El Pulgarcito

This is my fav local Mexican restaurant. I eat here several times a month. My favourite things to order are the quesadillas and the enchiladas. I also love their selection of jaritos and mexican cola.
The staff are all really nice and I just love the chilled out vibe of the whole place.
I wish they delivered — I would order every day!

My go-​to burrito place. I usually order the beef burrito, which comes with a bit of nicely dressed (oregano?) iceberg lettuce salad, and a little thing of home-​made hot sauce. The large is a seriously giant burrito. Drizzled in crema with cheese and red salsa, it’s delish. I want one right now. Excellent pupusas, tamales, wide range of Mexican standards like enchiladas, chilaquiles, breakfast burritos and great soups, perfect to ward off a cold. Rare to find a homemade chicken broth nowadays. They have a little section of groceries near the till, dried chiles, canned items and the like. It’s not fancy, the décor is basic and casual, but it’s bright, cheerful, affordable and the food is delicious.

I was expecting something ‘less’ just because of décor/​area (how shallow ha) — also because price tags were on the less pricey side ($ 8.5 to $ 12.50ish per plate & $ 4 to $ 8 shared/​appy type plates). So we ordered the nachos, chicken burrito & beef enchiladas. Nachos were OK — had cheese & the three dips (salsa, sour cream & black beans). Then the mains came and they were huge (well we ordered the large too) and HOT (temperature) and DELICIOUS! Just generally tasty & flavorful without being overly salty.

The guy I am dating suggested this place. My neighbors cook Salvadoran style food, therefore, this was more in line with the taste pallet I grew up having them as next door neighbors.
I am well aware that the reviews are all over the map with extremes, however, was still willing to try it.
The place is small with character that has some kitsch decorations but collectively it works.
I had the chicken platter. Portions were huge and the price was nice and cheap. The chicken was tender.
The place has a small grocery store within.
Service was really fast. Our waiter was really nice.

I was raised in a small town with only white people in it so I didn’t get to try authentic Mexican food until I was 22. In the years following my first experience I have become utterly obsessed. I would have to say that Mexican food is probably my favourite cuisine the world over.
El Pulgarcito is one of the absolute best restaurants in all of Metro-​Vancouver. They have great food (my favourite is the spicy enchilada) and imported groceries to take home. I love to make my kids Mexican food for dinner (don’t forget the TEQUILA).
I just hope the hipsters of East Van don’t ruin this for everyone and make it «trendy» or something like they did with kale. I do not want to have to wait in line for my favourite meal with a bunch of fixies.

what a find! this little gem of a restaurant is in hastings-​sunrise and is inexpensive, tasty and totally authentic. Generous portions, a lovely piquante sauce and both mexican and salvadorean food to choose from… what more could you ask for?

Oh my god. I think I found it. Authentic Latin food. Capable of giving you great pleasure and possibly a wierd bug simultaneously. Seriously the food is amazing but the washroom was soapless, which we know leads to bad things. Anyways, the tacos were different than Mexican tacos because the tortillas were much bigger. You know it’s good when it’s dripping with fatty beef juice. The tamales were also O-​M-​G worthy. Moist with flavour and perfectly seasoned. The pupusas were good but needed a tad more cheese and meat. I got the Mexican and Salvadoran horchata and I prefer the Salvadoran horchata which was more nutty, interesting and flavorful. Food might seem a bit pricy compared to Sal y Limon, my usual Latin food joint, but it’s not at all if you take into account the portion sizes. I would definitely come back– but probably would avoid the bathroom…

This is the kind of place I really like to go eat at. Simple, authentic and affordable good eats! I had the vegetarian tacos, the tamale and the pupusas along with a horchata. All delicious, especially with the salsa they give you. mmm. The horchata is a must have!
Will be back for sure.

SO GOOD! Enchiladas, great — check! Tortas, delicious — check! Pupusas, fantastic — check! Every flavour of Jarritos, check, check, check. Mexican staples for sale at the cash register too. Can’t wait to go back. This is homemade Central American cooking in the flesh. Do not go expecting Chipotles or Taco Bell styles of Mexican. This is authentic, hole-​in-​the-​wall dining at its finest and I love it!

I had the bistek encebollada and it was amazing.
Also had papusa and taquitos de carnitas and both were delicious. The carnitas were more tender than the bistek, but when I sliced it thin and ate it with the chimol it was sooo good.
I’ve had the enchiladas before and the were too salty, but today everything was great.

Amazing Latin American food and great value for the money. My wife and I both love their taqueria de carnitas, and the homemade hot sauce that they come with. The pupusas are also amazing. This is a great way to experience authentic El Salvatorian food!

I tried the chicken enchiladas here for lunch with my co-​workers. The salad that came with it was not that good and the beans meh. The enchiladas themselves with the red sauce were ok, they did the trick for a quick and cheap lunch.

Really don’t see how this can be anything over 2 stars. Maybe things have changed because I was not in the least impressed.
From the anemic nachos to the enchiladas they may have well forgotten to stuff, it was just disappointing all around.
Yes it will fill you up, and it doesn’t taste bad, but don’t you want more from a meal than forgettable schlop on a plate?
Boring.

Wow, what a delicious taste experience!
We ordered the pupusas and beef burrito .
And the cola champagne tasted like a freezie. Delicious. Clean surroundings, nice art on the walls. Beautiful latin music in the background, very nice ambience. A reasonably priced menu that won’t break the bank.

Really tasty Salvadorean food! Love the mixed pupusas with the curtido and red sauce! I’m a little concerned that both times I got take out from here, the restaurant was empty of customers… But great food nonetheless and friendly service!

Mmm! Yummy!
Pupusas!
Menu is mostly Mexican, not much salvadorian, but I bet they make whatever you want, if you know what to ask for.
So happy to find this place.
Deserves 5 stars for being authentic, but I had to give 4 because I really wish they did better veggie selections.
The organic Chipotle chain restaurants of California spoiled me with their sofritas tofu mix. I keep wishing the genuine, authentic places would pick it up, or something similar.
Anyway, you can’t go wrong here if you want super authentic and the Pupusas! Mmm!

Great Food! Came here with the family
after a long day of work! Great value for how much you get! We shared the Pupusas, which were awesome! Then we we all had our own entrée! After that we were stuffed!
Enchilada — lots of food! My Boyfriend ordered the large and my mom ordered the small after inhaling those they were STUFFED!
Burrito — Was the special on that night! My dad loved it!!! Came with rice and beans!
I ordered the Tostadas! Excellent!
Did I mention the great value? :) all these dishes were all around $ 10!!!
Forgot we ordered Salsa and Chips with a side of guacamole! Yummy!

My friend and I came to El Pulgarcito a few days ago. Walked in and there was one table with a family of 8 who just ordered. No one seated us or gave us menus. We sat down and waited. Five minutes later, I grabbed two menus looked over them and waited for another 10 minutes. Still no one greeted us.
Finally a man appears. He brings food to the family of 8 and then disappears. He returns with more food and then comes to over table. It has been 25 minutes now. We order: my friend orders the special of 4 tacos for $ 6.50 and I order the pupusa ($ 5.50). It took 25 minutes for food to roll out. Not the best service. Food quality was also not that great. My friends tacos were small and over-​cooked. My pupusas were cold. I told the guy and he returns in a few minutes with the plate steaming hot. Microwaved of course.

Yeah, you. I am talking to you. Ordering food like an obnoxiously particular, like an 8 year old without having the beauty of being a kid. Especially the breakfast customer; so difficult in North America, an order averages 30 seconds. I think it is the fast food and hip-​hop why people went so stupid. All we see on screen is; ”I have a lot of money, therefore, –therefore-​, you are going to be my bitch, I am paying, so I will get whatever I want…-
You can not buy royalty, not at any cost. Hill-​billies, surrounded by bunch of idiots live like that…
Table next to me, two girls, late 20’s;
–I can’t stand big pieces of lettuce! The texture rubbing against my tooth is not pleasant.
–You are funny!
–Yeah, I know. Whenever our household prepares dinner, they have to wait until I get home to make the salad! I know exactly how it needs to be cut! Otherwise I do not sleep with him that night… Talk about demand and supply…
Is that why we go to restaurants for? One of the great restauranteurs says; ”Going out with friends is supposed to be fun. Stepping out, sharing bread and wine. Laughter without issues, relax, leave it all at the door.” Isn’t what real food is all about, bringing people together, feeling cozy, get drunk and hopefully sing the night away… Why is it have to be practical in a way, that you really prefer…
In my culture we go the restaurants, because somebody decides to open it up as their trade, offering what they understanding of cooking or the regional specialty is. Forget about customizing; they didn’t have menus until since. You simply asked; ”What do you have today?” It shows respect to an establishment as much as your requirements of nutrition is. When you connect to a tradesman at that level, believe me, they would put their hearts into anything to satisfy your needs. But both parties have to be sincere.
What the fuck am I talking about already… Oh yeah, I stepped in after passing this establishment by may be two thousand times. I was suspecting it to be a great eatery, it looked real you know.
First impression; amazing smell of deliciousness in the air. Tomatoey, and butter browned in a strong pan. My mom used to nail that every time. Certain temperature of butter and tomato paste hits the note of a bubble gum smell, there it is, in abundance. I can move in here to be happy forever. Ordered my first tamale, and papusas.
So fresh, all homemade, so much love in it. As delicious as it would get… Is it technically perfect? Not by any means, but ”if you judge a gold-​fish, by the ability of climbing a tree, you will miss out the real understanding of life, and relativity…” said a wise man once.
They display an array of south American delicacies, such as queso fresco, corn flour, hot sauces, the mexican coke –the legal one-​, dried corn husks, pickle cans of all sorts.
I think, it is one of the gems in the city, a real restaurant, with real cooks, that are actually able to put authenticity on your plate with asking you; ”How you really are?”, not the chain restaurant or coffee shop sincerity.
Go and eat there. Good bites, good people… At the end of the day, that is what really food is about. Bringing people, family and friends together, eating, drinking and being yourself without any concerns. Letting it go. Just like we used to, the first 13 years of our existence, when we had nothing to be ashamed of…
Thank you El Pulgarcito for your hard work and being as is.

Tasty, tasty enchiladas. Serious flavor-​town business. Tender chicken, awesome sauce.
Rice was average.
I’ll return…