Guanaco's Tacos Pupuseria

"Guanaco’s serves delicious pupusas, and they’re made to order which is the best way to eat these little stuffed pockets of masa. We like ours with cheese and roasted cactus, but you can get ones with beans, spinach, jalapeño, and/or loroco, which is a type of tropical flower similar to chard. It’s an ideal quick dinner before bar-hopping on the Ave." - Aimee Rizzo

"This University District gem is wedged unassumingly between a Korean joint and a Taiwanese spot a ways away from the bustle of the Ave, which is perhaps why it doesn’t get much love outside of a dedicated contingent of lunchtime regulars. The combo plates are the way to go, here, allowing you to sample a spread of Salvadorian morsels like the signature pupusas, fried yuca, or savory pastelitos, a golden pocket of pastry similar to an empanada. You get to choose your own blend of fillings for the pupusas, and the glorious options range from pork and refried beans to traditional nopales and loroca, a South American herb with a distinctive woody, vegetal flavor reminiscent of asparagus or spinach. All the combo plates come with an expertly-executed side of beans and rice and a bracingly hot, vinegary salsa." - Eater Staff

"The pupusas at Guanaco’s are delicious - they’re stuffed with ingredients like cactus, pork, cheese, and vegetables, come out fast, and go great with the house hot sauce. While we’re big fans of these filled masa pockets, the menu here has a ton of variety - you could also order a burrito, tacos, tamales, or empanadas. It’s a great spot to hit on a weeknight evening for a quick meal if you have other plans, like seeing how many graduate classes you can sneak into without anyone noticing that you’re not actually a student." - aimee rizzo

"Masa stuffed with meat and cheese is always good, but at Guanaco’s, it’s great. You can choose what fillings will go inside your pupusas, and our favorite combo is the chicken, cheese, and cactus. Don’t be shy with the green and red salsa." - Aimee Rizzo

"Masa stuffed with meat and cheese is always good, but at Guanaco’s, it’s great. You can choose what fillings will go inside your pupusas, and our favorite combo is the chicken, cheese, and cactus. Don’t be shy with the green and red salsa." - Aimee Rizzo