La Macarena Pupuseria & Latin Cafe

Yummmmmmm! I had the vegan breakfast burrito and the mango juice and both tasted fresh and delicious. It’s super cute and bright inside. Very authentic. Just make sure to plan ahead because it’s cash only!

Our waiter pointed out a bunch of times that he was new, so any awkwardness and when silverware flew down from the waitstand on the second floor above our table during the meal was just funny and whatever.
I do agree with other reviews that it might be a little overpriced for the amount of food, but what we were eating tasted just fine until we noticed the few small black bugs that crawled out from under the food on the plate. We showed the waiter, and all he said was that he «couldn’t really control that.» He took the one plate away, and when no one came back, my dinner partner stepped upstairs but no one really responded at all. They brought us our check later without any discount or apology.
I’m really not one to leave a negative review, but this was a really crummy experience and super disappointing because we thought we found a new regular spot close to home.

Any time I’m feeling not so great, and I think about something equally comforting and healthy that will make me feel better, this is it.
Cash only!

I have a couple of gripes about this place that prevent me from visiting unless friends insist:
1. Cash only. Seriously? In this day and age? In my experience, businesses that operate cash only are avoiding paying taxes. Don’t even try to use the credit card fee excuse because point 2.
2. Value — this place is expensive for what and the amount that they serve. The food is good, but it’s not mind blowing. At $ 14.95 for 3 small pupusas, a tiny amount of beans and 3 slices of plantains, this place is overpriced. There are other places in the city that are arguably just as good, at a more reasonable price point.
3. Cleanliness — always seems to be dirty. Not quite dead roach and things that fell off tables on the floor this last visit.

Had a very disappointing experience today. My guy and I pop in every now and then to La Macarena because we had our first date here but today may be the last time we relive nostalgia.
1. We were the only table inside (there was one table finishing up outside) for about 5 minutes until a rush of people came in behind us. 3 tables inside and 1 new one outside. The waitress took orders from everyone who sat after us first and then made her way to us. The new table outside who sat second after us ended up leaving because they were waited on dead last.
2. The food was pretty much tasteless and very expensive for the amount of food for the price. We got the «Central American Breakfast» ($ 13) and it sounded fairly substantial, but it was not. The piece of chorizo was tiny, like, one bite, the bread under the tiny slice of avocado was soggy, and we did not get plantains as advertised.
I didn’t take a picture because I was dumbfounded on where the rest of my food was– but please look at the Unilocal photos. The plates are filled with ramekins with crema, salsa, and slaw. There is little real food on the plate, just fillers.
3. We told the waitress about the missing plantains when she picked up our plates. She said we should have told her earlier– we had actually tried to get her attention during our meal, but she was flirting with some college guys and never checked on us after she brought the food. She did not offer to bring us the missing plantains either. Thanks.: /​
4. She did not refill my water, so most of my meal I had nothing to drink.
La Macarena should look into hiring an additional server because 4 tables was obviously too much for her to handle or may be just have people order at the counter. Some basic serving training would help too.
The price of the food is extremely expensive for the quantity, lack of flavor, and service. $ 30 for two Central American plates (which was really was one tostada (their version of huevos rancheros) and one small pupusas. We left super disappointed and very hungry.
oh and cash only.

So, so good. I eat vegan and gluten free and it’s so nice they have options for what I can eat! It’s a gem.

I’m from california. I have a favorite pupuseria spot back home and I was looking for a nice one out in new Orleans since I visit often. I’LL Keep this short and simple. It was OK. and I could live the rest of my life if I never went back there just perfectly.
1. Pupusas were small and expensive for the amount.
2. Pupusas were lacking in taste.
3. I arrived during business hours but they were closed for some reason and i had to wait in the parking lot for over an hour until they opened back up.
The employees were friendly and the restaurant was small and cozy. but the food I got wasn’t that great. So. nah. 3 stars!

We LOVE this place! Excellent food & friendly service. The pupusa platter is the best! I’ve been here about 6 or 7 times and the food is always fresh, well prepared and delicious. I’ve meet the owner before too, he’s such a nice guy. One time we went he gave my young son a stuffed animal as a gift. We also met his mother… she’s really great too!
Cash only. but there’s an ATM inside.
You should go!

Finally a good spot with Spanish food that offers vegetarian dishes! It was probably one of the best pupusas I’ve had. Parking is a little hard to find and its a small seating area. Prices are decent, higher than your usual pupuseria but definitely worth it. I look forward to going back and trying all of the other vegetarian dishes they have to offer on their menu.
Don’t forget it’s CASH ONLY

La Macarena is a great Latin American spot in New Orleans. Also in a great area with really good vegetarian options. I’ve been here a couple times and keep coming back. The food is delicious! A lot of flavors. I am not a fan of spicy, but I can handle the spices. The only reason I give La Macarena 4 stars instead of 5 is because it is a bit pricey. Besides that, a must-​try!

We found this little gem while waiting in a table at Refuel. The line was long and it was cold so we decided to go next door and try this Latin Café. We are so glad we did. She had the Central American breakfast with possibly the best Pupusa in NOLO. My cosmopolitan burrito was amazing with chorizo from Argentina. So happy the place next door was full else we wouldn’t have wondered in here.

Awesome Ceviche! This place does it right. the rest of the menu is good but the Ceviche is great. This place is cash only and relatively small but the food is tasty and you aren’t overly full like most Latin restaurants when you leave.

Our second visit, my daughter and I were here for a weekday lunch. We had the sweet corn tamale, chicken flautas, and split the enchilada& pupusa lunch. Tamale was moist and simple. It was good but could have been paired with something that gave a little heat or contrast to the sweet, a bit of a one note. Flautas were good with spicy chicken and a spicy cabbage slaw on top. Enchilada was really a small tostada, good but nothing exciting. Pupusa was good too. Overall, the food was solid and simple but a bit pricey for what you get. I look for a bit more spice in Latin food, and everything but the cabbage slaw was rather mild and not spiced much.

The first impression: the scent of something delicious roasting in the kitchen. A great selection of Latin-​American breakfasts and one of the few places I know of anywhere for a first-​class breakfast burrito. Attentive and friendlyservice. Airy atmosphere. By his place is a real find, in my opinion. Chili sauce on hue is rancheros not up to New Mexico mana fro heaven status, but decent! Start your day with an interesting breakfast here, then explore the nearby zoo, parks, and universities. Local and college clientele. One of my new favorite breakfast spots!

I keep intending to write a review of this place after I eat there, but then I’m all full of yumminess and instead I just walk around going, «Mmmmmm» for a while. As Joi B said in her review, the refried beans are amazing. So amazing that I have sort of given up on making refried beans at home because mine taste nowhere near this good.
I generally get one of the vegetarian platters (yes, there is more than one vegetarian platter, because life is fantastic) with a couple pupusas, a corn tamale, and some rice and beans. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s pretty filling — and extremely tasty. The waiters are always friendly, and I usually see the chef (a very nice Salvadoran lady) come around at some point to check on things.
A few logistics, mostly covered by others but worth restating:
1) No credit cards. There’s an ATM in the restaurant. They also take checks from locals, in case that’s a thing people still use for payment.
2) They don’t serve alcohol, but you can bring your own. There’s no corkage fee, and they’re very accommodating about bringing you a glass, ice, etc.
3) A previous reviewer said they only offer bottled water. I have always been brought tap water upon being seated, and of course I’ve never been charged for it.
And, SUPER IMPORTANT:
4) Free delivery after 6pm in Carrollton! I haven’t ordered it yet, but I’m very excited about this, as there is a dearth of good delivery options in my neighborhood, and sometimes going outside is really, really hard.
Definitely recommended — I’m kind of surprised there aren’t more good Central and South American spots in town, but I’m certainly glad this one is here!

Seriously the best. I’ve been three times and it’s been outstanding everytime. The pupusa’s are the thing to get! Staff is incredible.
Note: they’re cash only and they don’t serve alcohol. However, they do encourage you to bring your own! Great place.

Only okay and overpriced.
They only offer bottled water which they charge 2.25 for and their juice is 3.75 (the price of a large smoothie at Jamba Juice) The bill ended up being $ 100 for my family of 5. (My 2 younger children shared a plate) This is the first time we have ever paid $ 100 for pupusas. Seriously ridiculous.
The pupusas were the smallest I’ve ever had. (I’m from CA where it’s not hard to find a good pupuseria) I ordered the 3 pupusa plate. It was good but not the best I’ve had, it did include fried plantains and beans but no rice. Instead, a salad that I didn’t touch.
Despite the good service from the waitress — although the chef did make her rounds of making sure everyone enjoyed her (overpriced) food BUT I felt it was done right before they gave us the bill in attempt to soften the blow, I did not leave feeling good at all knowing we had just spent $ 100 and I was still really hungry. Really disappointed.
I usually order two pupusas with rice & beans, leave super full WITH leftovers and money in my wallet from every other pupuseria I’ve been to.

I love this place, and the fact that it’s in my neighborhood, and they deliver, are just two layers of icing on the cake.
The pupusas are the perfect comfort food– I first ordered delivery after recovering from a horrible cold, and the dish was as comforting as my mama’s lap. Cozy, but not greasy. Fresh and filling.
Plus, their brunch menu is equally rad!
Word up, though: it’s cash only. There is an ATM on site, but it charges a silly fee.

A few weeks ago, the hubs and I drove over to New Orleans for lunch. We didn’t have a place picked out, but we wanted something ethnic that we couldn’t get in Mobile. Thankfully we stumbled upon this awesome little El Salvadorian restaurant called La Macharena.
This little place has about 5 – 6 tables and a couple of seats at a bar. They don’t sell alcohol, but you can byob. They do have a blackberry juice that is amazing! We started with the shrimp tostadas. They are tostadas made from scratch, topped with lettuce, avocado, shrimp, a slice of a hard boiled egg, Parmesan (?) cheese, and drizzled with a spicy sauce. These were delicious!!! For our meals, I had a platter with a papusa and a chicken tamale and my husband had a sampler platter which included a pupusa, chicken flatulas, and a beef enchilada. Both platters came with fried plantains, dipping sauces and a salad. Pupusas are made with masa flour stuffed with shredded pork or beef. These were on point. Their enchiladas are more like what we would consider a tostada, but still very good. The tamale, which was cooked in a banana leaf, was also very good, as were the flatulas.
I think our meal was about $ 60, which isn’t bad for what we got. The service was fantastic. I think the owner or a relative served us because she was definitely from El Salvador and knew so much about the food and their culture.
We will definitely make the 2 ½ hour drive to eat there again.

Been here several times now to give this place a fair shot but each time they have come up short
Chicken flautas are good.
Their brunch menu is over priced and with small portions. Tried the ropa vieja burrito this time, which was a total rip off. Very little egg and brisket, just filled with rice.
Also had the plantains, which were over fried and just simply tasted like reused frying oil. Gross.
I was utterly disappointed with the food but the only reason I am giving this place two stars instead of one is because of the chicken flautas. Overall over priced for the quality of food you receive. Will not be returning.

I have never had El Salvadoran food, but after eating at La Macarena, I can now say I am a big fan! Their traditional papusas are definitely the way to go. I also had a chicken tamale and fried plantains with what they told me was sour cream, but it had a different consistency and was unlike anything I’ve ever had before. Soooo amazing. The only downside to La Macarena is that it is a REALLY pricey. My dinner cost $ 20 including tax and tip.

When I saw this restaurant offering pupusas right smack in the middle of the river bend, I couldn’t help but get excited. When I walked out, I left disappointed, head down, still hungry and felt ripped off– this place feeds off gringos that don’t know any better and homesick/​nostalgic Central Americans like myself.
I ordered a plate of pupusas. (Comes with 3). When I placed my order I was hoping to satisfy my nostalgia and hunger. I have eaten REAL pupusas in El Salvador AND I have relatives from El Salvador. Aside from that I’ve spent the last 4 years in Central America.
Here’s what went wrong:
1)I ordered Pellegrino water. They served it to me at room temperature with a glass with ice that I had to give back the waitress because it smelled like raw egg! I asked the waitress to exchange my glass but never got offered another pellegrino since the first one had to be dumped out with the dirty glass they served me in the first place. Not to mention raw egg can carry salmonella.
2) I ordered cheese and chicharrón pupusas. The cheese wasn’t 100% «quesillo»… I can tell that is was blended with mozarella (cheaper). Quesillo is slightly salty and stringy since you have to import it… It’s pricier. The other problem was that the chicharrón was nonexistent. The chicharrón is what gives the pupusa its crunch. Well forget that.
3)After the tip I paid $ 20 for this. Such a rip off!
4) To make matters worse, this «business» does not accept credit cards! I paid $ 3 to use their ATM.
5) I also got overcharged. I only ordered the pupusas by themselves (without any sides) but I was charged a full platter. That’s why the total was $ 17.
The fact that I was the only one dining there should’ve hinted me.
Never again!
On a positive note the waitress was friendly.

A SADLY BIPOLAR EXPERIENCE
+ Colorfully generous plates of exotic El Salvadorian cuisine
[-] No spice, No heat, No seasoning; like eating a wet serape.
+ Wide array of vegetarian options
[-] $ 6 for a single, bland, unfilled corn tamale… seriously?
+ Some of the sweetest most delightful owners and staff uptown
[-] No frills space, clunky loud chairs, and oddly not-​festive
[-] CASH ONLY!
BETTER, MORE FLAVORFUL LATINO EATERIES:
Taqueria Guerrero, Norma’s Sweets, Los Poblanos FT, Sarita’s, Maïs, Casa Borrega, Ideal Grocery, Baru, a McDonald’s breakfast burrito…