La Esquina Restaurant

Overcharged me by about .75 probably thinking I wouldn’t notice. As it is their online menu prices aren’t accurate, probably outdated by about two years. Also took more than twenty five minutes for a single huarache.

Unfortunately, I took my sweet time composing this review, and the memory banks are not as sharp as they should be. But I can say this, I will not forget this delicious meal. You will find them in basic, humble surroundings with limited seating and parking challenges. Oh well. This is still the right place to come, even if you must order to go.
First of all, this meal was special because it gave us a new perspective on Salvadorian food. We all know about pupusas and such, but how many folks venture forth into new territory and discover the exceptional? The key can be as simple as asking, «What do you recommend?»
We did.
First, ask about the Costillas de Rez. These are the same cut as the thin Korean short ribs with bone attached. They are simply marinated then griddled along with onions and bell pepper, caramelized wonderfully, then served with their most delicious rice and beans. A must try.
But, I think this next next dish was even better. So much better, I was unwilling to share my leftovers (of which there was plenty). Costillas de Puerco en Salsa Rojo, meaty pork ribs simmered in a complex, savory yet not spicy red sauce. They come out so beautifully tender they had me figuratively on my knees. Rice and beans came with this dish too. So much goodness on one plate, it should be outlawed (well, except when I am there).
Homemade tortillas (yum), cucumber, radish, sliced ripe tomatoes, and a spicy raw greenery called «berro», garnished each plate. Look it up. The fresh flavors snapped. And it definitely made me feel less guilty.
From the Mexican portion of the menu we got a couple of Cabeza tacos. These are the traditional street tacos made with mini soft tortillas everyone knows and loves. Very generous portions of delicious meat, you will not go wrong ordering this either.
We could not ignore the Plantanos Fritos, the ripened until sweet, cooked to a delicious caramelized state, cooking bananas. These are traditional and always become my personal dessert!
Still cash only. But they will definitely not empty your wallet.
Step away from those pathetic chains and experience authentic. Wonderful, real food.

pupusas. you will return for the amazing pupusas that are so ample in size, crispy on the outside, oozing molten from the inside. the curtido is the salvadorean kimchi to help balance out (cut the grease) of the plump yet flat little pupusas. going back again tonight!
good booths, family friendly, tv for the bored, and oh! their horchatas are made from ground sesame seeds vs rice. make sure you order the Salvadoran style horchatas.

Good stuff! The food is delicious! I always get puposas and plantains. The pupusas are not that greasy so it makes them better. I would give them 4-​starts but they don’t serve coffee and they don’t follow their business hours, sometimes they open late and sometimes they close a little earlier. But I found ways around by not dining in. The $$ is great not expensive!

The cashier at this place must be deaf because she can’t hear my order or something. When pacifically asked my order right when she supposedly said I didn’t even ask her. TERRIBLE SERVICE!!! don’t expect good service. Food is good hands down but they really need new people working here. Full grown lady who acts like a teenager still in highschool with no Respect or Matters!

Love the portions for the price, and the pupusas are great. Friendly service that keeps me coming back.

They have the best pupusas ever. if your ever in Eaglerock with a appetite thats the place to stop. :)

Delicious. Great prices. Well, except for the platanos, which at 5 bucks were a little much. But the service was good, they didn’t skimp on the meat, and the pupusas were fantastic. We got there on a Sunday just before a local church let out, so we got to sit and dine-​in before it suddenly started to get really crowded. Not the sort of place I’d take someone for a dine-​in experience anyway, really more of a takeout venue, so to be fair, I’d give it three or four stars as a restaurant. But I’m only rating the food in this instance, and that gets all five stars.

This is the NorthEast L.A. destination for your Camarones de Ajo (Garlic, grilled shrimp). OMFG! The shrimp is large, marinated in the BEST mix of ?? garlic, lemon, lime and ??. We crave this stuff every month. The plate is large with rice, fried potatoes, salad, beans and tortillas and at least 7 or 8 large shrimp. All for under $ 10. Once you try this, you are hooked. Good luck. I hope you live close by, because you will want this all the time! The Desayuno Salvadoreno breakfast is crazy too. The plate is overflowing with — homemade Salvadorian sausage, rice and black beans, fried plantains, crema fresca, tortillas, eggs and this amazing slice of queso blanco. We have not been disappointed by anything on the menu. We are almost done trying everything for about the last 5 years. Anddddd. don’t forget to try a pupusa or two. The side cabbage and salsa that comes with it is pretty rad.

I order take-​out from here atleast 2x a month especially on a lazy sunday. I usually order and love their carne guisada (Beef Stew Salvadorean style) it takes me back to when my grandma use to make it for me. I also noticed they also own a meat market so thats probably why their meat is always fresh & tender. Also their Pupusas are always on point and their Cocido is definitely a hangover cure! Now go order yours! Also the young man & young lady that work the register are always polite and respectful and thats always a plus in my book for any restaurant!

I love this place. They have good food at a reasonable price. I’ve tried the pupusas, tacos, and sopes. I’m Central American so I have high expectations and I’m happy to report that I’ve never been let down. Their «Desayuno salvadoreño» keeps me coming back! The plantains transport me to my mother’s kitchen! I’d definitely recommend this place and I’ll keep coming back!

Ok. I’m convinced. This place hits the spot! Usually, I would go muy gringo when it came to a place like this and rave about some 1.25 tacos, which are good, but this place has introduced me to the pupusa. Holy hell they’re great here. We’ve tried bean and cheese and bean and pork skin on recent visits. So good. They give you a side of slaw that you just dump on top, cover in their tomato and hot sauce, and devour. At 1.69, I see myself stacking these things like pancakes and drizzling the hot sauce on top like syrup. Mmmmm.
Tried an asada sope on the last visit as well. I think that’s a must too. Not exactly sure how it works but it’s like a crunchy tostada, deep fried, smothered in asada, and finally topped with lettuce and cheese. Enjoyed every bite. Tacos are good but don’t stand out. They are 1.25 so you can’t really complain.
Always had great service from the young man behind the register. I’m always asking him if we’ve ordered enough because it’s so cheap. He’s suggested additional items and has always come through. Definitely would recommend. Can’t wait to go back and try my papusa pancake idea.

I honestly wouldn’t trade this place for anything I live a couple minutes away and came to La Esquina for the first time last year from a recommendation since I was looking for good pupusas. LET ME TELL YOU, you will not find anything like them other than this place even if I lived hours away I would spare some time to come and get their food, their desayuno salvadoreno is delicious as well. To be honest everything I have tried I have been 100% satisfied. Great staff too, they are all really sweet and their food just makes us go back! Definitely a 5 star place.

My search for all of the pupusas in LA led me here and if it we’re not for the decent pupusas, there would not be a reason to come back.
The order was a milanesa torta and pork & bean pupusa on the side. The torta would have be great for a dog, but not quite for human consumption — just straight up horrible from top to bottom. The bread to the meats and everything else just tasted stale and soggy. Ended up trashing most of the sandwich and going back for a few more pupusas since the pork/​bean was decent.
The pupusas are good, but not the best I’ve had. Not a huge variety of options, though portions are generous and the cortido accompanying it was fresh. Safe bet for pupusas in the area.

Are you kidding me right now with these sausages? I usually just order a pupusa or two, over the phone, and then walk over and pick it up when I’m low on groceries or too lazy to cook or go out. This time I got the Desayuno Salvadoreno because I was craving eggs and that cheese they slice off and put on the side.
For less than $ 7, I can eat for two meals and be stoked on it even on the second day. The signage all over the building says they cut and grind their own meat, and honestly, you can tell. It makes such a fresh, aromatic, not-​greasy difference.
Chorizo, forever and ever.

Ok I’m reviewing this based on one visit. Was looking for a Salvadorian spot near me in Elysian valley and wanted to try a new place. Soooo yummy! And for a Salvadorian place, soooo fast. I had the sopes combo de Asada. Yes I get that sopes are Mexican and trust me I love Mexican I’m a legit critic but I loved this Salvadorians take on sopes, the Asada was so good, the fresh made sopes, the Salvadorian rice and beans. Delicious. I topped it off with an ensalada de fruta (a Salvadorian juice with mixed chopped fruit) it was super yummy and fresh! I’ll be back! This time I’ll try their pupusas.
Only bad thing was they didn’t have a pan con Pavo or pollo :(that’s what I originally was hunting for.

The good is so delicious. The prices are affordable. The resturant itself is very clean. They serve a Mexican and salvadorian food. Seating inside and outside.

Well I wish I had read the reviews before stopping here. I was hungry and walking so it was the only place near by so I thought I would try it.
Big mistake. The Pupusa, beans, rice, salsa etc was all good and the lady at the counter when I went was friendly to me but were it went wrong was the Carne Asada burrito. All I can say is that it was quite shocking to bite into.
I don’t know how you can make Carne Asada taste so bad. It really was the worst meat I’ve ever been served and I have eaten all over the world. It was so horrific that I left the whole burrito after only one bite. I did not even bother complaining about it. I figured why bother if they served it they must also believe that according to their prospective and standards it was good.
Some other poster said the meat tasted like «mostly nerve and fat diced up». Well I am not sure if that is all that was in there or not but I would add there was no seasoning to speak of. It had a very strong taste as if it was organ meat. I assume it was a very low cost cut of meat that they buy in order to save money. It certainly is not what one is accustomed to receive when ordering Carne Asada.
I will never return but if you are a vegetarian I would say you may be ok here but steer clear of the Carne Asada that is for sure.

This place is a real gem. Extremely affordable yet delicious.
I usually get the Desayuno Salvadoreno (Salvadorean Breakfast) which comes with rice & beans, 2 eggs, plantains, some Salvy Chorizo and a side of Crema and Cheese.
Parking is pretty easy either on the lot behind or on the street.
The pupusas are also delicious, and were approved by my salvy friend who said they were almost as good as her mom’s.

I like the place, since it was inexpensive, and a tasty spot in the Eagle Rock and Glasell park area. It’s definitely authentic, trust me I grew up in LA. so I’ve had my fair share of Latino food.
The service was good! I would go again, as a matter of fact I’ve had the place twice in the last 3 months…
For the price, they give allot.