There were more things on the menu that I wanted to try, so I will have to return with my wife in order to do that, but based on my lunch there, I would say that if you are looking for a good meal in a quiet friendly, authentic place - go here!
The iced tea was served in a HUGE mug (no refill needed). It was good, but had a slightly medicinal taste to it. I'm not sure why that was, however I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Delicious food, great service, ample portions. I had pollo a la plancha (grilled chicken), my husband had mojarra (whole fried tilapia), both with rice, black beans and platanos maduros (sweet fried ripe plantains). His fish was really fresh and had great texture; my chicken topped with sauteed onions was truly tasty. They also served us great tamales de elote con crema (sweet corn tamales with sour cream) - just sweet enough, perfect - and a luscious chicken quesadilla. It's basically a dressed up coffee shop, with a counter, stools, and 2 TVs on Spanish stations. It's clean, nicely decorated, and pleasant.
We found it on Yelp - traveling in the area form NJ. We liked it so much, we might come back for breakfast. And, by the way, the prices are great.
I have never had fresher ingredients at a mexican/salvadarian restaurant. This place is amazing. Everything is made to order down to the hortchada. Â The chips are crispy pieces of corn heaven created to sop up the fresh guacomole and salsa. Who wants free chips and salsa when you can be ensured that your chips are piping hot and salsa ingredients are chopped to order?!
The homemade tortillas were warm and ready to dip into the chicken soup - which may have been the best I have ever had. The soup had a beautiful piece of thigh floating in a golden chicken broth speckled with cilantro and surrounded by large chunks of carrot, potatoe and corn. Rediculous. The soup specials change each day don't forget to ask! Â
Finally, the tour de force is the homemade taco. Homemade chorizo nuzzles into soft warms tortilla. Choose spicy stewed chicken, beef tongue (soft and delicious), pork, and of course steak. Â Yup. We tried each and every one.
Best of Broward. Seriously, I gave them five stars. Don't miss out!
El Guanaco is probably one of the best Latin American restaurants I have tried. An amazing set of reviews on yelp allowed me to convince my lunch crew to give it a shot and we weren't disappointed. This restaurant hits all the right buttons for me - fresh ingredients, made to order, good service, low prices and taste!
I wanted to try the chan to drink, but I was informed that they were out. Good, shows it's fresh. For lunch I got the taco combo. It came with 3 tacos with my choice of meat and rice w/ re-fried beans. I wanted to try the chorizo taco, but I was again informed that they were out! Awesome, now I know the food will be fresh. It is a good sign when restaurants run out of product.
The tacos came out and they were awesome. They are just the right size and they are covered in fresh cilantro and veggies. Each one was amazing and you do get a side of spicy green secret salsa if you need some heat. The rice and beans were also a lot better than most I have had at these types of restaurants. The rice was fresh and flavorful and the refried beans were not gritty or thick, but a nice creamy smooth consistency not a lot of places can pull off.
Since there are so many more items to try, I think I will have to become a regular.
After reading the reviews I was VERY excited to try this place out. To be honest, I was underwhelmed with the experience. I tried the pupusas which were ok, I'm not a huge fan of pork and they were unwilling to make them with steak, so I had a bean pupusa. I also tried the carne asada steak tacos, they made them from a bowl of cooked meat they had sitting out. Possibly this was an off day but I was not impressed.
Review Source:We were only in Ft. Lauderdale for a night and were trying to avoid the St. Patrick's day and spring break crowds. Â Fortunately, I found this restaurant on yelp and it was only a mile from our hotel! Â I am so glad I did!
The service was incredible. We started with the guacamole and chips. I thought my homemade guacamole was good, but after having this I realized that I was mistaken. My husband and I were fighting over the chips, which were so fresh and perfectly seasoned. While trying to decide what to order, I mentioned that I like to eat a little of everything. She created a special combo for me, right on the fly! Â The papusa, taco, and tostada were by far the best I've ever eaten! Â The freshness was obvious. I can't say enough good things about this place. We loved it so much, we are heading back there for breakfast today!!!
Welcome to the American Dream, having your own restaurant that serves up AMAZING Salvadoran home cooking in a spotlessly clean, completely personal kitchen. It's like being invited in for the best Latin meal you could ask for. Â
The woman who waited on us is the owner. She suggested some great food to try, including this drink Chan, which is made from a fruit common to El Salvador but tasted more like fragrant strawberries. Â Everything is made to order. Â She was incredibly gracious and really enjoyed sharing the things that you might never have tried that you'd find delicious.
The pupusas, the recommended item here at Yelp, were out of this world. She makes them fresh by pressing the meat, cheese and beans into fresh tortillas then grilling them. They also make wicked tacos with fresh tortillas that put trendy joints like Rocco's to a crying shame.
She didn't have avocados left for guacamole, so she sent someone from the kitchen out to get some, and made up some of the best fresh guac I've ever had.
The other side that comes with your food is a shredded, pickled cabbage "slaw" that has a few jalapenos tossed in for good measure. It's crisp, and it has enough bite to break up the taste of many bites of the rest of the food on the plate. I liked it!
The other thing that defines great Latin cooking though are the salsas. Â Hers are unique and incredibly tasty. Â Her salsa and chips came loaded with onion, which I thought was going to be harsh. It turned out to be far better than any tomato-heavy salsa I've had. Â Her taco salsas, a red chipotle-infused and a green made with tomatillos, avocados, garlic onion and the secret that she would have to kill you if she told you, are also the best.
She has traditional and regular breakfasts which also merit a visit one day.
I had a nice cuban coffee after, and, while we were too stuffed to try her desserts, we have to come back because they sound equally home made and awesome.
She said that she caters, and can set up a griddle to make fresh tortillas and pupusas as a foody theater thing at parties. Cool.
Prices are great too!
We wish her every success, and hope that she packs the place, but that she doesn't move. Â This size floorplan is perfect for the kind of personal attention that she brings to her customers. Â Any larger and you would lose some of the charm of being invited to the best home kitchen with a commercial license in South Florida.
Grab a couple of friends, and take them to your "find." Â Located in a commercial district and the front may not seem like much, but you'll make fans when you taste the food and experience the service!
Great lil hole in the wall! Â Authentic Mexican/Salvadoran at it's finest...
Everything was extremely fresh and made to order...even the corn tortillas.
Living in the Las Olas area, it's extremely hard to find anything authentic (food and people)... So i tend to venture out a little to find the best of Lauderdale... and this place made me smile.
The young lady that served my lady and I was vibrantly pleasant and accommodating..She made sure everything was to our liking and was a great host in our first appearance at this taqueria..
I recommend the combo tacos and tamales...although im sure everything else on the menu will be sure to satisfy.
I could never understand how people continuously visit the chain restaurants and overpay for unsatisfying, unauthentic food..
The true definition of "hole in the wall." Â What a sleeper of a place and what a find. Â Located in what I guess has become little El Salvador (given what must be a double-digit count of Salvadorian restaurants in the area), this place is a stand out. Â Everything is made from scratch and basically to order. Â You know this because of the wait time and because you literally are watching them roll out the tortillas in front of you as the twenty seats for the place are basically in the kitchen. Â
We sampled what all the other reviews talked about, which are the pupusas and tacos. Â The reviews don't lie. Â They are delicious.
I would call a pupusa a sort of redheaded stepchild to the more popular and better looking brother known as the arepa. Â But an arepa has nothing on this pupusa. Â A pupusa is a thick, handmade corn tortilla that is stuffed with cheese and whatever else that is offered. We went with the mixed, which is cheese, beans, and pork. Â The pupusas are served with a sauce on the side that did not do much for me. Â But the accompanying curtido (a lightly fermented cabbage slaw with jalapenos and vinegar) did a lot for me. Â A real great combination of crunchy cabbage, acidity, and spice. Â Order just one pupusa as an appetizer. Â It is a great way to start.
We next had tacos. Â I sampled two at first--the tongue and al pastor. Â The tacos are small (read more authentic) and served again in those fresh, made to order tortillas. Although smaller in stature, these tortillas did not come up short in flavor. Â The tongue was okay, but not great. Â The al pastor, however, was a different story. Â Al pastor generally means marinading the pork in pineapple. Â Could not tell that was the case, which is not a bad thing since I generally don't like sweet and fruity with my entrees. Â I also was pleased that the taco did not come with pineapple chunks as you sometimes get. Â The pork was flavorful and I really enjoyed the crunch on the exterior of the pork bits. Â It was a great contrast in texture. Â When you add the pork, with the cilantro, and top it with the salsa verde (which is wonderfully spicy) and a little lime, I ordered another two al pastors.
The best way to sample here is to get 1 pupusa, 2 tacos, and then venture back around and order what you liked again. Â Given things are made from scratch, be prepared to wait a little while. Â But the wait it worth.
Ok update since I can't say enough about this place. Yes the pupusas are amazing, but we decided to venture outside of " pupusadum" and tried the tacos and the tamales. Both were excellent... way better than any I've had. The corn tortilla was the freshest I've tasted and made me understand what the fuss was all about. Once you have a real corn tortilla, the ones in the supermarket taste like brittle plastic. Run, don't walk to this place .. and order lots ... its the best value for money around.
Review Source:I have been here now four times, and out of those four times I have only had one item I wasn't in love with, and that was the tamale (I guess I don't like the salvadorian style tamale). I do love:
-The steak tacos. These are awesome. If you don't like onions, don't bother. Three come with rice and beans, green sauce, lime to squeeze on top.
-The green sauce that comes with it, which appears to be made fresh
-The sopas (cheese, beans, chicken) which are made fresh to order, perfectly deep fried and crispy with fresh toppings
-The tostadas. Chicken.
-The horchata, which is a different variety than the normal mexican horchata. Nuttier vs. your typical cinnamon flavor.
-The tortillas, which are home made right in front of your eyes.
I also really like the pupusas, although I prefer the tacos. Â Rice is average or above average, beans are nice and flavorful. Everything is fresh and delicious. Very flavorful...if it is not, something is wrong. Ask for more green sauce!
Very nice staff, some days when it is packed it took a while for food but most of the time it is very quick.
Coming from Chicago which has quite a bit of good Mexican food, this place goes toe to toe with the best of them in the same category (not fancy, just good food).
Perhaps it is an emotional choice because I just downed some freaking awesome tacos and horchata, but for the time being, this one gets five stars.
Third time visit. Â The place now has booths, tables, and wall decorations! Â The outside is decorated cheerfully to the Christmas season. Â
2 pupusas as appetizer and 3-Taco Combo for both me and my wife. Â Delicious and good portions. Â Excellent value especially since we had an online certificate.
So glad to see a family-owned, neighborhood establishment doing well.
It's a smallish little near hole in the wall type of place and though located in a strip area is a separate building. At first, as with many Florida places, you might think that it is closed because the window blinds are down, but that is only because of the otherwise overly bright intruding sun light.
There is certainly nothing fancy about the place. It is about as bare and simple as you can get. There is a white board on the counter giving some daily specials, all at very reasonable prices, a soda cooler from which to choose your drink and some paper menus with other offerings. The kitchen is right behind the counter so you can easily see everything taking place should you decide to sit at the counter, otherwise there are about 7 tables seating maybe up to 15 people, total.
I had there Papusas along with a tongue taco for $7.00; a very reasonable price as the same came with a green (Verde) sauce a tangy Papusas sauce along with a chopped onion, various pepper and other ingredient vegetable/salsa garnishment.
The food presentation was of the simplest form, the waitress service polite, helpful and friendly, and I food the food to be tasty, delightful and authentic in flavor.
Though I can't say I'm a fan, which would be a four star, I certainly won't hesitate to return.
Having recently moved to S. Florida after 11 years in California, I was excited about the prospect of sampling the delicious Cuban food here, but kinda sad to think I'd never experience delicious Mexican/Salvadoran food as good here as it was on the Pacific coast.
Well, there's no need to mope anymore... I was totally wrong!! Â El Guanaco in Oakland Park has the best papusas I have ever eaten... they were fresh, warm, and flavorful... but the thing that really got me is that even the slaw was amazing. Â At other places, the slaw has been something I wanted to avoid... I'd kind of ignore it on my plate, or push it aside. Â And it's not that I don't like vegetable dishes... Â I love them, but I just like them to be fresh. Â And sometimes, slaw isn't.
Well, this slaw was not only fresh but also had the perfect balance of acidity (from the vinegar), spiciness (from the jalapeno), and sweetness (from the freshly shredded cabbage and carrots, cilantro, and chunks of ripe tomato.) Â I would return to this restaurant for the delightfully pickled slaw alone. Â (Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration: it's the fact that it comes with the best papusas I've ever eaten that makes me want to return there as often as I can!)
Quite simply, the food at this "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant was delicious, unpretentious, clean, and elegant... without any fuss. Â Wonderful, friendly service too! Â
Finding this place made me feel at home.
OMG! Â OMG! Â I have found my new favorite mexican joint. Â
I've pretty much given up on finding decent mexican food in Broward. Â I was driving by and remembered this place having good reviews but I remember that same thing being said about a few others and just walking out disappointed.
The outside is very small but bright and cheerful. Â They have around a half dozen tables inside and it's very clean. Â I was the only person in there and decided on the combo plate of burrito, taco and tostada and a side of guacamole. Â
I was surprised when she started patting out the tortillas for my order. Â Then she pulled out some avocados. I told her if she didn't have any guacamole prepared she didn't have to bother. Â She told me they make it to order. Â So far so good. Â After some small talk I made my way home with my carryout.
Once home I started scarfing down my meal oohing and ahhing the entire time. Â The guac was amazing as the rest of the meal.
It's embarrassing but I've been back every other day. Â I've tried many of the items and they all have been equally impressive. Â The owner told me I am missing out having not tried the pupusas. Â My order was almost done and she whipped up a mini pupusas and added to my order for free. Â I definitely will be ordering these for my next meal.
Wow, what an amazing find. I've driven past this place a million times and was surprised to find it turn up near the top of Yelp's ratings for the area. Â Decided to pop in for lunch today and couldn't not have been happier.
The owner greeted us at the door and was super pleasant and friendly. The place is spotless, cutely decorated and has an amazingly decked-out kitchen.
First off: the horchata. Â Wow! Â I'm used to the Mexican variety of this drink, which is super sweet rice milk with cinnamon. Â This place serves Salvadoran horchata, which is made from ground peanuts, sesame seeds and cacao blended with milk. Â It is totally DELICIOUS and worth a visit by itself. Â My kids sucked it down. I also had a huge mug of fresh-squeezed maracuya (passion fruit) juice that was superb.
We ordered a variety of pupusas: cheese with loroco (a flower bud), beans and cheese, and chicharron with beans. Â All were made right when we ordered, as we watched, and were delicious. Â They're served with a traditional salvadoran spicy slaw that goes perfectly with the pupusas.
We also had chicken tacos and chorizo tacos that were great. We finished the meal with sweet plantain empanadas stuffed with a yummy rice-pudding like mixture.
All in all, this is an amazing find and I can't wait to go back (next visit will be for breakfast: scrambled eggs with chorizo: yum!!!). ANyone looking for a casual, friendly place for latin american food should check it out.
I just had a great experience at El Guanaco and I had to update my review.  I've been eating here for lunch every couple of weeks and the food has been consistently excellent.  So after thinking about pupusas all week  I ordered some for lunch to be picked up.  I allowed myself plenty of time since everything is made by hand service can be a little slow. Â
I walk in the door and the girl behind the counter exclaims that she forgot my order! I was a little annoyed but my stomach was crying out for those pupusas and I had time to wait. Â She was so apologetic and offered me a drink while I waited for her to make my pupusas. I took her up on a fresh pineapple juice that she ladled out of container. The drink was very tasty and had chunks of pineapple in it. Â I had also odered a tamale and she gave that to me to eat while I waited.
The tamale was served in the husk with a big dollop of yummy tangy crema which was like a really rich and creamy sour cream. the combination was so delicious! By the time I had finished the tamale my pupusas were ready.
Then she refused to let me pay! I practically begged her but she wouldn't let me. So while she was helping another customer I slipped the money under my plate. Hehe
I have also ordered tortillas to go so that I can use them for tacos at home. Once you have a handmade tortilla the ones from the grocery store taste awful. These tortillas were hot off the grill and absolutely divine. I ate two in car on the way home! They only charged me $2 for 12 tortillas!
Bottom line: Really tasty food and excellent service!
OMG! Second best tacos I've ever had! The *best* tacos I've eaten were in Mexico (so that tells you this place is bad ass!) I work nearby and found this place today. I was totally impressed!!
I ate some tacos and some pupusas. The tacos were absolutely excellent! They even make the corn tortillas when you order. The pupusas were good too but not AS GOOD as the tacos.
This is a must-try! Go, you won't regret it :)
Thanks El Guanaco, you are now my favorite lunch spot.
I must admit that I am kind of new to pupusas. I had only tried them 2 times previously, and both were within the last year. However, compared to the other places I tried pupusas, the ones at El Guanaco blew them away. Amazing! I just ate breakfast around 9:30 or 10, so we when we arrived for lunch at 12:30pm, I wasn't starving, so I figured I'd do the special with 1 taco and 2 pupusas for $7.50. However, these pupusas were HUGE and very filling. I got the mixed ones with cheese, black beans and pork. Made from scratch, crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside. Tasted amazing and the hot sauces were the perfect accompaniment. 2 of these would pretty much fill me up, but I had already eaten the taco and couldn't stop eating the pupusas!
The taco was small but tasty - kind of average compared to their competitors in the area. However, after trying these pupusas, I don't think I'd order anything else here. Just get the pupusas and go to town.
Service was nice and friendly. They take credit cards and even split the bill for us with 2 cards. The menu also says they deliver for free. Last thing: they had 2 large tables and at least a dozen chairs in the place, so apparently they have taken note of the seating complaints. I think I have to agree with Bobby G: "this place is the nuts". LOL
El Guanaco is a small little Salvadorian restaurant that has become my favorite spot for my Latin fix. Â There was a mention of them not having tables and chairs. Â I asked the lady working there about that the last time I was there, and they actually brought a table and set of chairs out for my friends and I. Â
The people there are very friendly, and love to cook for you.
Papusas are out of this world. Â I come here just for these. Â The Frijol-Negro & Queso papusa is a very simple but phenomenal taste. Â THe cake is made by hand right there and is served with a fresh salsa to dip it in. Â
The Tostadas are another item that are great. Â They come with a fresh crema that they make to place on top of this, and it had a nice creamy texture with the crunch of the tostada.
The tacos are definitely another favorite item. Â You can't really beat a fresh tortilla with rustic style salvadorian meat filled inside of it. Â The lady gave me a nice habanero salsa to place on this, and it sang beautifully.
I have brought many friends, and even my dad to this place with all of them being negative about the fact that they don't have tables. Â Needless to say they weren't saying much once the amazing food was put down in front of them. Â Very inexpensive, and you'll not leave hungry.
As my friend Pedro would say... THIS PLACE IS LEGIT!
The Tacos are excellent and the pupusas are incredible. Seriously the best and most authentic Mexican/Salvadoran food I have had in South Florida.
Everything is handmade and homemade. Fresh hand-pressed tortillas. Guacamole and fresh chips! This place is the nuts. Pupusas pupusas pupusas are sooo good.
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