Nobody who works here seems to care about anything. Service was lackluster and slow, food was coarse, not prepared properly, overcooked, and dumped on plates. Did not feel welcome, but then staff rarely smiled. Food was nasty and inauthentic compared to other central american restaurants at which I've dined. Expected the oysters in a seafood soup to be out of shell and shrimp to have head and tail removed. Since when is southern fried chicken part of ANY central or south american dish...putting a salvadoran tomato sauce over the top of yesterday's (last week?) fried, breaded chicken pieces (with bones) not convincing or tasty. All three of us dining felt like we were eating leftovers. Entire place is dreary, dirty, and dusty. Bathrooms are filthy...the alley is cleaner. Go to the Colombian restaurant around the corner on E. 7th for a sumptuous latin meal.

Welcoming. Unpretentious. Authentic. As a Salvadoran myself, I had my concerns about going to El Sunzal, a Salvadoran restaurant located in a predominantly Mexican part of Austin. Would the menu be less authentically guanaco? More tex-mex? Would the pupusas be greasy, filled with beef, or some way americanized? While there is a part of the menu that is of tacos and quesadillas and the like, the place lives up to the expectation that it will be como un rincóncito Salvadoreño. So, yes, expect to SPEAK Spanish. Duh. But also expect to eat the meal any Salvadoran imagines as "comfort food:" pupusas con loroco, platanos maduros con lado de crema, pollo encebollado. They have suprema and pilsener and colashanpan! One star less than perfect for the Mexican portion of the menu. Also the pupusas could have come with slightly more filling.

It was recommended to us that we try the Pupusas from here, having tried them at other locations and not being impressed. They were really good here. I would recommend them totally and they're only $2 apiece. They were so good that I ordered another one and I'm now curious about the rest of the menu. The downside was that it wasn't busy and it took longer than expected, like 15, 20 minutes to get our food and they were just Pupusas, at least on this experience, but it's worth it if you have the time, if we were in a hurry on this particular outing that would have been a major disappointment. We will be back. Looking forward to trying their tamales.

I really love this place, yes its missing some decor but I come for the food so it doesn't bother me. I love their pupusas, so tasty. My husband and I always come here for the Mariscada con crema. It is just so delicious. I don't think it's pricey. The salsa it's very spicy but great to go with chips. People complaining about the salsa being too spicy probably prefer the tex-mex restaurant salsa that comes from a jar (yuck) great selection of Latin American beers, my husband loves that. Not so great for large parties but other than that it's great. I love it. I will be a customer for life. Great food good service reasonable prices.

There was only one waitperson, and she tried her best, but I really thought that there should be more wait staff. The food was okay, but the beans were cold and I complained, the waitperson said that they were warm. I immediately corrected her by saying that the plate is warm but the beans were cold. She still tried to argue and I said, " Are you calling me a lier?" Then instead of offering to bring warm beans she decided to not charge me for the beans. This is why I believe that there needs to be more than one waitperson. I still tipped her as I know that she must be stressed so did tip her and I know that this is not her fault.

The tamales (cooked in a banana leaf as opposed to corn husk) are are really really good. So are the pupusas. I haven't had the tacos yet cuz i always get tamales and pupusas, but they look good too. If I happen deviate from tamales I'll edit this post to provide taco info. The default salsa they provide is good but very spicy but they do have another salsa that is far less spicy. Chips and salsa are not free, btw. They have 3 rotating agua frescas and offer some interesting flavors like cebada and marangion (sp?) as well as standard ones like horchata, tanarindo, and pina.

The food is usually good, but this time around we came & not only did they take FOREVER when the the restaurant was completely empty, but they were skimpy on the meat for all of our plates! We opened up the pupusa & there were like 2 little shreds of pork in it. Then the fajita plate had just enough to make one taco yet they give you 3 tortillas, but what's making it bad enough for me to leave this review was the service, when we brought all this to our waitress's attention, she just looked at it & told us to order more. Really!? Not going back unless I'm dragged there.

This review hurts me, I was here 7 years ago and it was the most authentic salvadorean food I had since my home country. This recent visit was very sad, 2 other clients during peek dinner hours, had to share a menu because we only got one. And were informed tortillas don't come with their plates... the atmosphere is sad and gloomy. Music was way too loud. And food was mediocre at best.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Yes
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

If I could I will put zero stars to the service!! The food I do like !! Horrible service the lady at front definitely need to go take a class of costumer services Immediately. I call several times to place a order never answered ! I got there she was very rude not just with me but with everyone in the restaurant she have the mean look her response to whatever question was Awful !! Please please restaurant owners talk to your employees do something! I don’t want come ever again!!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30

Outside of a street vendor in Honduras, El Zunzal was my first pupusa experience, and it lived up to my expectations. Great pupusas and tamales, very affordable price. Big fan of the salsa as well. I don't like the horchata at all, though I'm not quite sure on that. I've gotten it about 4 times. 3 times were good, 1 time was straight up bad. It tasted like chocolate and sand. I've been hesitant to order it ever since, though that may be a bit unfair of me. Anyway, great food and cheap prices. You can leave full for $6-7.

Hidden gem of East Austin! I went here first with my Dad and we both loved it. Everything was delicious and I’m surprised more people don’t come here. The guacamole is so fresh with chunks of avocado - really tasty. Our enchiladas and tacos were great. Wonderful vibe inside as well; laid back and unpretentious. If I need help ordering, other patrons are friendly and helpful. Love this spot
Service
Take out
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$1–10

The best of the best pupusas in town!! Very good flavor on the pupusas. Fresh and tasty... About service: Excellent service from the waitress. Kind, friendly and very well knowledgeable about the Menu. About location: easy to find out. On east 7th street and pleasant valley, next by the HEB. Across street of autozone. About price: affordable rates. About the food: SUPER DELICIOUS!!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20

I was excited to have found an authentic salvadorian restaurant, but I have to say I was truly disappointed. The pupusas I ordered (which I had to pay Xtra bcuz they only make them w cheese & fried pork) ea one cost $3! ☹️ The beans & plantains we're also a disappointment. My BF ordered breaded shrimp & couldn't eat it, bcuz the smell & taste of "frozen" oozed even after they had been fried. My search will continue...

Unpretentious and honest Salvadoran cuisine. Tried pupusas, tamales (quite unlike the familiar Mexican version), meat pies, and soups - all were well prepared and comforting. Both the fish and seafood cream soups came loaded with goodies - an entire fish in the former and a variety of shrimp, mussels, crab, and krab in the latter. Try a chocobanano as you close out your check and head out the door.

Went here for the first time on Sunday. Read all the great reviews and decided to give it a shot. Hole in the wall kinda joint but your their for the food not the decor. I decided to play it safe and go with the Popusas and Tamales both were delicious! Horchata is different from mexican horchatas I'm used to but it was really good. Will definitely come back to tryout more of their food.

Wow, what a find! Right next to the large HEB was a super authentic Salvadoran restaurant. While very sparsely decorated, the service is friendly--though only in Spanish. The salsa had a nice citrus taste, and they had a selection of Salvadoran beers to go with your food. While the pupusa was good, the fried yuca with chicarones was amazing!! Very cool place, I'll definitely be back.

We went on a day when everyone must've been working so we had the whole restaurant to ourselves. The pupusas are good (not as good as my mom's ). They didn't have horchata, which was disappointing. However, the agua de tamarindo was really good. The place looks run down, but the food is pretty good.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Food: 4
Service: 5

Beautiful little hole in the wall. Not sure how authentic this food is as i have never been to el Salvador, but judging by the enthusiastic patronage that this place enjoys without any advertising, i would guesstimate that they are pretty authentic. Food is top notch and employees are really nice, especially the patience that they show a non Spanish speaker!!!

Love El Sunzal, we've been coming for years. My favorite is the yuca frita with chicharrón. Their pupusas are pretty good too. Some of the best salvi comfort food!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Pupusas, Yuca Frita Con Chicharron

I just went up there to change my pupusas and was told NO REFUND AND NO CHANGES, to my PREGNANT WIFE !!!! The owner herself with attitude !!!! It is your fault that your ordered them and you have to deal w it, would not HIGHLY RECOMMEND COMING HERE, if you make a mistake it’s YOUR FAULT NOT THEIRS !! Don’t even bother coming here

good food. Not alot of Papusa places in Austin like it is in Houston but this one is the best. They don't speak good English and usually has like one server but I guess it's worth it for the food. It's not good ac either when it's really hot in the summer . so if you are trying to cool off and eat you may be disappointed.

I've been to other salvoderian restaurants and ordered pupusas and I've never waited so long for them. I paid my pupusas first than the other customers who walked in but the waitress served their food first. I will never come to this restaurant again because i feel they discriminate against Afro-latinos.

I adore this spot! The fantastic service and platanos keep me coming back. I feel like I'm stepping into El Salvador when I'm there. My order is always taken in spanish, they always have the most incredible latin dancing music playing, and the food doesn't have the 'Tex' touch. Customer for life.

This is a very authentic El Salvadorian restaurant in east, east Austin. Be prepared to order in Spanish at this hole in the wall, with menu items like Fried Yucca, Pupusas de Chicarron (excellent), and Caldo de pescado. Cheap, good service, and extremely crowded during futbol!!!

The food is good but a little on the expensive side. I ordered 2 pupusas and some refried beans with an horchata and my total was over $14. If I go back, I'll probably just order some pupusas to go and save myself about $8+. Too expensive for a date or family trip.

Food was not good at all, salsa for chips was devil spicy couldn't eat it, carne asada felt too cooked almost burned. Pupusas were good but way far from excellent, the curtido for the pupusas was bitter but the jugo de pina on the other hand was the best I had.

To Ms. Maldonado, if you're complaining about SALSA being too spicy then please don't go to a authentic restaurant and go to a commercial place. The pupusas were pretty great and I loved the maracuja juice! My waiter was incredibly sweet I loved the service.

El Sunzal is one of the best places in Austin to eat Salvadorian food! The prices are just right, they have all kinds of beer from Latin America, and the food keeps you longing for more even after you're full. Platanos fritos, pupusas, tamales, yucca... mmm

The food at El Sunzal was great! Their menu has plenty of dishes to choose from! It is helpful if you are able to understand and speak a little Spanish :) Service was quick and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. We will definitely be back soon!

I really wanted to like this place, because it's local and cheap, but I just didn't like it that much. Had a papusa, but it was way too small and had little filling. Two tacos, but they were average and the tortillas needed to be fried a bit.

Went here with my Salvadorian friend. The staff is friendly and the food is delicious. You can get a full meal of 2 pupusas or a pupusa and a tamale with a beer for under ten dollars. Also, they offer chocobananas and other treats sometimes.

Def a 4...good not great! Pupusas are my favorite food and theirs are just alright. Had revuelta pupusa, plantains, beans and cream. As stated on other reviews, the service is on the slower side but very friendly. I didn’t have any issues.

I have been looking for good pupusas for a long time since moving to Austin. Anyone interested in trying out Salvadoran food should definitely make the trip to this restaurant. The staff is extremely friendly and the food is delicious!

If you really like central american food this is a good spot, I recomend las pupusas and sopa de mariscos, empana de platano is not that good so you can skip. Don't expect a fancy place, this is more like low level place with good food

Overall food was good. The only thing that disappoint me was that the corn tamale qas super soggy and super sweet. I am not sure if is supposed to taste that way or have that texture though. But my husband and i will be returning.

Very unassuming mom -n- pops joint, and delicious. Platanos -n- beans were perfect. Camarones plato was perfect. Pupusas were delicious. Overall delicious. Eating family style here works perfect. Surprisingly picoso salsita.

Love this place! Yummy pupusas and other things. It was a they are closed on Mondays on Google but they weren’t closed today! Def check it out
Service
Take out
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$1–10

This place is a community nursery. It actually has a feel like a night market which is pretty cool. Live entertainment, little shops of handmade crafts, play area for kiddos, water features, tropical plants galore!

I love this place for true authentic El Salvadorian food. One of the things i missed the most about living in Central America is the food, this place solves my cravings every time. Pupusas and platanos all the way.

This was my first ever Salvadorian food, and I was really happy that they worked with me to find yummy veg options, which ended up being cheese, bean, and loroco pupusas, plus a sweet tamal, crema, and plantains.

This was my first favorite restaurant in Austin. So happy it hasn't changed even with all the gentrification around it. The papusas are delicious! The salsa is SPICY, so be careful if you can't handle heat

Best $5.95 I've ever spent Included: 1 chicharon & queso pupusa, 1 elote (corn) tamal & a drink D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S I didn't dine in so I can't rate waitstaff but the lady at the register was friendly

Amazing food!! We went to another place that was overpriced and decided to go here instead for Sunday brunch. If you want good tasting and authentic Salvadoran food, this is the place to be!

Their Salvadoran guacamole is amazing. Really good food in a friendly, unassuming atmosphere. Try it, you'll like it. There are some options for vegetarians, but not too much that is vegan.

Best pupusa in Austin!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Pupusas

Really good pupusas, out of all the places I've tried there have been my favorite.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

I saw all the coments about the pupusas and we went here, and let me tell you something... my wife loves them!!! Come by anyone, Pupusas is $2 each, worth the purches!!!

Good food and good customer service but they needed for employees to long to get are food.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30

Delicious papusas' and the horchata is always a must. Staff is always great & friendly.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20

Great place for pupusas. No frills decor but cheap, delicious food. A couple pupusas and the plantains will fill you up. Watch out, the house salsa is hot! …

This place had a hidden gem. Great prices on breakfast and delicious papusas. The is my go to for papusas in Austin. Pro tip: get extra slaw with your papusas.

Ordered a carne asada and got a greasy beef jerky.. meat was so hard and burnt! Not authentic at all! Very disappointed defiantly will not be coming back.

Food is good but took 30 mins to get our food, on Sunday’s they close at 2 when the sign says 5pm
Food: 4
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3

It's ok...pupusas underdone and chiccharon/yuca appetizer way overpriced. $10 for 6oz pork and some fried yucca? Not hardly. Service needs help too...

Place doesn't look that great from the outside but it's the food that counts. Love their pupusas and tamales. Something i missed since leaving home.

Love this restaurant! Great Salvadoreño food...pupusas, tamales! Reminds me of my country!!! Come try it out. Its a hole in the wall...but its great

This is one of my favorite places to eat ethnic food. If you have never tried Salvadoran food, this is the best place to have your first experience.

Ignore the bars on the windows and no those are not bullet holes in the window. This place looks rough from the outside but the popusas are awesome.

Found this place while going to Austin for medical follow-ups. Very good food... great taste. And the prices are fitting! So ready to go back!

Terrible service. Nasty feel inside. Waitress seemed bored. Paid 9 bucks for a small breakfast. They gave me beans like they were running out.

If you really want good, big, pupusas for a reasonable price and a more authentic location, go to the Dallas and Houston area for pupusas.

Food overcook. Not enough curtido for pupusas. Waitresses never come back to check on what you need after they dumped food on your table.

Absolutely love this place. Horchata is super good, the loroco pupusas are my favorite, and ending with a chocobanana makes life perfect.

I absolutely love El Sunzal! The Pupusas and Yuka Frita are delicious and the staff is incredibly friendly. 10 out of 10 recommend!

I love this place been coming here for years and not once have I had a bad experience. The food is great and so are the people.

This place is a great Salvadoran restaurant. The papusas are excellent. My Salvadoran friend swears to as to its authenticity.

I've eaten at several different pupuserias in Maryland and California but this has to be the best pupuseria I've ever been to.

Great prices and amazing, authentic food. Just be prepared to wait a little longer than normal for the food. It’s worth it!

Best pupusas I have had in the Austin area. Real authentic food.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Wonderful pupusas, curtito, tamales, platanos, empanadas. Low key, affordable. Usually a few families with kids there.

Hole in in the wall but so so Good for the soul!!! Needed some Salvadorean food. Grateful to our waitress, Yamilet.

I've only really had the papusas and tamales but those are good enough that it's hard to try anything else.

My favorite place for more than ten years. The lady that's their has always made me feel like I'm at home.

Delicious food I love the food and the salsa is amazing great place not too crowded nice staff as well

Best Latin American restaurant in old school East Austin. Salvadorian cuisine. Try the papusas.

Very basic interior , however very friendly and attentive service, great breakfast and tamales.

Great place. Great food, don't go too hungry it take a bit of time for the food to come out

Not many places where they sell Salvadorian food would recommend here to try out their food

The food was excellent and the prices even better.. Will be returning... …

Really good pampousas.. service was quick. Nice family owned business. I'll be back..

The pupusas was so delicious but the service was slow, however it's a good place.

The Mariscada was great but the read that was served with it threw it off....

The pupusas were amazing! Specifically the revueltas(pork and cheese)-yummy!

Hole in the wall, Great food, somewhat slow service, but the food is good

Authentic Salvadorian food. Delicious and friendly service. Will be back!

I’m all about it. Super authentic place with some seriously spicy salsa.

Best pupusas I've had at any restaurant. The budin is delicious too!

Great pupusas! Great authentic food for reasonable prices. Loved it!

Great little hidden gem. Food is always delicious and they are fast.

Good ordering service. It's a bit of a wait but the food seems good.

Great food, reasonable prices. Small hidden gem for a nice dinner.

Food is good typical Salvadorean food, but place needs a facelift.

Excellent food and excellent service. I will be back there often.

Great food, friendly staff, keep on coming, must control my urge!

Hidden. Gem. My favorite salsa and tamales in Austin, hands down!

Tasty and reasonably priced. Seems like it's popular with locals

Papusa and tamale. One of the best sub-$5 meals in town.

Great service, great food. Very reasonable prices.

Great food service kind of slow but food delicious

Good place to eat Papusas! Ignore the emo haters.