Welcome to Restaurante El Guanaquito
Restaurante El Guanaquito, a Salvadoran eatery in Phoenix, AZ, is a hidden gem known for its authentic and flavorful dishes, particularly their pupusas. The welcoming atmosphere and friendly service make dining here a delightful experience. Customers rave about the carne guisado plate, pupusas, and traditional Salvadoran drinks like Kolashampan. The generous portions, fresh ingredients, and attention to detail in their dishes showcase the restaurant's commitment to quality. Whether dining in or taking out, Restaurante El Guanaquito promises a genuine taste of Salvadoran cuisine that keeps patrons coming back for more.
- 1438 E McDowell Rd Phoenix, AZ 85006 Hotline: (602) 257-9053
Restaurante El Guanaquito is a hidden gem in Phoenix, AZ, offering authentic Salvadoran cuisine. This divey and casual spot is perfect for groups, families, or a cozy lunch or dinner. With a plethora of options, from seafood like Fish Fillet to traditional favorites like Pupusas, this eatery truly encapsulates the taste of El Salvador.
Customer reviews rave about the quality and flavors of the dishes at Restaurante El Guanaquito. From Mari F.'s love for the carne guisado plate to Genesis S.'s appreciation for the generous cheese in pupusas, every bite at this restaurant seems to be a flavorful journey through Salvadoran cuisine.
One standout dish that customers can't get enough of is the pupusas, with options like pupusa con chicharron and queso. These stuffed corn tortillas ooze cheese and fillings, providing a comfort food experience like no other. The plantains, Ensalada juice, and traditional drinks like kolashampan add to the authenticity and richness of the dining experience.
The cozy interior of Restaurante El Guanaquito, with its El Salvador themed décor, adds to the ambiance of enjoying traditional Salvadoran dishes. The attentive staff and excellent service make dining in or taking out a pleasant experience for all customers.
If you're looking for a taste of Central America without leaving Phoenix, Restaurante El Guanaquito is the place to be. Whether you're a pupusa enthusiast or looking to explore new flavors, this restaurant promises a culinary adventure filled with warmth, flavor, and hospitality.

if you want some authentic amazing quality Salvadoran food this Is the place. Everything on the menu is fantastic but The carne guisado plate is my favorite , thick tender pieces of pot roast style beef that falls apart in your mouth in this beautiful tomato like sauce , with the home made rice and salad to compliment the flavors, it's fantastic. The green onion pupusa is my personal fav it's cheesy and flavorful !! The kolashampan drink tastes like bubblegum soda my fav Salvadoran soda, servers are super nice every time I come in

This is a hidden gem, the food is amazing, service friendly, portions huge. My brother and I came here and ordered a lot of different items -- several pupusas, tamales, pasteles, platanos. Everything was amazing. I took leftovers home, and my dad wants to come back here with us. There were several things we were not able to try, but are on the list to try next time. I can't say which was my favorite. Everything was great. Next time, maybe we'll try a dessert. But I'm definitely coming back.

This spot is one of my family and I's favorite to get pupusas. If you are to dine-in, be aware that there is a long wait on the food. But that is a sacrifice we don't mind making because we know everything will come out fresh. If you can see the kitchen from your seat, you will catch glimpses of the women behind the counter hard at work preparing the food. This place has been here for years, you can see its wear throughout the restaurant, but it lends itself to be a cozy environment. The blue walls have portraits of El Salvador. Most of the waitresses are kind, and in our case, are especially charismatic toward our toddler. This place sees families of all shapes and sizes. What I personally love about this restaurant is that they don't skimp on the cheese. As a cheese lover, this place is my haven. I get the pupusa con chicharron and queso. A nice soft toast on the outside, with a gooey, cheesy filling. As you pull on the pupusa, strands of warm cheese pour out. This place gets comfort food. I also like to order a plate of the fried plantain, sweet and oily, with a side of crema and frijoles. To wash down the meal I get an Ensalada, a refreshing juice with bits and pieces of fresh fruit. Wether you dine-in or take-out, just know you're about to have one of the best traditional Salvadoran dishes in the city. And it will no longer be a mystery to you why this place has held its popularity for as many years as it has.

I went back to Central America.. If you want to know what it feels like to be in a local eatery outside of the country without leaving the country, then you found the place. They do have a bit better service than you'd find traditionally in other places, and the food is great. Las pupusas, which is what they are known for are great, don't miss out on other traditional dishes, plátano, (plantains) are also delicious. I do feel it might be a bit overpriced in regards to portion size and current venue conditions, but that speaks more to management than their food. Still worthwhile.

I work ten minutes away from this restaurant. I'm Salvadorian, yes I spell it and pronounce it this way! lol. Anyway I love this place for my pupusas or yuca con chicharon fix. I have never actually sat down to eat here, I always order pick up but the service is great. Prompt and friendly when I place my order over the phone and when I pick up. I would recommend it for sure.

Day after thanksgiving, running errands in downtown Phoenix. What's better than a lunch stop for pupusas? The staff here is super friendly, nothing but smiles and excellent service. The food came out hot and fresh. I loved the loroco pupusa! The beans and pork was excellent as well. They came out with a nice fried cheese skirt and the curtido topped it off nicely. The restaurant offers to go and sit down. The dining area is bright and cheerful, with El Salvador themed tapestries on the walls. If you have never tried a pupusa, please do and you will always be on the hook for them when you see them.

This hidden Phoenix gem is my favorite place to get pupusas! Their menu consists of authentic dishes and a staff that truly goes above and beyond. This place is also great for takeout!

This place is the best we have ever had when it comes to Pupusas. If you want authentic food you need to come here! Now I will be honest. I have only had pupusas here. It is the only reason I come!! My husband has tried and few different items and we was very pleased! We love hidden gems and this is a great one to give a try!

It really is a test of patience whenever I decide to eat pupusas. Never go too hungry, because you'll be waiting quite a while no matter the establishment. This place is good for small or larger family groups, I went on a Saturday morning and it didn't seem super busy at the time so I'm grateful for that. The server was very kind. Their menu is long so it might take a while to decide what to eat :) To speak the unfortunate, one person in my group ordered something and they didn't tell her that they ran out until everyone else in the group had already gotten their food, so she had to wait even longer to get a menu again, order for the second time, and then wait for the food to arrive. It would be nice to receive this information while ordering! I ate the pupusas with chicharron and cheese; they were pretty tasty but again, the wait does takes a toll on me.

We order a little bit of everything-pork, bean/cheese, chicken tamale and corn tamale. All of the papusas were delicious expect next time I'd stick with the pork and cheese. Warm, crispy and filling! Probably my favorite cabbage/slaw topping. It gave a hint of spice which I've never tasted before. Will definitely come back!