Balompié Cafe #3

The pupusas are delicious here. We came late Saturday afternoon and were able to get a table for 4 within 5 minutes which was great. We have been here before and waited 25 minutes when they are very busy. Definitely worth the wait for great Salvadorian food. My with was craving Platanos and beans so we came for a late lunch.y wife have fried bananas beams and rice and enjoyed it very much. My daughter had pork, bean and cheese pupusas in a combo with beans and rice and loved it, My son had chicken soup rice and fried chicken which he absolutely loved and I had a pupusas combo with beans and rice. Overall the meal was great. We have been here before and very much enjoyed it. The pupusas are made to order and the tortillas are so hot you can not pick them up straight away. I would very much recommend this place especially if you like pupusas We will be back again soon even though we live an hour away it's worth it. The service is great and the food is priced very well

Dry old plantains!!! Called and spoke to an extremely rude lady. Her name is Omara. I made a big to-go order and I let her know that when I got home the order of plantains were extremely dry and if I could get credit for another order next time, she rudely said I can give you back $5 dollars for the plantains. I told her the order of plantains were $16… Omara said “well you have the beans that came with it don’t you”. So apparently she wanted me to only eat beans and give me $5. She could have offered to pick up plantains another day when they were ripe. So unprofessional!

Food was very good. Pupusas were delicious and also very big. Quick service.

Best pupusas in SF hands down! I drive all the way from Walnut Creek to Balompié #3 just to eat here or pick up to-go. The flavor is incredible (revuelta and queso con loroco are my go-to). Bonus points: they pack to-go orders in paper boxes, not plastic or styrofoam. Love that! My favorite Salvadoran spot in the Bay Area.

A friend told me this place had the most delicious pupusas in town and I have to say, it’s true!!! Please do yourself a favor and stop by to try them. They make them handmade on the spot to bring you a taste of glory that you didn’t know you needed.

Environment it's okay. There's only one bathroom 🚻 . The food Service isn't fast🏃🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍➡️🏃 but okay. Fair food prices . If you want to bring your kids👨‍👩‍👧‍👧👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 call in advance to find out if they are not busy or come early before lunch time to get a good table.

I have never had Salvadoran food and the pupusas are really different enough from tacos that I wanted to give it a try. To get a better experience, I visited the place when it had just opened, when the restaurant had been opened for a few hours, and when the place was about to close. The service and food quality were the best when the place had just opened: both pupusas had been cooked (not raw) and each had similar amounts of shrimp and cheese in it. However, when the place had been opened for a while, both food and service quality became inconsistent. For example, one pupusa had SOME cheese and shrimp in it, but the other had almost neither. And although the place closed at 8, they wouldn't take orders at around 7:30, not even to go, so go early. As the price is low and the food is really quite filling, I think even if food quality and service aren't consistent (at all), I can recommend it only if you want some food to be quick and filling and don't care about either food quality or service quality (communion has never been easy, even just pointing at menu items and indicating how many I would like)

Nice spot for lunch. Had a sangria and three pupusas. My date had three pupusas as well and we split some plantains, which had a delightful caramel like finish. I ordered three different pupusas, and each one was a good quality for its flavor combo. More shrimp and cheese pupusa please lol. I think there was a little communication issue with the server because of a language barrier but no biggie. Drink and full meal for like $20. Can’t complain! Food looked wonderful too as you’ll see in the video.

Something about this corner restaurant makes me smile ;') Brunch time here is lively, comforting, and full of warm welcomes from employees and customers. At other Pupusa restaurants I've had in the city, sometimes the fillings all taste the same. At Balompie you can really differentiate each as the fillings are flavorful & fresh, sandwiched alongside crispy flour tortillas. Recommend: Pork, Beans, & Cheese and Loroco & Cheese (earthy vegetal flower bud!). Beef soup with veggies was such a nice pairing for breakfast with the cheesy Pupusas! Definitely want to come back to try their other plates.

Sometimes you just want something comforting, simple, and real, you know? Balompié Cafe No. 3 on Mission does exactly that. Food: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Ambiance: No rating, I ordered to go FOOD: 8/10 I ordered 6 "RF pupusas" (Pork, Beans, Cheese), and honestly, they hit the spot. They weren't the most stuffed or loaded I've had. I've definitely had more over-the-top pupusas elsewhere, but for what you pay, they feel totally fair. The dough is soft but has a nice chew, and the fillings are solid. You get that classic Salvadoran flavor with curtido (cabbage pickled salad) and their tomato sauce, which I always appreciate. Looking at their menu, they don't just sell Pupusas! They also sell tamales, yuca, combo plates, and more. SERVICE: 9/10 Super friendly staff. Since I was doing a to-go order, things were pretty smooth. Extra notes: - Prices are pretty reasonable, especially considering the quality is solid and the portions are good. - Location-wise, it's on Mission Street, so allow time for parking. Balompié Cafe No. 3 is a really solid go-to for Salvadoran comfort food on the run. The pupusas are reliable and tasty enough. Not a destination for "fancy Salvadoran," but absolutely a dependable spot when you want something hearty, cheap-ish, and homey.

My girlfriend and I came here around 2:20 pm on a Friday. Not too packed. We got sat and the menu was pretty vast, but we came here specifically for the pupusas. We got bean and cheese, chicharron, pork beans and cheese, carne asada, and chorizo. All of them were so delicious it was insane. They are all cooked to perfection and the ratio was amazing. Such a great vibe to sit down and eat with some friends.

The best pupusas in the city. Nice cozy restaurant but we chose to do some takeout this go round since there wasn't any parking close by. Quite a wait even though it wasn't too busy, but overall great value for some grubbin' food.

We rarely go into San Francisco, but every single time we go, we have to have a meal at one of the Balompie Cafe's. These are by far the best pupusas I've had, and we have tried many. Hope to visit soon!

Been coming here for a few years now. But it's been a good two years since I came back. I was craving their Salvadoran tamales. They menu has changed and this was not on it anymore. But they were able to make it happen. Pro: pupusa still hit! Con: tamales got smaller :(

Still amazing food and service, I love how this place is always tasty & usually friendly! Plus they get my order correct. The food takes a min but its fresh and great quality! I love this establishment!

This review is long overdue. The pupusas here are always made to order and you can choose white or rice flour--the rice flour is especially crispy and delicious. Our go-to every time: bean and cheese pupusas, plus sides of plantains, refried beans, and sour cream. Simple, comforting, and perfect together. Consistently tasty and one of my favorite spots for pupusas in San Francisco.

Came here on a Friday ordered so many pupusas. The service was so nice and the passion fruit water we got was delicious.

Really enjoyed my meal! Overall, I would give this place a 9.2/10! 1. Taste: 9.4 I ordered the pupusas with cheese and Loroco. Both of the pupusas were evenly cooked. The soft comforting doughy masses went well with the salsa and curtido. The salsa could have been a little bit more flavorful (I mostly only tasted tomatoes) but overall, i can't ask more from the pupusas themselves! I got mine with rice and beans. The rice was nothing too special, but did the job. The beans, on the other hand, were super flavorful and added a creamy texture to the chewiness of the pupusas. 1. Customer service: 10/10 The customer service was great! I was sat immediately and had a glass full of water before I even ordered. The preparation did take about 25 minutes, but I think it was well worth it considering how good they were. 1. Appearance: 9/10 The restaurant is a cute little place. It's somewhere that feels local and welcoming. It's a great place for a casual lunch or get together. 1. Value: 8.5 Everything was well priced. With just the two pupusas and side of rice and beans, I felt pretty full. I definitely think it's worth the money.

Balompie Cafe No. 3 is my favorite neighborhood pupusaria. The owner and all the staff are kind and very helpful. Even when the restaurant and outside seating is packed, the wait time is not that long and the food is always delicious!!

Went thru their specific third party app, ordered for our office a nice big lunch.. delivery was delayed so we opted for curbside pick up. If you've been here before you know that there is absolutely no parking or anywhere for you to pull over and run in. It's on super busy mission street! So seeing curbside pick up was perfect and such a convenience! I drive there during lunch hours so mission street is crazy packed! I call the restaurant to let them know I'm here and mind you they ask for your car make and car color during check out. Well the lady that answered the phone was EXTREMELY rude when I called and informed her I was outside. She said that they don't do curbside pickup I have to come in. I kindly told her there is nowhere for me to pull over or park except blocks away and I don't understand why they would take all my car information if they don't do curbside pickup. Obviously the food is great but the service sucks! It was the way she was talking to me and her tone!!! Extremely rude!! Not even trying to help! I'm writing this review as I'm walking multiple blocks to grab my food. I tipped 25% of our whole office lunch. I wish I didn't. I wouldn't have mind at all if miss thing answering the phone wasn't rude to her customers! Take the damn option off!!!! It's not my fault for the misunderstanding. But misunderstandings do happen I'm aware of that. Somebody teach this lady grace and customer service etiquette asap! I will not be coming back to this location nor will anyone in my office building.

I had the pork and cheese, chorizo, and the pork and beans pupusas. Super good portions and it came with a tasty sauce. The filling felt like it had a good portion too. They were pretty crispy and didn't feel too oily. If you're not a cheese fan, maybe go for the non cheese option as they do pack it with cheese. Very solid 3 that filled me up. Pretty cheap too

I liked Balompie. The ambiance was a mix of local Salvadorian diner mixed with football bar vibes. I got the Salvadorian Sampler which includes a pupusa, pastel, chicharrons, and fried yuca. The meat and cheese pupusa with beans was fantastic. It was soft and generously stuffed with filling and paired really well with their red salsa. You could taste the sweet corn in the pupusa which was fantastic. The pastel was also great. It came out piping hot and was so crunchy and savory. I also loved the yuca which was perfectly soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. I was a little impartial on the chicharron because it was a little salty for my taste.

The two pupusas I ordered to go were piping hot and they give you a good sized baggie of a nice and tangy cabbage slaw and a container of salsa that complemented the pupusas perfectly. The price is very reasonable for the pupusas; each one being under $5. One was really filling, so the other one will be saved for another meal. Everything was delicious and well worth a stop. The only slight downside was that the woman who took my order wasn't very friendly. It was my first time there and I wasn't sure what to order; her impatience made me feel rushed.

The food is good, but the service from the staff leaves much to be desired. I usually order pupusas, and for the most part, they're tasty. However, on occasions when I've placed large orders, they never label the boxes, leaving you to figure out what each item is. This can be frustrating when serving multiple people who don't know which dish is theirs. I've stopped eating there in person and only place to-go orders now. The few times I've dined in, the servers were rude and unpleasant. The last thing a customer wants when paying for a service is to deal with someone who seems miserable in the service industry. Balompie often overcharges for items beyond what you've ordered. When you bring this to their attention, they may apologize and suggest applying the overcharge as a tip. More often than not, they rely on the possibility that you'll feel embarrassed by this suggestion. Don't let them shame you into tipping; it's an unethical tactic they use. It's important to pay attention to your receipt and compare it to what you actually ordered. I usually don't tip for take-out orders since there isn't any sit-down service involved; I've already covered the cost of my food being packed. Always make sure to ask for an itemized receipt!

I pre ordered their pupusas (2 of each) and they were yummy delicious!! My favorite was the pork!! Service and the ambiance was excellent!! It's a MUST GO TO if you want the best pupusas!! Thank you!

Very authentic, reminds me of my Moms cooking. I go with my family every time we go to SF

The food is excellent, great service, and great atmosphere. Can't ask for more! The pupusas is their signature meal. Yummy!!

Food is great is tastes, and the people are friendly. The pupusa's are not very big but filling.

This place is busy busy busy! It's located in a congested area so parking can very difficult, however the area has great access to public transportation. The service works really hard to keep up with the fast pace environment, you can tell. I normally place my order for pickup and it's never been wrong. The wait time is normally around 20-25 minutes, nothing has ever exceeded 30 before. The pupusas are amazing, much like their other location on 18th. Highly recommend!

The food is always delicious It's fresh and excellent quality... we love it!! Definitely will recommend the Pupusas made out of Arroz flour!!!

Best pupusas in SF, IMO. Pork and cheese are amazing, but also great vegetarian ones, especially the loroco. Overall it's vegetarian friendly. Other things I love on the menu are the plantains plate (desayuno menu - w/ crema, beans and cheese) and the enchiladas salvadorena, which are different than Mexican enchiladas, more like a tostada but better. I wish they would bring back the pan con pavo sandwich. Sometimes tough to get a table but eating there is fun. The Super Bowl could be playing and the two TVs would be tuned to replays of some random La Liga soccer match.

I've been craving pupusas for a while now, and saw this place pop up on both my Instagram and in a conversation with a friend. There are 2 locations from Balompie Cafe, but we opted for this one because I figured parking in the Mission would be a nightmare. For what seemed like a pretty random location, the place was packed at almost 2pm on a Saturday. Everyone was eating different things but most tables had pupusas. I'm curious to check out the other items now as the portions looked very generous. The ambience of the restaurant was pretty much like a cafeteria, you're there just for the eating. The pupusas are super generously stuffed with cheese! There was even delicious burnt cheese that had oozed out of the pupusa. Yum. It also went perfectly with the pickled cabbage and tomato sauce they serve with the pupusas on the side. You can ask for more of each one if you run low. Pupusas: - Steak & Cheese - this was my favorite! I liked the char on the steak paired with the generous oozy cheese - Shrimp & Cheese - Salvadorean Vegetable & Cheese - my second favorite, I really liked the vegetables with the cheese. I'm not entirely sure what vegetable it was but it was great. - Ground Pork, Jalapenos & Cheese Best part? Each pupusa only cost about $4!!! What a steal in the city considering how 2 pupusas make a pretty filling meal for one person. Price and food quality deserve a 5 stars, but I'm taking a star away for the incredibly slow service. It was ridiculous to wait almost 45 minutes for 4 pupusas at my table, so I would only go again when I've got lots of time!

Food was delicious. It's not fancy inside but the people who run it are really nice. We got take out and it was prepared reasonably quickly.

I love this place (mornings) so my mom and me were hungry and decided to go there tonight and the food was delicious as always, BUT, the service was terrible! The girl ( server) was very rude and mad, the servers at morning are way better than night servers ! Siempre vamos con mis papás a este lugar, y decidimos ir por qué andábamos cerca con mi mamá, la comida como siempre súper rica pero el servio horrible Quisiera saber cómo se llamaba la mesera de hoy domingo 15 de septiembre en la noche fue súper grosera y pedante, nos tomó la orden de mala gana y gracias a Dios el mesero hombre nos llevó la comida por que si no quizás nos la tira por la cara! ( no volvemos a ir por la noche jamás !!!!!)

My aunt and my son went to had breakfast on a Saturday morning. It was busy; however, we waited at least five minutes for a table. The waiter was rude and got my aunt's order wrong. Another waiter brought our food, and we told her the other waiter had gotten my aunt's order incorrectly. She was very bothered, didn't apologize, and gave us no curtidos. We asked her four times, but she kept ignoring us. She was friendly and attentive to other customers when we finished eating. She took our table quickly. We felt like they were rushing us out of the restaurant. This is the first time we have been treated as if we are not welcome.

Love this place , food is ALWAYS great and everything is always fresh . These by far are the best Pupusas around and it isn't close . Anytime I have a chance to stop in I do. Service is excellent and the people are very friendly.

Top notch pupusas! They're pretty large and they have many different fillings to choose from. We've tried most of them over the years and all are delicious. They give an ample amounts of curtido and salsa too. We usually get takeout from here, but decided to try their outdoor dining this week. The outside section is a bit noisy from traffic as it's on a busy corner. We noticed that service is a bit on the slow side too, but I will say that their pupusas are worth the wait. Highly recommend trying this place out.

Amazing as the original location at 18th street. Staff were nice, food is and forever will be great! Love the ambiance too, sporty!

I go to this location often and this is my first time going since I have a service animal. My family and I sat down and ordered our food. After five or ten minutes the women came up to me and told me "we do not allow animals due to health codes." And I informed her that my dog is a service animal and I have the documentation to prove such. She did not bother to review the documents and told me I would need to leave. She stated that they do not accept any animals regardless of status.  Please note that my dog was not on the floor or the seating bench. He was in a sling carrier. He was not barking or crying, he was quiet and observing.  Unseen/invisible disabilities are just as serious as any other.

I've been coming to this place for years . The pupusas has always been good as well as the customer service. Unfortunately, this evening was a different story. First off, the waitress named Mara had really bad manners and her communication was way off. It was just a simple question in regards to something on the menu, that simply could have just been answered kindly without being wannabe ghetto. I understand English may have not been her first language or probably cultural differences. Honestly, I really think it's just bad attitude. I did notice how her service was with other guest. It was not very pleasant or kind. Anyways, I believe in good customer service anywhere I go. But, I would like to thank Antonio and the woman who created the menu. They were both very kind and went above and beyond. As for the waitress, I hope they can give her proper training, so that she will become successful in any career she lands on. It's very simple just have good communication and be kind ...doesn't cost a thing. Other than that, all was good. I'll definitely be back.

Omg, this place is so awesome! We came here for pupusas, but they have a lot more on their menu and it looks sooo good. The pupusas were the best I ever had, so many options on the menu, from typical ingredients like beans or ground pork to specialty items like the Mexicana (ground pork, jalapenos, and cheese) and Super Vegetarian (spinach, mushroom, carrots, and cheese). We ended up getting 5 to share -- ground pork and cheese, salvadorian vegetable and cheese, shrimp and cheese, steak and cheese, and just plain cheese. Can you tell we like cheese? Well they were all amazing, with the ground pork and cheese being the least impressive, and my faves being the shrimp and cheese and the salvadorian vegetable and cheese, surprisingly since I'm all about the meat. But the "loroco y queso" was just so special, had a very unique taste, aromatic flavors so satisfying for my taste buds. And all the pupusas arrived to the table like a platter of fresh hot pancakes, melty cheese oozing out onto the plate, perfect crispy char on the outside. That to me is perfect plating, no fancy sides needed.. besides the classic spiced cabbage mix and red salsa, which by the way were amazing as well. The service was great, and the atmosphere was very welcoming. Such a cute spot, some outdoor parklet seating, and about 7 small tables inside, kind of small but we easily got a table inside with no wait on a Sunday afternoon (easter Sunday). Also worth mentioning, they play the best classic old school 80's jams in the background (songs like Hands to Heaven by Breathe, and Kiss on My List by Hall and Oates), so that was a treat for my ears as well. If you're in the mood for these savory salvadorian treats, I highly recommend Balompie Cafe 3.

Excellent pupusas, but very mediocre brunch dishes. Parking may be a challenge, though I felt like I lucked out find a spot a short block away. A surprisingly significant wait during Sunday peak brunch. They have high chairs and a lot of the clientele were families with babies or toddlers. THE WAIT 25 minutes at 12:15pm on a Sunday. We brought that down to about 15 when we were willing to take a smaller table outside (we had 2 kids and could squeeze). Even though the host said the food would be fast, under 10 minutes, it took a good 15-20 minutes to come out. THE COST $58 including tax/tip for a kid's pupusa, 2 brunch entrees, and 2 sides. THE FOOD * Pupusa Revuelta (ground pork & cheese) - 4.5 stars I've tried a lot of pupusas, and this really stood out to me for its texture and balance of filling to corncake! The corncake had a perfect crisp, as did the meat. #17 Chile Relleno w/ beef - 2 stars Not very flavorful, rice was dry. My partner described this as kind of a plate of mush. #24 Huevos Con Chorizo - 2.5 stars My eggs were over-scrambled and dry. The rice was dry and under-flavored.

Reviewing this place again! I love this place. Whenever I am in San Francisco, I always make it a point to come here. I've been coming to this location and the one on 16th street for over a decade. Staff members are friendly and service is great! Food is awesome and can't go wrong with whatever you order! I always get the chili rellenno, which is stuffed with minced/diced pork and dipped/breaded/fried in egg, served with rice, beans and good home made tortillas! Got the BF hooked on this restaurant, as well. Street parking is available, but difficult. Sometimes wait times can be long, but you won't regret it! Try this place today!

This is our go to spot for pupusas. Decently priced. The bonus is that the 14 stop right at in front of the restaurant too. Balompié , Richland never disappoints.

All I can say is I'm getting hungry just typing this. Pupusa's are unmatched, I've gone to a few different places after eating here and there is no comparison, this place is my favorite and everything that I've tried is delicious. The staff is very sweet and attentive

Some of the best pupusas in the city! The pupusas are fairly big and super fresh out the oven. This restaurant has specialty pupusas in addition to regular pupusas. You can get pupusas with and without beans, cheese, and several types of meat. These choices matter especially for the gluten- and lactose-intolerant folks like me. The flour is corn-based, and I can enjoy these lovely entrees without worrying about immediate or late night trips to the bathroom. You know, I sometimes forget my medicine. No worries, this place knows its clientele.

What can I say about this place? The price is right and the food is delicious. Great service and very clean. Been going for many years and will continue to.

I've only got food to go! The pupusas are delicious & great service. Food was ready. Parking an be a bit challenging but that's the city for you.

I love getting pupusas here! I came here for a second time this past Saturday, and got the following: 1. steak and cheese pupusa 2. ground pork, jalapeno, and cheese pupusa They were both delicious. Not to mention, they're big and super filling. I remember getting fried plantains on the first time I came here and those were really good too. Overall, I love coming to this place for pupusas.

Never disappoints! Their pupusas are consistently good - not greasy. Their breakfast plates are reasonably priced and delicious. We've tried other pupuserias but always come back to Balompie.

Price: $-$$ Favorites: Pupusa revuelta with beans, plantains Tips: Get the Salvadoran sampler to try several offerings! In a surprisingly Salvadoran pocket of the Mission near College Hill, Balompie Café #3 joins several establishments in representing the flavorful cuisine. Most know Salvadoran food for pupusas, which is what I set out to get from where I was staying nearby. However, the affordable menu was filled with small, tasty fried treats that were a lovely addition to the pork, bean, and cheese pupusa I ordered. Fries and hand pies were also crunchy, savory, and tasty. I'm glad my friend ordered plantains as the fresh, bright sweetness provided nice contrast to the fried, starchy (albeit tasty) flavors. Next time, I'd just get pupusas and plantains, but everything was made simply, freshly, and with heart and tasted just as much. Try everything with the Salvadoran sampler to find your favorites!

The food and service is good there. I highly recommend it. It's very chill and staff is friendly.

I've never had a pupusa before and my friend recommended coming here. It felt super authentic and I we got the cheese papusa, chicken papusa, and a tamale. Delicious! Very much a no-frills, local spot - very well priced, fast service, and just like an felt authentic experience

I always pick up pupusas to go and always worth the trip. Solid and consistent, very good pupusas. A bit pricey but well worth it.

Great food with friendly staff~ hard to find parking but all worth it. This restaurant is welcoming and inviting with friendly staffs.

Good food terrible customer service . Called in and said it would be done in 15 and still wasn't done in 30 minutes I got there. Papus as are overpriced to.

The revuelta with cheese pupusas were tasty though more beans & cheese than meat. The yucca with chicharrón also tasty though the chicharrón was more fat than meat (see the photo). The curtido was 100+% delicious. The order was ready within the time advised and still really warm by the time we were at home eating