La Santaneca de la Mission

La Santaneca de la Mission Review

Lots of El Salvadorans live in the Mission, and they head here for pupusas, stuffed cornmeal rounds that are more or less the hamburger of their homeland. It usually comes filled with beans, cheese, or meat—sometimes in combination—and is eaten with seasoned shredded cabbage (and is less than $2 apiece). The kitchen at this friendly, family-run place also makes the more unusual rice-flour pupusa, as well as other dishes popular in Central America, including fried plantains, seafood soup, tamales filled with chicken or pork, chicharrones (fried pork skins), and yucca. Accompany your meal with horchata, a cooling rice-based drink flavored with cinnamon. Service is sometimes a bit slow, and pupusas are made to order, so don't come here when you're in a rush.