Pupuseria y Restaurante Platano

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hands-down one of the best Salvadoran food spots we’ve ever been to—seriously! I came here with my whole family, and we all left full and happy. The food was incredibly tasty, and the entire experience from start to finish was smooth and enjoyable. We were seated right away, and our waiter was very nice and super fast. The place wasn’t crowded, which surprised us because the food was top-tier. It’s a great spot for large groups—plenty of seating, very comfortable, and we were never rushed. We loved that the drinks were refillable (huge win when you’ve got kids), and the prices were very reasonable for how much food you get. The variety of pupusas blew me away—so many options and all made fresh. My wife was especially happy with the pastelitos—they reminded her of the ones she used to get during recess back in Nicaragua. I tried one too, and yep, they were delicious. We were also given two complimentary containers of curtido and two bottles of red sauce, which we really appreciated. They didn’t charge us for either, and both were flavorful and authentic. I ordered the lemonade—lightly sweetened, super refreshing, and perfect with the meal. If you’re anywhere near here, don’t skip this place. You won’t regret it!

Was walking by and went in on a lark. Very unassuming from the outside. Wasn't super hungry so I had a half order of the ensalada tropical and a Salvadoran pilsener. The salad was absolutely delicious (and a bargain to boot). The beer was good too. Throw in super friendly and fast service; it's a no brainer I'll be back to try more of the menu.

I needed a catering order and they were able to place my order the day before! They respond quickly and are willing to negotiate you with prices. I have eaten here before and have loved their pupusas, so I knew they wouldn’t disappoint! Love their food, staff, and hard work! Thank you for helping out the community! ❤️

Quite a nice place. In Berkeley, as you approach the restaurant and enter, you are warmly greeted with a sweet smile from Adriana, and she kindly guides you to your table. The scene is nice as you notice all the beautiful art all around the restaurant. The menu is detailed with a few vegetarian options. Needless to say, We came for their famous Papusas! Papusas are stuffed thick corn masa tortilla served with curtido & salsa. They were all delicious, a good size, and served fresh and hot. It is not too salty with a decent amount of cheese stuff mixed well in. They did not come soggy they came fried to perfection. The Papusas we ordered were... 1 Revuelta & Frijoles 1 Revuelta 1 Chicharron 1 DE Res y Queso 1 Queso & Frijoles 1 Queso & Loroco Delicious 😋

Been here twice and liked both experiences. The pupusas are tasty and they have a house salsa that is very spicy, which we love! Their ensalada beverage is very refreshing and great to sip after eating some of said salsa. The second time around we ordered the Fried fish. Overall had some nice flavor but was too fried and tasted more like chicharon. We'll stick to the pupusas.

The place was packed when we got there. We went their during lunchtime, so we tried their lunch specials #3, #4, and #9. Lunch special #3 comes with 2 pupusas, plantains, casamiento, and sour cream. Lunch special #4 comes with 2 pupusas, casamiento, and chicken tamale. Lunch special #9 comes with 2 pupusas and a small tropical salad. We also tried their horchata, atol de elote, fried yucca, and chicharrones. Pupusas were good but needed a little bit more flavor, so we all pretty much used up an entire bottle of the sauce they provided us. Plantains were cooked really well. Chicharrones was delicious, too. Overall, it was a good experience.

10/10 would visit again when I'm back in the area. Authentic and delicious--my partner and I shared a lunch special and some yuca fries and it was a good portion. The yuca fries didn't come with sauce, so we tried dipping them in the tomato sauce and crema. The crema was a great impromptu sauce! Completely wiped the plate clean.

Really delicious and authentic food. The pupusas my friend got was delicious and the ribs I got had fantastic flavor. The service here is a bit lackluster and we sat around without water for over 30 minutes and it didn't help that the entree prices are a bit high. The pupusas however are great value and quite filling.

I have eaten Platanos food several times and each time it has been a delivery order. Today's delivery was delicious. There were vegan options, cheese and loroco, bean-cheese and pork, chicken and cheese...I tried 3 different ones and they were all great. The order came with curtido and salsa. I will order from them again, the food was such a hit, per usual!

Headline: Delicious Salvadoran with quality ingredients but quite pricey! Service is great, we were immediately greeted and seated. Ambiance was very Salvadoran, felt like we were sitting in a family members kitchen with the music & beautiful decor. The area itself is spacious! As for the food. We ordered a lunch special and appetizer to share: Lunch Special -- # 3 with two pupusas (revuelta con frijoles) Appetizer -- Yucca con chicharron I ate this meal at 11:27 AM. It is now 7:52 PM and we are both still SO full from this meal. The pupusas were great, my boyfriend, a Salvadoran-pupusa expert was disappointed that he couldn't taste the pork in the pupusa but we still finished our entire meal. The yucca and chicharron was fried to perfection, Yucca was crispy and not oily. Chicharron was juicy in the center, not overcooked. Although their prices are quite high, the meal was delicious and held us down for several hours. I'd recommend this place to others and would come back to try their other pupusas.

I will say that this food tastes best when you eat it right away! I tried eating my leftovers and it was not good at all (but this goes for a lot of restaurants). Service was amazing! No wait, very friendly hostess. I ordered a lot of food because I was so hungry and everything was so yummy. I ordered Yuca frita, casamiento, tamales de elote, and of course some pupusas. Everything was yummy but the casamiento was pretty dry. I would come back!

Riquísimo!!!! First time coming here and it was great!! I got 2 revuelta and it was amazing. This is the place to get such a comforting meal. With the veggies and salsa you cannot get better than that. The service was great, the workers were so sweet and helpful and the restaurant was cozy nice. A must try!

Las pupusas are very delicious. Friendly bilingual staff. Totally recommend it. Their orchata is also very authentic and delicious.

This place is great! Came on a Sunday night, and it was very empty, with a few take out orders coming in and maybe 3 or 4 tables including myself. Nice and clean with pictures on the wall. Food was very good -- like the pupusa and the chicken tamale. I wish the pupusa was more greasy, and the chicken was a bit too dry because it seemed like it was chicken breast. Plantains were great. That being said, I enjoyed it a lot, and definitely would come back if I lived nearby. Passion fruit drink (maracuyá) was good with some seeds in it to provide texture ...

It's Friday why are you closed!!!?? It's only4:30 pm the sign says open till 9:00 pm this is the second time this week. I've been here and so disappointed in the fact that you're not open though your son says you should be.

Do you like pupusas? This place has the best pupusas in the east bay! Delicious and tasty. Try the jalepeno and cheese or the chicken and cheese pupusas. The avocado salad was very delicious. Plenty of seating and super friendly staff!!

Very delicious! Tasty! I had a lunch plate with a tamale and plantains. Friendly staff with helpful suggestions...

Platano has been my favorite restaurant for the last 10 years. It was the one restaurant I trusted to have the best pupusas! The prices were elevated but worth it considering the quality and portions you would get. My last couple of visits have been nothing but disappointing. The quality of the food has significantly decreased while the prices dramatically increased. Eating at platano is now a hit or a miss, sadly most of the times it has been a miss. The pupusas have been bare with very little filling and too much masa, the plantains are dry, stale and tough to eat. Additionally, half of the times we DoorDash we are missing something from our order. I'll give platano a chance and hope things get better but if things continue as they are I'll have to start looking for a new Pupuseria.

Came here to try pupusas for the first time, and it definitely won't be my last! I love that they serve their lunch specials all day so that you're able to try a little bit of everything. Service was super friendly. Our waiter explained the proper way to eat a pupusa with their curtido and salsa. We asked for their house made spicy salsa as well, and I think that's a pro move. I ordered the lunch special that came with one pupusa, plantains, and a salad with avocado, beans, tomato, cheese, and tortilla strips. I got a pollo pupusa that was lightly griddled but perfectly warm and satisfying. The filling was honestly nothing special, but the crisped masa is craveable and their curtido slaw was the best accompaniment. I could eat the whole jar and take another home to-go. Everything else was solid but nothing crazy.

Attentive service. A little pricey but portion sizes are massive. The avocado salad is fantastic.

A fan favorite for Berkeley students in the mood for pupusas, I got the chance to meet with a friend for lunch here. We ordered their combo specials & I got 2 pupusas (1 pork & cheese, 1 loroco) a chicken tamale and casamiento (beans & rice). They brought out the jar of curtido and I was in heaven. Everything was a solid portion and so flavorful in each bite. I was especially surprised by the casamiento which I've never tasted before. The service is friendly and they have a lot of seating indoors. The ambience is pretty casual so you could go here for all occasions from family dinner to a date. They also do amazing catering so if you're looking for someone to prepare food for your event, Platano is always a hit!

everything was pretty yummy and it was decorated nicely inside. i am giving them 4 instead of 5 starts but unfortunately i do think las delicias down the street is better and more bank for your buck - still great food tho!

I enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner here today. We arrived at 5. There were about five to eight other tables occupied. The ambience was cheerful and it wasn't too loud. We were greeted immediately and permitted to choose our table, since it wasn't too crowded. My daughter had a lunch special that included two pupusas, a tamale and casamiento (rice and black beans cooked together). She chose the queso and the carne pupusas. The casamiento was a new dish for us; my daughter didn't particularly enjoy it, but she isn't fond of beans. I ordered a revuelita (cheese and pork) and a cheese with loroco pupusa. We shared some fried yucca and she had a sangria. The pupusas were really fresh and flavorful and the fried yucca was delicious...perfectly fried with a light and crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. I definitely recommend Platano if you're seeking good Salvadoran food in Berkeley!

The place was packed when we got there. We went their during lunchtime, so we tried their lunch specials #3, #4, and #9. Lunch special #3 comes with 2 pupusas, plantains, casamiento, and sour cream. Lunch special #4 comes with 2 pupusas, casamiento, and chicken tamale. Lunch special #9 comes with 2 pupusas and a small tropical salad. We also tried their horchata, atol de elote, fried yucca, and chicharrones. Pupusas were good but needed a little bit more flavor, so we all pretty much used up an entire bottle of the sauce they provided us. Plantains were cooked really well. Chicharrones was delicious, too. Overall, it was a good experience.

I'm not well-versed in Central American food by any stretch of the imagination, but even a simpleton like me can recognize the iconic pupusa. I've been meaning to try this dish for the longest time, and I finally had the pleasure to at Platano. I have an obsession for restaurants with less imposing interiors, because you'll often find the best food in such hole-in-the-wall establishments. I can say this phenomena still holds true after my visit to Platano. The lunch specials are a bit pricey (you'll spend around 20 bucks including tax and tip) but very worth it. The pupusas come out piping hot and made-to-order. And, if you're lucky, some of the cheese will seep out the sides, resulting in a crispy, salty skirt around your pupusa. I ordered the Revuelta (Crispy and Tender Fried Pork with Cheese) and the Queso con Loroco (Cheese and Salvadoran Flower). Though the Revuelta Pupusa is the most popular, the Queso con Loroco was my favorite. The flowers added a great, leafy contrast to the decadent cheese, while the other pupusa's pork was just pedestrian and a bit dry. The portions here are quite large; the side salads could almost serve as an entree even! The food was incredible overall, and our waiter was very attentive throughout our whole visit. Honestly, I don't understand Berkeley Social's foot traffic when the better food is just next door.

Chicken Pupusa with no chicken Beef Pupusa with zero flavor Zero check in about the food

I stumbled upon this place randomly. My dad is Salvadoran and although my mom has learned to cook all of his favorite Salvadoran meals, he also sometimes likes to eat out and find a really good pupuseria! (Place where they sell pupusas). One day we were in the area and got lucky enough to find Plátano! This was one of our favorite local Salvadoran spots for a very long time. We went back to eat there more than a few times and although we haven't visited the area recently, I've been wanting to go back just to eat here! Their food tastes so authentic and delicious. Their drinks are rich and flavorful as well and my favorite dessert was of course the empanadas de plátano! (Plantain empanada). I wish there was more Salvadoran restaurants available, I also wish I lived closer to plátano to satisfy some cravings here and there. If you're in the area give them a visit. Expect friendly and attentive service, a clean restaurant, and the best darn Salvadoran food you'll try in Berkeley!

For a party of 5 loud women... we had a fantastic birthday lunch! Food was excellent. The pastelitos, plantains, and yucca were excellent starts. Then lots of pupusas all around ( moaning and groaning happened) except me. I chose caldo res (beef soup). The broth was clear and flavorful with carrots, plantain, yucca, and beef chunks. The tortillas were thick like pupusas. Service was quick, and special requests were handled quickly. We shall be back. And I'll order a pupusa.

**3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars** I've always wanted to try this place because I've never had a pupusa before! We came on a Saturday night and were able to be seated immediately. Service is friendly and pretty quick. We had the Pastelitos ($9.25), which are corn masa stuffed with chicken, carrots, green beans, and potato. These were my favorite because they were fried so they had a crispy outside and fluffy, flavorful inside. I would definitely recommend these. Lunch specials are now served all day, so we got #4 ($16), which comes with 2 pupusas, casamiento (rice and beans), and a chicken tamale. For the pupusas, we got revuelta con frijoles and the queso y loroco. Both were good, but the flavors were light and we used a lot of the salsa at the table to eat it with. They also have Salvadoran horchata, which tastes different from regular horchata. This was one was pretty sweet, so I actually prefer the regular one, but it was still fun to try. Overall, solid place to get some pupusas if you're ever craving!

It's always easy to get a table at this delicious and dependable Salvadoran restaurant. We go whenever we need a pupusa fix. The all-day lunch specials are now $24.99 but still a good way to try a few things on the menu at once. I like the combo with one pupusa, the green salad with avocado, and perfectly ripe plantains with sour cream. Plenty of food, quality ingredients, efficient service. I also enjoy the cinnamon-y Salvadoran style horchata. I don't know why this place isn't busier!

Cozy and authentic, makes you feel right at home This was my first time trying Salvadorian food and it was so delicious! I got the Lunch Special #2 which they offer all day for $17.25. While it's on the pricer end, it's very filling and tastes fresh. The avocado salad was enough to be a whole meal and it was dressed in a light but flavorful dressing. Paired with the pupusa, which was pretty heavy, it was a very well balanced meal. I enjoyed alternating between the crunchy salad and the melty pupusa. The ambiance of the place is great, it is very peaceful considering it is right in downtown. Would definitely recommend this place and can't wait to go back!

This place is on University and a bit hidden, but I wanted to try Salvadoran food and was glad I came here! Everything on the menu is super affordable, and for two people we paid less than $40 after tax and tip even though we ordered a drink. The amount of food in the pictures looks small, but it was honestly pretty filling! The pupusas came with fried plantains and sour cream. We ordered one with the Salvadoran flour and another with pork and black beans. Both were solid; the flower added an interesting flavor but honestly I liked it! The sour cream isn't the typical sour cream you would think of; it's more liquidy and has a yogurty taste. It's not bad but honestly the sour cream didn't add much for me. The paselitos were my favorite and I would definitely recommend trying them if you come here. The outside is not too soft or too crunchy, and the inside has a delicious mix of potato, vegetables, and chicken. The sangaria I honestly didn't like that much, but maybe that's because I'm not much of a red wine person. I don't regret trying it though. Overall glad I discovered this spot and would recommend you give it a try!

Platano introduced me to pupusas! This place is great, and their lunch specials (which are offered all day) are an amazing deal. I got two pupusas and a small avocado salad, but trust me, the salad is NOT small! It could be a full, light meal on its own. I struggled a bit to place my order because there are so many options. I ultimately went with the pork and chicken pupusas, but I would've sampled each one if I could. There are 10 pupusa options as of December 2022, and each one costs $4.25. Separately, I've had catered Platano and it was also delicious. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying one of the dinner options.

Was super yummy and filling! There's not too many other if any other El Salvadorian restaurants in Berkeley, so super fortunate to discover new cuisines with Platano in town :) My friend comes here a bunch, and recommended it! The restaurant is cute and family owned, but I feel like it's definitely hidden behind the other restaurants on the street. Don't miss out and visit Platano! Ordered the #6 lunch special because I love plantains, and got a balanced plate of all the foods I love! Everything was fresh and warm and melted in my mouth. Yummy and loved the side toppings they gave too. We also got the milk empanada which tasted like plantain bread pudding. Great casual spot and can't wait to come back

The pupusa's are really outstanding. I loved the tamales as well. I had no idea this fantastic restaurant existed, I cannot wait to go back. Thank you for your wonderful cooking!!!

Platano is a super cute local Salvadoran business in downtown Berkeley. After my friend couldn't stop telling me about how good the food was, I decided that we had to go. There are so many options on the menu, and the inside of the restaurant is so welcoming and homely. I decided to get the lunch special that came with two pupusas and plantains. I was taken away by how big the portion size was! The worker was super friendly, and the food was quickly delivered to us. Are the ingredients tasted so fresh, especially the plantains and beans. I had enough leftover for a second meal the next day. If you're looking to support a local business I'd highly recommend visiting Plantano. It's perfect for a small group, or a nice meal with family and friends.

Been 13 years since I lived in Berkeley and couldn't wait to come back and eat here when I was in Berkeley one afternoon. Pupusas are incredible. Absolutely delicious. Friendly staff and great unassuming ambiance right on University.

If you haven't yet tried pupusas, Platano is a great place to do it! A pupusa is the national dish of El Salvador and consists of a semi thick cornmeal crust containing various fillings. Kinda like an closed quesadilla or a tamal that's been flattened and spread thin. My favorite filling is queso with loroco, the latter of which is an edible flower that adds a little bit of herby savoriness to the cheese. Other good fillings include: - revuelta (meaning mixed) with beans, cheese, and pork - revuelta with chicharron (shredded pork in this case, NOT fried pork rinds) and cheese - chicharron by itself YUM. And, if this is going to be your first time but you want to look like a pro, be sure to add the curtido (kinda like a fresh, tangy cabbage slaw) and salsa roja (red sauce) to the top of your pupusa. Typically I'll cover it in toppings and then cut it up into triangles with a knife and fork for easier consumption. One tends to be fairly filling, but two is also good! On my most recent visit, we got a few orders of pupusas, the ensalada tropical, the ensalada fruit drink, and beans with plaintains and sour cream. Fried plaintains with sour cream are commonly eaten in Central America. This is a SAVORY food, not a sweet one. The sour cream is not like American sour cream at all. It's creamier (not quite as thick) and has a sweeter, smoother flavor. Not sweet, but sweeter than the US version. The ensalada tropical was pretty good! Would definitely order again for a fiber-rich meal. If you've never had Salvadoran cuisine or are looking for a local place to consume it, try Platano! They've got a bunch of classic dishes and the friendliest staff.

Wonderful restaurant! Great food and friendly service! We enjoyed our visit while on vacation.,

Back in college, I've always enjoyed the catered food from Platano. This was actually the first time I've eaten at the restaurant, and it was a good experience given the good food, music, and vibe. I got the lunch special which came with one cheese and Salvadorean flower pupusa, a side of plantains, and a small tropical salad. The pupusa was super cheesy just like how I remembered it to be, and the plantains were slightly crispy on the sides and sweet without being overbearing. It was the first time I tried the tropical salad, and wow I really liked it. There were many pieces of mango and papaya and cashews, and the salad was topped with coconut shavings, which was very unique.

Our party of 3 arrived at 6pm on a Saturday night. Our vaccination record cards were quickly checked and we were seated right away. The restaurant is quite large but only half of the place was used for seating; I wish we were more spread out as we were seated quite close to other parties along a single wall. After a few minutes, our order was taken and our food arrived about 15 minutes after that. We each ordered a "Lunch Special," which is served all day. There are various combos of pupusas, plantains, salads, etc. I picked #7, which has 1 pupusa, 1 tamal, and plantains for $14.99. There are many options for the type of pupusa; I chose "Queso y Frijoles" (cheese and beans). The portions are huge! The pupusa was generously stuffed and fried to a nice crispy edge. The tamal was nothing exceptional, but the plantains were amazing; a generous helping of perfect caramelization. Each table gets a bottle of light salsa and a container of curtido, which is a Salvadorean cabbage relish. Both of the condiments go really well with the pupusas. The service was excellent; our waters were refilled twice without asking. When I placed my credit card on the table, they came right away with the bill. There are two restrooms, one marked for women (which was relatively clean) and one for men. Overall, I'd definitely recommend for some Latin American comfort food.

I mean, what can I say? Damn good pupusas! Lunch Special #1 is my go-to. I get the pork, beans, & cheese + veggie & cheese pupusas :) comes with beans, plantains, and sour cream (which I usually omit.). ASK FOR EXTRA CURTIDO - thank me later! I always enjoy extraaa curtido (and extra salsa!) The plantains are nicely caramelized and are soft to the touch, yet still manages to be firm enough to keep its' shape and is my fav thing ever! Mmm, I'm already thinking about those again. I love plantains whether they are sweet or salty. Street parking isn't too bad, you can easily find a spot a few blocks away, which you may want to do anyway since you will definitely be meeting your calorie intake here! Eat them as SOON as you can. Re-heating in a microwave or on a pan can be done, but I rather just eat them in the car right away lmao. That is my new go-to "dining out" experience for the era of the Coronavirus. Keep supporting your local businesses!

I came to Platano when I was in town for the book festival happening in Berkeley. This place came recommended by a friend and did not disappoint. I got the lunch special with 2 pupusas, which came with a side of plantains, refried beans, and sour cream as well as hot sauce and cole slaw. I also got the Platano's Sangria to drink. The pupusas - I got one Revuelta (pork with cheese) and one Queso con Vegetales (vegetables with cheese). Both were incredibly tasty and were perfectly portioned. The hot sauce and cole slaw added on top of the pupusas complemented the dish very well. I also ate the refried beans and sour cream with every bite of the pupusas - it was like a delicious explosion in my mouth! 10/10. The plantains - These were nicely caramelized and were just sweet enough to qualify as dessert. It was an excellent way to end the meal. 10/10. Platano's Sangria - This drink was a mix of fruity, sweet, and tart. This combo made the drink quite tasty and was just strong enough to make sure I had a good time. 10/10 Overall Platano's was great. I would definitely come again.

Delicious, Authentic Food. Homey, Lively Ambiance. Friendly Staff. Quick Service. Generous Portions for Price. Free & Paid Parking. See Below for More Info: Delicious, Authentic Food: Food is pertinent in Salvadoran culture, almost all activities center around nutrients from meeting up with friends for pan con cafecito (bread and coffee) to chat to parents feeding and over feeding their kids partners. My honest expectations were that the restaurant would be more tailored for the college and upper-class crowd. However, I could not be more far from wrong. Plátano offers delicious, authentic Salvadoran cuisine, comparable to what you can get in the motherland of El Salvador. The curtido (cabbage with onion, vinegar, lime, salt) was tasty, a nice balance of acidity and crunch. The salsa was spicy and went nicely on top of the curtido for the pupusas. The pupusas were thin (you don't want thick masa), proportionately filled with our choices of pork and cheese. The plátanos were fried and crispy, pairing nicely with the fresh refried beans and cold, milky crema. There are not many Salvadoran restaurants in the United States I would recommend but this is one of them. I am already planning my next trip to Berkeley to dine here again. Homey, Lively Ambiance: From the moment I set foot inside Plátano, I felt at home. The ambiance was lively with people chatting and laughing, which if you have ever been with Salvadorans, is what it is like. The decor was festive and colorful. Latin music plays in the background. Friendly, Attentive Staff: Plátano staff are friendly. We were warmly greeted upon our arrival and departure. Additionally, staff came by to make sure our dining experience was going great from refilling water without having to ask to providing additional curtido for our pupusas. Quick Service: Plátano is a big restaurant and busy during the lunch rush. Yet, we were able to order and get our food in fifteen minutes. Generous Portions for Price: If you are at an authentic Salvadoran restaurant in the United States then you should be able to get a pupusa for a few dollars, now under $5 due to inflation. Pupusas here are $3.98. One pupusa can suffice a small appetite, two pupusas a medium one, and three pupusas a hearty appetite. However, if you are feeling adventurous and want to try beyond the national staple of pupusas, I highly recommend the lunch special ($15), which includes 2 pupusas and your choice of tamales, plantains, and tropical salads. The portions are generous, such that even hearty appetites will have leftovers. Free & Paid Parking: Parking is free in the residential neighborhood about two blocks from the restaurant. There are paid meters along University Avenue and a paid, parking garage near the Bart station.

I've been a long time customer here almost 10 years. It had been a while since I've been back but Yesterday I placed an order the prices have definitely gone up one pupusa can cost you almost $6. When I went in to pick up my order the waitress working handed me my receipt and the total was $45.03,I noticed a $1.00 gratuity on the receipt which I thought was odd. I gave her $46 in cash and she didn't seem as if she was going to give me back my change. I always tip but this $1 gratuity already added was suspicious. I asked her if she was going to bring me my change back which I'm the 93 cents isn't a big deal! I was just curious as to why a $1 tip was added. So she comes back with my change and a new receipt where the $1 gratuity was taken off. It's just very suspicious and made my experience here unpleasant. This girl could have been new I know most the employees that work here but I won't be returning and will be taking my business elsewhere. Very shady.

Went here on a friend's suggestion and was not disappointed. I was able to only eat half of everything on the plate. Only two people working the tables but they visited every table often. Food was excellent. Again I'm not a fan of refried beans but these beans were so good. A little salty for my taste but still good.

Just amazing! Excellent service and fantastic food! Will be coming back for more! Love the atmosphere and vibe of the restaurant.

Updating my review because I finally placed a pick up order as I said I would try doing! I placed a pick up for their avocado salad lunch combination with a bean and cheese pupusa and a cheese and loroco pupusa. The total came out to about $17 but it was a lot of food! This can easily be two meals or one meal to fill you up for the rest of the day. The salad came with avocado, cheese, tortilla strips, black beans, tomato, and onion. The dressing is really savory and one of my favorites. The lettuce was crispy and the other ingredients were very fresh. My only critique of the salad would be that it came with a single tomato slice and the beans could have been drained a bit better. The pupusas were still warm by the time I got home and were delicious. They came with salsa and curtido.

Hello! Cheesy pupusa goodness! Since the students are still off on winter break, I decided to venture to Platano's to try their pupusas. I have had them once before for a catered event but nothing beats the hot cheesy goodness I was served...but I'm getting ahead of myself. Arrived around 12:15 pm and was promptly seated, given a menu and a glass of water. Decided to order the first lunch special of two pupusas and the plantain with beans and sour cream. It took about 10 minutes before I received my food, but I enjoyed every bite of the pupusas with the sauce and shredded cabbage condiments they gave me. I was so full that I barely had room for the plantains so I ended up eating one and taking the rest home. The plantains were sweet (but not overly) with a slight caramelized crunch. I normally don't have sour cream but the beans were very smooth and mixed well with the plantain. I was in and out by 12:45 with my to go container of my remaining plantain. I would definitely come here more often if it wasn't such a trek and the slightly longer wait time for food before walking back up to campus. Clean and the staff are extremely friendly and efficient. Street parking.

Another one I forgot to write, for over ten years I have visited this spot in Berkeley. I have even eaten at the the sister restaurant in Lathrop, and Cafe in Tracy. All excellent, with variations in the menus per location. My favorite dinner is Pollo Asado, a grilled drumstick and thigh with casamenito and black beans. A hearty dinner that never misses. Great charring flavor. Get a side of plantains, and you can skip desssert. If you want something different, try the pupusas. My favorite is the pork, black beans and cheese. Two of these plus a chicken tamale and you have Lunch special #4. Comes with the pickled cabbage and tomato sauce. Lunch is served all day! If you order the Salvadorian Horchata, it has a nice chocolate flavor to it. The fresh fruit drink are also great. A lot to explore here, give this place a try.

I was craving pupusas so I did a quick search on here for just that and Platano popped up. I ordered one of their lunch specials for $15: 2 pupusas, sour cream, beans, and platano. And. It. Was. Amazing. Not just the food but the service was top notch, I'll definitely have to get food from here again. Thanks for helping me get my pupusa fix!

I had the Revuelta and the Queso y Loroco pupusas with Plantains, Beans, and Sour Cream. It tasted fantastic. If your not super hungry, you could share this lunch special (option 1 on the menu) with someone as it felt like something for 2 people. The servers helped me in choosing the dishes as I had never tried Salvadoran cuisine before. They have Spanish music playing in the background giving the place a nice feel.

Platano was great and I'm happy to have discovered it! This came up when searching for places that have pupusa's, and the reviews seemed really good, so we decided to give it a try. It has a simple but clean dining area with ample seating available. We were quickly seated and had our orders taken. Everything was friendly and efficient! I got one of the lunch specials, with some pupusas, platanos, and sour cream. They were all great! The pupusas had a great texture and went great with the salsa and toppings provided for the table. Everything was a little bit pricey for relatively simple food, with lunch specials being $15 and a cup of coffee with one free refill being $4. That's understandable, given the general prices of things in Berkeley and the Bay Area in general. The food is simple, but very good. The service is friendly and efficient. The interior is presentable and clean! I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

I found myself craving pupusas today and found this place . What a gem!! The pupusas are VERY fresh and everything screams homemade. Plantains con crema and beans are very generous in portion (as a stand alone or as a side), and rich in flavor. The table will be served two types of salsas, in addition to a jar of pickled cabbage. Delicious!! I would definitely go back and try the tamales.

Wow! I didn't know this Salvadoran restaurant has been here for over 10 years! My family usually goes to San Francisco for real good authentic pupusas, and lately we've been going to Hayward. We happened to be in Berkeley for a Yelp Elite Event. Afterwards, we decided to look for a place to eat. The kids saw the word "Salvadoran" and immediately pointed it out to us that they think they saw a Salvadoran restaurant and asked if we could get pupusas. Heck ya! Normally I am following a keto diet. But not today! I ordered one pupusa with platanos and a small avocado salad. Wow! It was all amazing!!! The masa was good. The filling was evenly spread out. The cortido had the right amount of tartness. The platanos were ripe and sweet. The salad was really good. Simple but full of great toppings (Perfectly cooked black beans, perfectly ripened avocado, and crisp tortilla strips) and beautifully presented. The dressing was also delicious. I would order this salad again with chicken (when we come back for more pupusas). Everyone else ordered two pupusas each and all the plates were clean! We are definitely coming back!

The food is delicious. Just writing this post make me go pick up some food now. The ambiance is very well set with the music and the colors. Pupusa revuelta con frojoles: this is a 10/10 super delicious. The size is pretty big. I got 2 and had some left over. Casamiento: it was a rice and bean dish which iv never tried anything like this before and it did not disappoint. The dish portion is shareable with 2 maybe 3 people. Ensalada agua: was so refreshing and love the bits of fruit inside.

Really great pupusas! Very delicious. Not a bad value. The salsa is amazing too. Will be back!