El Salvador Restaurant

332 W Center St, Provo, UT 84601, United States
+1 801-373-5377
$$$ Salvadoran restaurant
(957 Reviews)
Price Range $1–10

El Salvador Restaurant on West Center Street in Provo offers a straightforward, no-frills setting that invites you to focus on the food and feel welcomed by its warm, casual atmosphere. This spot is best known for its Salvadoran specialties, especially the pupusas, which locals and visitors alike seem to keep coming back for. The dining room is modest and clean, with a friendly vibe that makes it a comfortable place to grab a quick meal or settle in for a relaxed lunch or dinner.

If you’re curious about Salvadoran cuisine, this is a practical place to start. The pupusas come in several varieties—cheese, beans and cheese, revueltas (mixed fillings), and loroco—and each is handmade with care. Alongside the pupusas, dishes like salted corn pies filled with beef or plantains served with beans and crema offer a taste of home-style cooking that balances hearty and simple flavors. The menu also features traditional soups and seafood options, like Sopa 7 Mares, which adds variety for those wanting something beyond pupusas.

This restaurant tends to attract a diverse crowd, from college students keeping an eye on their budget to families and even groups dropping in after sports events. It’s the kind of place where you can easily sit alone or meet up with friends without any pretense. Service is often described as attentive and knowledgeable, helping guide newcomers through dishes and ingredients.

For timing, evenings and weekends can get busy, especially when local soccer tournaments or community events are nearby, but the overall vibe remains relaxed and unhurried. Lunch visits are quieter, allowing for a calm experience if you want to enjoy the food without a crowd.

To sum up, El Salvador Restaurant is well-suited for anyone interested in authentic Salvadoran flavors served in a humble and comfortable environment. It’s particularly welcoming for people wanting a casual meal that won’t strain the wallet but won’t skimp on quality or portion size either.

Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Best for
Serves breakfast
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday

Closed

Thursday

11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

957 Reviews
Nick Barbosa

23 Dec 2025

It's a nice little place we picked at random, while in town for a soccer tournament. Tried the pupusas and the salted corn pies - both were great. Prices were reasonable. The steak the folks across from us were eating looked amazing. Nice find.

Matt Jorgensen

14 Dec 2025

Can’t recommend this place enough!! Their pupusas are incredible and the prices are great!

Zane Maguet

12 Dec 2025

I had been wanting to come to this little spot on Center Street for years and finally made it recently. We tried 3 different kinds of pupusas, and they were all excellent! I would highly recommend this spot for an affordable and casual yet delicious meal!

Abracadabra

29 Nov 2025

First time ever in my life that I have eaten this type of ethnic food. * The place is simple and cute. Small, very clean and it has character!! * The Server Rosa, she is fantastic!! She is outstanding in what she does!! Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. * My favorite dish of what I tried was the plantains and she gave me an example of their beans which it was OMG impressive!! If you feel adventurous, like I did when I went to try them, give them a shot!!

Daniela Binns

27 Nov 2025

This is my single favorite place in Provo, the papusas are so good and always fresh and the people are welcoming and friendly. And the prices make it one of the only places a broke college student can comfortably afford to eat out. I LOVE The El Salvador Restaurant!!

Rebecca Huff

20 Nov 2025

We love this place for authentic El Salvadorian food. Their pupusas are the best!

Ryan Johnson

10 Oct 2025

This is a jewel of Provo. They deserve every positive review because of their delicious and authentic food that is very reasonably priced. The staff is pretty awesome, and they work pretty fast. The food comes hot and ready, and does not disappoint. If authentic food is what you’re after, you have to come here. Is you want specifics, the Papusas are amazing and verified by someone who has lived in South America for years to be genuine. Notice that the negative reviews here are because the place is dirty and too small because the place always has tons of people wanting their food. Take note of that because the food is incredible and if you're okay with the fact that it's a small family business trying to serve the best authentic food, then it makes a whole experience better. Have you been to restaurants in Central America? This place is nicer than the majority of those (verified by my wife who was lived in central America for 2 years)

Manuel Melara

07 Oct 2025

The food was amazing! The pupusas were delicious not small like some places, but the perfect size and full of flavor. The restaurant is very clean and well-kept, and I really love the way they showcase Salvadoran heritage throughout the place. You can tell they take pride in their culture and food. Definitely coming back!

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