El Paisano Restaurant

I’ve eaten here probably 10 – 15 times: let my 5 stars, then, carry due weight.
Let me state upfront that I’m a fish taco virtuoso of sorts. The best on offer — on a worldwide scale, of course ;) — are from Hole Mole in Long Beach, CA.
El Paisano is a damn close second.
I don’t know what benevolent sorcery they work into the sauce, but it’d make Bobby Flay lay down his tools and admit he’d been defeated.
The papusas are likewise spectacular.
And, of course, the staff is always friendly and they have really clean bathrooms.
Do yourself a favor and eat here.

Great spot as I was passing through. Service was fast and friendly. Food came out hot and fresh. Salsa bar had some tasty medium salsas and sauces. The Salvadorian slaw was particularly good. Fish tacos, chicken tacos, rice and beans were all very good.
My only complaint would be a little more heat on some dishes, but that’s just a personal preference. Food was very tasty.
No reason not to give this place a try.

The food is Wonderful! Salsa cart is great. I had fish tacos #13 that was just amazing!

El Paisano just opened up next to Costco which is right by where I live… I shop at Costco and every time I pass it I say to myself… «I’ve got to eat there!»
Today the perfect time arose. My friend Sara came over and we were hanging out when she said, «Have you tried that new place yet?» Neither of us have, yet we both have wanted to! Off we went down the street to get our lunch.
I realized for the first time it was El Salvadorian food and they had Papusas! I was on a quest for Carne Asada tacos though, I’ll have to get those next time!
I ordered 8 tacos, at 1.25 each and some horchata… Enough for myself, my husband and our four year old who eats two whole tacos to himself! The salsa bar had more than just the usual, this one has Papusa sauce and the coleslaw like condiment that goes with them too… That stuff is amazing. I really can’t wait to go back and try those!
Our food arrived fast and soon enough we were back home eating… Wow… The meat is in huge chunks and flavorful and the condiments were a good accompaniment. I enjoyed them more than most of the places in town.

I come to Reno about every 5 months and this was my second visit. Not impressed! My first visit was great but I will not be back. First off the girl did NOT get my order right! Secondly, the Dr Pepper was out and apparently only one person knows how to add the syrup and «she’s busy and doesn’t have time to fix it»! The papusas were ok but not as good as my first time I went here. Do yourself a Favor and SKIP this place!

Don’t Pass this one up Not Fancy & Not Pricey But Excellent Food Are party of 5 was Not Disappointed! Originally from Chicago & always looking for Great Places Well this is One! Beans Rice Gorditas & Papausu great! EVERYTHING FRESHLY COOKED!

In the questionably apt words of Marco Rubio: let’s dispel once and for all with this fiction that El Paisano doesn’t know what they’re doing; they know EXACTLY what they’re doing. And they’re doing the Lord’s work: bringing you nom-​tastic Salvadoran eats and pretty good Mexican grub.
The pupusa is the Salvadoran rebuttal to the quesadilla, bringing simple cheesy goodness… but better. And what a welcome change-​up it is. The handmade corn flour-​masa dough makes all the difference. Here, they come in a handful of different varieties, offering up a spread of options that differ in meat/​veggie fillings. Admittedly, my favorite is the habanero pupusa; no meat, just cheesy spicy deliciousness. For me, it’s comfortably spicy — I’m also a heat hound, so take that as you will.
I only had a bite of the fish tacos last time and figured it was high time I tried out a few of the rest to get a better grasp on just how well El Paisano handles the Mexican side of its menu. I went for my standard taqueria order: a taco trio. The carne asada taco was probably the best of the three and packed the most flavor. The cabeza cuts were wonderfully tender. The pollo was marginally mediocre as the shredded chicken was decently braised but less inspiring than the other meats. An overall great set of bites that fell just shy of being exciting, but I’m at least interested enough to double back soon to test the rest of their tacos. Tacos de buche, anyone?
Still one of my favorite salsa bars in town. I’m a sucker for all things pickled (except pickles!), and man, do I love me some curtido. It’s atchara’s spicy Latin American cousin-​in-​law, and I could honestly eat it by the bucketful. I was a little bummed that they were out of the avocado salsa this time around, but with endless reserves of all the fresh radish and grilled jalapeño you could ever want, who can really complain?
I’ve still yet to make my rounds to the other pupuserias in town where the focus is more prominently Salvadoran, but if they’re anything like El Paisano, my hopes are as high as my hunger is constant. Til then, the pupusas here will be a dangerously tempting post-​Costco snack.

I like Hispanic food and when I came here I was expecting some amazing food but I was sadly disappointed with mediocre food. It’s not bad but it’s not wow either. I’ll come by here for convenience but that’s about it.

I tried the Habanero Pupusa tonight, HOLY COW, it’s HOT! I only ordered ONE and Thanks Source! Wow I could eat it, but if you know habanero’s they get hotter as you eat them. By the end, I was WAY GOOD and no way could I eat another!
The pupusas (under $ 2 each) here are not overly large, but a good hefty size. For some reason, they fill me up FAST! I ate 2, and I am writing rather than eating my 2 Carne Asada ($ 1.25) taco’s. If you know me, this is HIGHLY UNUSUAL for me to get this FULL, this FAST!
If you like HEAT check out this new Pupusa!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for… Pupusa’s, yes I said Pupusa’s. El Paisano has awesome pupusa’s. I had the 2 pupusa combo. I chose cheese and the habanero/​cheese served with rice and beans. The pupusa dough is so fluffy and tender and the pupusa’s are filled with tons of cheese. There is a salsa bar so there are lots of choices for sauces if you need a little something to dunk your pupusa in. Additionally, I tasted the sweet corn tamale. It was a very tasty little pocket of fresh, sweet corn bread.
I will be back for those pupusa’s for sure!

March 1, 2016 Tuesday — 5:30 PM for a dinner
2 adults
Atmosphere — 4 stars
Food — 5 stars
Service — 5 stars
Background — We were in the area and have wanted to try this place out.
Atmosphere — The entrance way is a little awkward but not a big deal.
Food
Drinks — I had soda from the fountain machine. The machine was high enough were most kids were not going to be self-​serving their drinks.
My Dinner — I love chimichangas and when I saw it on the board I pretty much stopped looking for myself. I ordered it with shredded beef. The chimichanga was huge, too much for me to finish. It was mostly beef with a little beans all wrapped up into a golden crispy tortilla. A perfect burrito that was fried.
My Wife’s Dinner –My wife ordered some pupusas. Ain’t that a fun word to say? Do not just read it, say it out loud for me. Wasn’t that fun? She tried two different ones. But the habanero and cheese was the one I was interested. I loved my meal but I want more of that habanero! The sweetness in the beginning turning into some nice heat
Service — The menu board hangs behind the cashier. You order with her and pay for your meal. She gives you chips if you want them and your number. They have holders on each table for the number. They bring out your food as soon as it is done so my wife and I got our food a couple minutes apart which I am fine with.
Future — Yeah, I am surprised this place has so few reviews.

I have now come here 3 times since i found it 1 month ago. It is soooooo gooooooood. I love that they have a salsa bar because not all places do. Probably the best pozole i have ever had [except for the one i make of course]. I have enjoyed everything i have eaten here and their prices are great. I will definitely keep coming back.

The food is good. I bought two pupusas and a taco. My order was Togo as I was waiting for my food at the salsa bar the cook and the waitress drop a customer’s pupusas by accident and they just started looking around and grab the pupusas and put them back on the plate and took them to the customer’s table.
I will probably not go back, not because of the food, it’s because of what they did to that customer.
«Disgusting» If you are the owner teach your employees that picking up Food when it’s dropped is not OK.

Nothing special… Kids enjoyed their street steak street tacos… My beef burrito was alright nothing to write home about. Service was friendly and restaurant was clean. The cheese popusas was made well.
Check them out if your in the area but no need to go out of your way.

Just had Chile Verde for breakfast from here. And now, I’m dancing my Chile Verde happy dance. Good stuff.
Go get you some!

Iove everything here! Especially their chile verde! Also best horchata in reno.
I do wish they had hotter hot sauce. But it’s still delicious!

Great service accompanied by super tasty pupusas. I recommend to anyone looking for a great Salvadorian spot to eat. I also love their lengua burrito for those coming here. Those two are definitely my go to’s. (I haven’t tried anything else but I’m positive everything is just as good as what i’ve had. Being the place is always packed when I come here.
Their gorditas and tortas a great here too!
#hotsauceoverthang

It was Cinco de Mayo and I felt like Chinese food. But when I got to Asian Crawfish it was closed and El Paisano was across the parking– okay.
Surprisingly it was busy at all. You walk up to the counter and order. You get a number to take to the table and they will bring the food to you. You get your own drinks. And there is a salsa bar– take advantage of that. There are several picos, salsas and other sauces to pick from with varying hotness. The gorditas looked good on the menu so I asked the gal taking the order with meat I should get– she recommended the carne Asada and a pork verde. The carne one was tender little bits with beans and a layer of shredded lettuce and lots of crumbles of cheese in a fluffy corn shell that had a little crispness on the out side. The pork one was good but I think I was just too stuffed to enjoy it. The plate also came with beans and rice.
The restaurant itself was clean. The prices ok. It probably won’t be a spot that I run back to right away though.

I have not had Salvadoran food since about 1998 in El Salvador. So when i stumbled across this restaurant i was excited to see if they h as d good pupusa. Located in the same shopping center as costo just off plumb, the restaurant has ample seating inside and some seating outside. The menu choice is huge, a mix of mexican and Salvadoran. I chose two chicken pupusa and a soda. The. Bill was 6.90 for lunch. The food was excellent as was the service. So if you are willing to try something different, order a pupusa, it is stuffed with whatever you want. It is kind of like a burrito «on steroids. Pupusas are flat and stuffed with yummy cheese pork, beef, etc. So give it a try, you will definitely like it.
By the way the translation of the psalm is as follows: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the lord, he is my refuge and fortress, my god in whom i trust.
Love this

I was rolling around with the Reno Suspect Enforcer Big Mike and we were famished .
So Mike suggested oneof his Favorite Mexican/​Salvadoran Places El Paisano .
They are Located in an Older Strip Mall so Whip Parking was Easy to find .
We rolled in and went to the Front Counter where you Order and Pay for your meal and then they give you a number to put on your table and your drink cup.
They even give you a Plate Of Homemade Fresh Tortilla Chips to Munch on whileyou wait for your food.
I looked at the Huge Menu offerings that they have on the Wall behind the front Counter and Pondered my Order .
I went with a Carne Asada Super Burrito and a Fish Taco .
I paid with my Master Card and rolled to the Sauce Cart and Picked up my Hot Sauce and Salsa.
I joined Mike at a Table and posted up my number on the Holder at the table.
10 Minutes a Waitress dropped off my food Piping Hot on the table .
I added some Salsa on my Fish Taco it was a good sized Taco and it had very good flavors to it. i would definitely order it again.
My Super Burrito was pretty Big. But it was tightly wrapped. It tasted very good. I added a little Tapito to it for Heat.
I had a pretty good Meal and Would eat here again if I was in town .
I had get my roll on my Ankle Bracelet kept going off .
Maybe because I left California?