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oChef » PupuserĂa Ilobasco – San Francisco
PupuserĂa Ilobasco - San Francisco
Photo from PupuserĂa Ilobasco
PupuserĂa Ilobasco at a glance
San Francisco Silver Terrace
- 🇸🇻 Salvadoran Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 12 of the guests
#1983 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#6 Salvadoran Restaurant out of 17 in San Francisco
Good
6.5 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
153
Reviews
60.1%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious food
- Authentic pupusas
- Friendly service
Frequently criticized
- Cash only
- Inconsistent ambience
- Hygiene issues
The restaurant PupuserĂa Ilobasco invites you to experience authentic Salvadoran cuisine right in San Francisco’s vibrant Silver Terrace neighborhood. This casual and cozy spot offers a genuine taste of El Salvador, perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
You’ll find a welcoming atmosphere whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s a delightful culinary journey waiting for you.
Overview: Introducting PupuserĂa Ilobasco
PupuserĂa Ilobasco offers a taste of authentic Salvadoran cuisine, with many praising the delicious food and its authentic taste. Guests often find the overall experience to be quite affordable, making it an accessible option for many.
The staff generally provides a friendly service, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere. However, some diners have noted concerns regarding the cash only policy, which can be inconvenient.
The ambience can be a mixed bag, with mentions of loud music and occasional inappropriate decor. There are also isolated reports of issues with food quality, including finding hair in food.
Good
6.5
out of 10
153
Reviews
60.1%
Satisfaction
45
negative
16
neutral
92
positive
PupuserĂa Ilobasco earns a respectable overall score of 6.5, placing it firmly in the good-to-average range. Customer satisfaction stands at 60.1%, indicating a mixed experience for many patrons.
This assessment is drawn from 153 customer remarks, with 92 positive observations balancing against 45 negative ones, painting a picture of a place with clear strengths and areas for improvement. Diving deeper, the Food (7.2) is clearly a highlight, often described as delicious and authentic, garnering the highest praise.
Ambience (6.1) and Service (5.5) hover in the average territory, suggesting they are generally acceptable but not consistently outstanding. The Value (4.8) score indicates it’s a bit of a mixed bag, with some finding it affordable while others point to pricing concerns.
What people like
- Delicious Salvadoran Food
- Authentic Pupusas
- Friendly Service
What people don't like
- Cash Only Policy
- Inconsistent Ambience
- Hygiene Concerns
PupuserĂa Ilobasco presents a mixed experience, with its authentic Salvadoran food often hitting the mark, especially the pupusas. If you’re seeking a casual spot for a flavorful meal and don’t mind a few quirks, it could be a worthwhile visit.
With a recommendation score of 6.7, it suggests a generally positive but not universally acclaimed experience. Be prepared for a cash-only transaction and potentially varied ambience.
It’s a place to consider if the food is your primary focus.
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Verdict: Our expert take on PupuserĂa Ilobasco
Food (7.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 88% of the guests
When it comes to the food, guests generally have a lot to rave about! With a good score of 7.2 and a good customer satisfaction of 70.7%, it's clear many leave happy. Out of 82 comments, 58 were positive, frequently praising the delicious pupusas, authentic taste, and handmade tortillas.
Many also appreciated the generous portion sizes. However, not every dish hits the mark. There were 15 negative comments, with some diners encountering unpleasant surprises like hair in their soup or food.
Others found certain pupusas to be dry with insufficient filling, and a few noted limited pupusa options or disappointing portion sizes for specific dishes like yuca con chicharon fritas.
Food
82
Reviews
70%
Satisfaction
15
negative
9
neutral
58
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious pupusas
- Authentic taste
- Generous portions
What people don't like
- Hair in food
- Dry pupusas
- Small yuca portions
Often praised
- pupusasWe came to eat after attending an event at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater. The service was excellent and the pupusas were delicious.
- foodthe food was delicious, just like before
- Salvadoran foodMy experience at this restaurant was very positive. It's a great spot to eat Salvadoran food. The tables were clean, and the workers were nice and polite.
- menuIt was an excellent experience at this restaurant. I will soon upload photos so you know the menu and the atmosphere that is lived there! It is Salvadoran food!
- FoodFood:5
- Salvadoran pupusasmuy buenas pupusas Salvadoreñas
- Sopa de papaSopa de papa was super good
- authentic tasteAuthentic taste is so satisfying
- bean & cheese pupusasI had the chance to try their authentic El Salvadoran cuisine, and I highly recommend their pupusas. Whether you opt for the zucchini, pork & cheese, or bean & cheese varieties, they are made fresh to order and served with a delicious side of cabbage salad. The price is unbeatable, offering great value.
- breakfast plateLove their breakfast plate
Frequently criticized
- pupusasPupusas are meh. Small and not enough filling in them so kind of dry.
- tamalesserver decided he only wanted to give her one even though the menu said two per order
- Regia beerthey did not have the Regia beer that I love
- Salvadoran foodAs Salvadoran food No está nada buena
- banana shakedecided to add berries to my banana shake
- curly hairMy 2 pupusas were okay, but the vegetable cortido had no taste. To make matters worse, I found 2 curly hairs in my food, which was quite off-putting. I will not be returning.
- fillingnot enough filling in them so kind of dry.
- foodThe food here is truly disappointing
- hair in soupme saliĂł un pelo en mi sopa
- pupusa optionsTheir pupusa options were really limited and already mixed together
If you're craving authentic Salvadoran pupusas, this spot is definitely worth a visit, as they are a clear highlight. Just be aware that some other dishes or specific pupusa preparations might not always live up to the same high standard, and there have been isolated issues with food quality.
Service (5.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 67% of the guests
When it comes to service, theres definitely a bright side! Many folks rave about the friendly staff and excellent experience, with 15 positive remarks highlighting things like the late closing time and overall service. While the overall score sits at an average 5.5, and customer satisfaction is a mixed 48.4%, theres a good chunk of appreciation for the attentive workers and owner who provide great service.
However, its not all smooth sailing. With 14 negative comments out of 31 total, some customers faced issues with waitress attention, server understanding, and order accuracy. Concerns about wait time and incorrect website hours also popped up, suggesting theres room for improvement in consistency and communication from the staff.
Service
31
Reviews
48%
Satisfaction
14
negative
2
neutral
15
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, attentive staff
- Excellent service
- Late closing time
What people don't like
- Long wait times
- Order mistakes
- Language barrier
Often praised
- servicethe service was also wonderful
- ServiceService:5
- excellent experienceIt was an excellent experience
- late closing timethey close until 11pm which is rear for a Salvadoran restaurant to close that late
- ownerowner welcomes you, and always have a smile
- peoplethe people are nice
- staffThe personal is very amable
- workersnice and polite workers
Frequently criticized
- attentionYou would think they would ask, "Can I help you? " Instead, they ignored me, and so I said later. Mr.
- hours on the websitehours on the website were incorrect
- orderhe messed up our order
- order not readymy order not ready
- order over the phonenot clearly state they only take cash when we place the order over the phone
- serverserver doesn't understand English
- serversthe servers are moody
- servicethe service bad
- someone elses' checkgiving someone elses' check
- speak Englishplease be able to speak English as well
If youre looking for a place with generally friendly faces and a late closing, you might find the service quite pleasant. However, be prepared for potential hiccups like longer waits or communication issues, especially if youre in a hurry or have specific requests.
Ambience (6.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 48% of the guests
When it comes to the vibe, this spot offers a bit of a mixed bag, landing an average score of 6.1 with customer satisfaction at a mixed 55.6%. Many guests appreciate the clean tables, the lively atmosphere with sports playing on TVs, and the overall great atmosphere, often described as a cool Latino spot with a retro look. Out of 27 observations, 15 were positive, highlighting these enjoyable aspects.
However, there are some noticeable downsides, with 9 negative comments pointing out issues like hard parking, a hot atmosphere lacking fans, and loud music that makes conversation difficult. Some also found the presence of inappropriate pictures and TV content, along with the restaurant doubling as a bar for lonely men, to be a significant detractor from the dining experience.
Ambience
27
Reviews
55%
Satisfaction
9
negative
3
neutral
15
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Clean tables
- Sports on TVs
- Great atmosphere
What people don't like
- Hard parking
- Hot atmosphere
- Inappropriate TV content
Often praised
- atmospherethe atmosphere that is lived there!!
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- Latino spota great Latino spot to chill
- TVTienen televisor y le ponen el programa que uno quiere
- areavery peaceful and tranquil
- cleanlinessReally clean.
- gatheringbueno para reunirse y ver algĂşn partido
- musicenjoy the music
- people kept coming inA lot of people kept coming in so the food must be good
- retro lookthe retro look of the restaurant is just awesome
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereI don't want to watch almost naked women on tv while Im dining.
- barThe restaurant seems to double as a bar for lonely men who are just sitting around drinking beer in the stool section.
- bathroomtheir bathroom I will use only for emergencies
- conversationto have a conversation you need to be louder than usual
- front doorbeing by the front door means anyone coming in wants to also touch my child
- inappropriate picturesThere were a few inappropriate pictures and figures of women
- musictheir music takes over the whole place
- parkingParking is a bit hard.
If youre looking for a lively, casual spot to catch a game with a retro feel and dont mind a potentially loud atmosphere or some parking challenges, this place could be for you. However, if you prefer a quiet, family-friendly environment with easy parking, you might want to consider other options.
Value (4.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 36% of the guests
When it comes to value, many customers found the price and prices here to be quite appealing. With 4 positive opinions out of 13 total, folks mentioned that the price cant be beat, was great and affordable, and super reasonable. While the overall score sits at an average 4.8, these positive remarks suggest that for some, the cost was definitely a win.
However, the value story isnt entirely rosy, especially with a poor 30.8% customer satisfaction. A significant concern, highlighted by 7 negative opinions, revolves around a cash only policy and its lack of clear communication. Some also felt items were overpriced or even experienced charging me 2x what they expected, leading to frustration.
Value
13
Reviews
30%
Satisfaction
7
negative
2
neutral
4
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great, affordable prices
What people don't like
- Cash-only policy
- Can be overpriced
- Billing discrepancies
Often praised
- priceMy experience at this restaurant was great and affordable. The service was friendly too.
- pricesSuper reasonable prices too
Frequently criticized
- cash onlythey are cash only
- cash only policylack of clear communication regarding their cash-only policy
- cash only signWhat was not in the front was their "cash only" sign
- charging me 2xcharging me 2x what my order was
- overpricedthey just overprice
- priceThen, the 2 soups cost $43 dollars. Way too expensive and the service was bad.
If youre looking for potentially great prices, this spot might be worth a look, but be prepared. The cash only policy is a recurring issue, and some have felt overcharged. Its a bit of a gamble on value, so proceed with caution.
How are the prices at PupuserĂa Ilobasco?
You’re looking at roughly 27 per person – reported by 12 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For a Salvadoran Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Looking at what others have spent, we see a good mix. While the average sits at 27, a good chunk of diners (7 out of 12) actually spend less, often in the $11–$20 range. This means you have options, from more budget-friendly bites to slightly higher-end choices.
This chart shows what people usually spend per person, using the 12 most recent reviews.
A look at how this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing here feels pretty fair for a Salvadoran spot. You can definitely find good value, especially if you stick to some of the more popular, budget-friendly dishes. It’s a good place to enjoy authentic flavors without breaking the bank, but also offers options if you want to splurge a little.
Customer Reviews: what people think about PupuserĂa Ilobasco
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
9
Great Pupusas and Friendly Service
My experience at this restaurant was great and affordable. The service was friendly too. I make it a point to come whenever I’m in the area.
The best thing to order is the pupusas.
- pupusas9
- service8
- price8
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
7
Delicious food, slightly pricey
My experience at the restaurant was centered around the food. I found the sopa de caldo and pupusa to be very delicious. However, the prices were just a little higher than most.
- sopa de caldo9
- pupusa9
- prices6
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
3
Mixed Feelings on Salvadoran Food, Friendly Staff
I visited for the second time to be sure of my opinion. As Salvadoran food, it's not good at all. As Mexican food, it's okay.
The pupusas are fatally bad; they look like Mexican quesadillas. The staff is very friendly.
- Mexican food5
- staff9
- Salvadoran food2
- pupusas1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
6
Overpriced and Cash Only
My experience at this restaurant was mixed. The food was okay, but I felt it was overpriced. I noticed a sign inside indicating a plate was $14.
95, but I ended up paying $17. 90. Additionally, the restaurant is cash only, which was an inconvenience.
The service and atmosphere were rated as average (3 out of 5), and the food received a 4 out of 5. The recommended dish was the Cheese and Pork Pupusa.
- food7
- service6
- atmosphere6
- overpriced3
- cash only3
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
2
Worst Pupusas Ever!
My experience at this restaurant was truly disappointing. I've officially had the worst pupusas here, and the food in general was very disappointing. I would not recommend this place, especially not for a dog.
The service was okay, but it couldn't make up for the food. Again, the pupusas were the worst I've ever had!
- service5
- pupusas1
- food1
What PupuserĂa Ilobasco offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Tourists
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Beer
- Small plates
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
FAQs
Is PupuserĂa Ilobasco accessible for all guests?
Yes, PupuserĂa Ilobasco is committed to welcoming everyone. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible seating, ensuring a comfortable dining experience for all visitors in San Francisco’s Silver Terrace.
What dining options and amenities does PupuserĂa Ilobasco offer for families?
PupuserĂa Ilobasco is a great choice for families, offering a good environment for kids and high chairs for the little ones. You can enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner with table service in a casual setting.
How does PupuserĂa Ilobasco generally score?
PupuserĂa Ilobasco holds an overall score of **6.5**. Its **Food** (7.2) is highly rated, while **Ambience** (6.1) and **Service** (5.5) are average. **Value** (4.8) is a bit of a mixed bag for customers.
What kind of food can I expect at PupuserĂa Ilobasco?
You can expect authentic Salvadoran cuisine, with many customers specifically praising the **delicious pupusas** and their **authentic taste**. Other dishes like Sopa de papa and breakfast plates also receive positive mentions.
Are there any important things to know before visiting PupuserĂa Ilobasco?
Yes, be aware that PupuserĂa Ilobasco operates on a **cash only** policy, which some customers found inconvenient. There are also occasional comments about the **ambience** and cleanliness, so manage expectations.