San Alejo Restaurant

This place totally rocks! The choices on the menu looked so good we couldnt decide so we ordered a ton. Everything was absolutely delicious and was a great value. Super friendly staff as well. We are super happy to have leftovers for the next few days.

One of the best tasting Salvadoran food places in the DMV! The sopa de gallina india and sopa de frijoles are favorites, not to mention the pupusas. And they welcome you with a smile.

I recommend this restaurant for sure. Me and my parents always come eat here and the service is a 10/10. Theres a worker there named Claudia, she deserves a raise. Shes always so nice and so attentive. This is my favorite restaurant 🥹

Gerson was amazing, highly recommend food was super fresh and delicious! A wonderful taste of back home!

Wow, this is one of the best Latin restaurants in this area… so yummy pupusas, plantain and the breakfast everything delicious… I tried coffe in this place and it’s so different. So Rich … definitely everything work it… recommend, they are so kind of too. Great costumer services

The best food my wife and I had. We have to take some to go.

Ummm... Yum. I like the modern menu, staff was friendly, atmosphere was cool, was authentically themed. Food is very delicious. Very fresh.

Excellent Service! Props to Gerson our waiter he was very polite and took his time to explain the menu to us as it was our first time there, i highly recommend the food was delicious and the service was phenomal. Thank You Gerson⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We usually order to go but stayed and ate in today and it was so nice! They redecorated and it's very clean! Food was great and service friendly!

We noticed this new location when we drove past a week ago. We came back for July 4th weekend. The pupusas were sooo good. Very flavorful and the filling was thick. I also got the fried tilapia. It was flavorful and crisp. I've never had fried fish at a restaurant. This dish did not miss. I did ask for sauce to accompany the fried yucca. The service was prompt. The facility seemed clean. We will definitely be back.

I was in the area and recently saw an instagram review by dccheapeats so I decided to check it out... I'm glad I did ! I ordered Pupusas Clásicas - Cerdo, Frijoles and Queso and they were so good! The size and flavors were super satisfying and tasted so authentic. I also had Yuca y Chicharrón. I have had the two separately before but the combination of the two along with the cheese, curtido and other amazing flavors was so good! I ordered for pick up online so my interaction with the staff was limited but they were so very friendly, my food was ready, the place was very clean and the pick up process was easy.

Hole in the wall spot, love their pupusas!!!! Fast service and incredible food! Easy parking

I recently had the pleasure of discovering a hidden gem of an authentic El Salvadorian restaurant, and I must say, it was an absolute delight. From the moment I stepped foot into the restaurant, I knew I was in for a special experience. The staff at this El Salvadorian restaurant were incredibly welcoming and friendly. Their genuine warmth and hospitality made me feel right at home. They took the time to explain the menu and even offered recommendations for dishes that would showcase the true flavors of El Salvador. Their passion for their culture and cuisine was evident in every interaction. Now, let's talk about the food. Oh, the food! It was truly a culinary adventure. The menu featured a wide variety of traditional El Salvadorian dishes, each bursting with authentic flavors and made with love. From pupusas to yuca frita, every bite was a taste of El Salvador. The ingredients were fresh, the portions were generous, and the presentation was beautiful. But what truly made this dining experience unforgettable was the personal touch from the staff. They went above and beyond to ensure that every detail was perfect. They checked in on us regularly, making sure we were enjoying our meal and answering any questions we had. Their genuine enthusiasm for the cuisine and their dedication to providing excellent service was evident in every interaction. Beyond the exceptional food and service, the atmosphere of the restaurant was cozy and inviting. It felt like stepping into a small corner of El Salvador, with vibrant decorations and traditional music playing softly in the background. It was a space where you could truly relax and savor the flavors of this beautiful country. In conclusion, this hidden gem of an authentic El Salvadorian restaurant exceeded all expectations. The delightful staff, with their warm hospitality and genuine passion, made the dining experience truly memorable. The food was a delicious journey through the flavors of El Salvador, and the cozy atmosphere added to the overall charm. If you're looking for an authentic taste of El Salvador and a dining experience that feels like being welcomed into a family's home, I highly recommend this restaurant. *** photos are of tacos that I tried during my third trip here***

First time in this place. Firefighters getting their lunch, good sight food might be delicious... that was might thought. Friendly environment, you can see the lady making the pupusas from your table. I have regular pupusas and my husband got the shrimp and jalapeño pupusas just be careful with the jalapeños might be spicy but my husband's favorite was shrimp definitely he is coming back for that. When we are in the area

Great service all the time! The food is delicious and authentic. Our server Claudia is the best. The place feels like a Latin American home with homemade foods. Highly recommend. The atmosphere is welcoming.

Came here on a whim the other day to get some pupusas to go. Ordered traditional and modern pupusa flavors: pork and cheese, beans and cheese, jalapeños and cheese, and shrimp and cheese. All the pupusas were really good, thick and full of flavor! The favs hands down were definitely the jalapeño and cheese and pork and cheese. I will also note the shrimp pupusa had a "seafood" taste to it, FYI. Staff was friendly and service was quick. Docked a star because we ordered four modern pupusas, which each is supposed to come with pico de gallo and guacamole, we only got one small side container of each to go which we thought was a bit stingy. We asked for more and they kindly gave us one more of each. Overall, really good and affordable pupusas. Will definitely return again.

I love the pupusas at this place, it's a little noisy, but I can be better at home so I prefer to do take out

Been attending San Alejo now for several years (5) and always get the best service and accommodations from Claudia. I'm Vegan and sometimes Pescatarian but Claudia always accommodates my palate. For breakfast I've had stir-fried vegetables, plantain {sometimes yucca}, refried beans, avocado, hot chocolate to die for, and tortillas. For lunch or dinner I've had salmon, or shrimp tacos, or Pescado Frito - yummy for my tummy.....

Great little spot. Pupusas are made fresh and they are quick with the orders. The horchata is also very natural and authentic. The place is clean and open for you to see how the food is made. Este comedor es muy limpio y rapido. Las pupusas son bien ricas y la horchata es auntetica. Talvez y le hace la competicion a la chiquita. Las pupusas son hechas rapido y frescas.

I drive pass this place 5 days a week on my way to work. I first saw the coming soon sign last spring. Well the school year ended and still no opening. With a new school year, I finally found it opened! I stopped in for pupusas on a day I left work at 11:00. I got mine to go. Regular pupusas are $1.75, but I chose two specialty one that were just $0.25 more. And They were delicious! The shrimp and cheese was very good, but I absolutely loved the spinach and mushroom one. I'm so happy this place is here, even though it's on the wrong side of the road on my commute home. They were open at 6:30 am on the weekdays, but now it's 8:30am. The place has modest decor, and wouldn't mind dining in next time. The cashier was very friendly, and the pupusas came out quickly.

Excellent chill place to get take out or stop in for a beer and bite to eat. I stop by at least once every few weeks when I'm craving some yummy Mexican/ El Salvadorian food. The owner is very kind and we've chatted on numerous occasions.

Man oh man!!! This place have great Pupusas!! We ordered the frijoles con queso(bean and cheese) and the chicharron con queso(pork and cheese).both were extremely good! We also ordered the yuca with chicharron and cabbage on top, let me tell you, I can eat that once a week. Very satisfied! Would recommend this place. Ps. There is a language barrier if you do not know a little Spanish. The waitress was still great and able to take our order

I HAD A COCKROACH IN MY FOOD!! I asked for scrambled easy eggs with green pepper... when I saw the dark things, so I started separating the pieces... the server stopped by and asked me if everything was OK,I told her to take a look, and she replied: that's just toasted egg, I asked to talk to the manager and she said she was a manager, they didn't want to see it or accept it... and then another guy approached me and told me to leave the place, I just stood up and got out. I believe he was the real manager....no one apologized.. He got out too and told me that -because of little people like me, Hispanic business owners don't succeed - Then went back inside. I don't care where are you from, you should have the right sanitary conditions and some ethic and respect won't be bad either. UNA CUCARACHA EN MI COMIDA!! Pedí huevos revueltos con Green peppers, cuando vi las cosas oscuras empecé a separar los pedazos, la mesera se acercó y me preguntó si todo estaba bien, le dije que echara un vistazo, y ella respondió: que solo era huevo tostado, le pedí hablar con el manager y ella dijo que ella era la manager, no querían verlo ni aceptarlo ... Luego un hombre se acercó y me dijo que me saliera del restaurante simplemente me puse de pie y salí, creo que él era el verdadero manager o dueño..Nadie se disculpó, El salió y me dijo que: por personitas como yo, los dueños de negocios hispanos no tienen éxito, Luego se entró. No me importa de donde sea su procedencia debe tener condiciones apropiadas de higiene y algo de ética y respeto no estarían mal.

This restaurant looks pretty clean and the service is pretty okay. I like the map they have in which you can pin where you are from. I've been here twice and have tried the pupusas and nachos. The pork and cheese pupusas are the best I've tried thus far in my life!!! The good points stop here. On my second visit, I decided to try the chicken nachos. Yuck!!! First off, the cheese was the liquid cheese that taste like the cheese they sell and 7-Eleven for the chili cheese hot dogs. The tortilla chips weren't that great, and the overall taste was nasty. Overall good, but ordering the nachos left me scared to try anything but the pupusas here.

just finished an amazing lunch of fresh bean soup with two chunks of braised short ribs, rice, egg and a few pupusas! so delicious. the service was great and the menu authentic. whenever we are in town we make sure we have a meal at this neighborhood favorite. Highly recommen!

This place never disappoints! Anytime I'm in the area I make it my business to stop by. Their food is always fresh and delicious. The pupusas are cheesy and fat. The sauce and cabbage is always flavorful. The yuca and chicharron was fried to perfection! It was crispy. The fresco de marañon and tamarindo never disappoint!

Homemade tortillas for the best enchiladas and papusas around. Modern menu, sleek atmosphere, and authentic cuisine make this the best Mexican food around. A must for anyone nearby and hungry.

Best pupusas of the area , and the baleadas if you are truly a honduran person this place will like you , the baleadas are so good , better than other places

Recently moved to the area and tried them at the recommendation of my aunt. Although not my first choice (the other was too far), I was pleasantly surprised. Due to COVID, I would try to order prior to your arrival as they have an aggressive amount of orders. You may wait over 30 minutes, so be prepared. Will definitely be going back.

Great pupusas, definitely my favorite place to get them. I love the slaw, it's nicely done and not too overpowering. They have other food options but I can't speak for them. My favorite pupusa is the jalapeño and cheese.

Yeah this place is great! I've lived in the area my whole live but just discovered San Alejo and it quickly became my new go to Salvadoran place. Their pupusas are the perfect filling/masa ratio, their platos típicos are all delicious, everything is made fresh, and the staff is super friendly! We've tried tons of dishes on the menu (chilaquiles, carne deshilada, all the pupusas, horchata, camarones entomatados, etc) and all have been great. It's hard to stand out when there are pupuserias on every block, but this place does easily.

This tidy little spot cooks up a variety of traditional and "modern" pupusas. We like the chicken and cheese. The horchata is homemade. One other thing that sets them apart is the pupusas are ready faster than at most places (15 minutes!).

This is the second time I've eaten here. I had to give it a try again since the reviews are so good. The staff is friendly, prices are modest and the service is quick. Unfortunately, the food seems to be cooked using old oil that has an unpleasant smell and flavor -- you can smell it walking in. The complimentary salsa is fresh and mild if watery but the accompanying chips are thick, dark and taste of old oIl. The burrito was large, but the flavor was over-powered by old oil and the filling just tasted like mush, with few flavors of the ingredients breaking through. It didn't help that the tortilla tasted dry and flavorless. I love to support local businesses but can't see a third try making sense, not with the nasty cooking oil presumably flavoring everything.

The Spanish- Salvadorean establishment offers diverse Central American cuisine! The staff is polite and provides excellent customer service. There is a language barrier but if you are patient and are okay with pointing at the menu you are in for a treat! I would order their delicious enchiladas and tacos!

I found this place on yelp tonight, I went there for the first time, I love the food an the people that work there smiled a lot ! I loved it ! The food was soooooo so so good:)

I came to buy some pupusas couple weeks ago, when I approved the counter the person who was making the pupusas was eating and making the supupas. I didn't order because of lack of sanitary.

Amazing pupusas. They are generous with the filling. Great sauces and accompaniments.

Awesome clean simple casual dining. Open kitchen with attentive servers. Food is bomb!

I love this little hole in wall place. I love the guacamole and chips. I had the mix fajita it was pretty good.

This place is amazing and authentic. I visited from Florida and I'm glad we stopped here. It is very clean, tasty and plenty of variety. The atmosphere was awesome. The pupusas, fajitas and shakes were delicious and the best I've had. The staff was truly amazing! I will definitely be going again on my next visit to MD.

San Alejo has some of the best pupusas ever! And they're curtido is so on point that I eat it alone. It tastes fresh and homemade. Pupusas are nice and crispy! And the fresh juices are also fresh and homemade. Also pupusas are about 1.75 each! Great value for quality! Make San Alejo you're go to pupusa place!

First visit yesterday was a very pleasant surprise. I'd read in Wash Po that it is a good place for papusas. Which I am a fan of. I know the local places on Kenilworth Ave, College Park and Langley Park. San Alejo is in the top tier, if not the top. I shared pork/cheese and shrimp/cheese with my wife and we agreed they were excellent. I also got some guac and salsa sides. Also excellent. The red sauce that comes with the papusas has a very nice slow burn and goes perfectly with the sliced cabbage. Service was polite, informative and timely. As everything is made to order, the short wait was also a pleasant surprise. Highly recommended. Except for those that do not like REAL authentic Salvadoran food.

Food is super good and tasted amazing. Really like the service as well. Definitely recommend the place to anyone in for a delicious Latin meal !!

Food is okay depending on the cook I mostly get pupusas. They did however loose my order and I only get a 30 min lunch break so I wasted my gas and didn't have time to buy anything else. Never returning again.

One of the best Salvadorian places around. So fresh and authentic. The balliadas carne is filling but oddly light and refreshing. Perfect balance of flavor and heft. Service is also nice, limited English but super friendly and done with a smile. I'd rather have a friendly smile minus English than a rude English speaking server.

I would like to take a moment to apologize,especially to the owner of Comedor San Alejo my previous review just give them one star wich it was a mistake, My experience in Comedor San Alejo it was above excellent the food is one of the best in the area, service is really good, restaurant clean,again 5 stars ...

Got there after checking online + closing time online to get told that it was close around 9:05pm when the closing time says is 9:30pm is very disappointing to hear that from the kitchen gm when you're excite about the food you want to taste and eat, Hope management looks onto what went wrong for them to say that they were close. Visit this place for lunch with a friend seat down waited for about an half hour none of the waiters come to us to ask about anything I we walked out this is the worse experience they need to work on their experience with the guest last time I visited did not got offer water very disappointed of this place

First time visiting and for being the first time I had the worst experience! Food was served to other tables whom came after we got there. Pupusas were good but the rest of the foods had no good flavor what so ever. Once the food was served we were still missing one dish, which literally 30 mins later arrived. Waitress said they were busy with other orders! Which means they were serving everyone else instead of us who had arrived first. Though the place is very clean and somewhat good manners. My family is a BIG Family so due to that We had all eyes on us! First and last time visiting.

A hidden gem. Great food, very authentic, cozy atmosphere, great prices. We were out for a walk on the Sligo Creek Trail and decided to grab lunch before turning back. The place was packed on Sunday at 2pm and it was easy to see why.

I was there last night and the pupusas revueltas were just amazing, we shared a sopa de pollo that was extremely perfect and our server Claudia was very cool and attended us just great!!!! We definitely are come in back

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. The papusas are excellent, and very affordable. The staff doesn't speak very good English, but are very friendly, and the place is very welcoming for eating in.

Simple El Salvadoran home-style cooking with a good amount of food for the money. My sister had the chicken quesadilla and said it was the best she's ever had. I had the grilled shrimp, also excellent. For fun, there are maps on the wall for customers to pin their places of birth.