la macarena pupuseria & latin cafe

times picayune was right. i saw the review in the times picayune (http://blog.nola.com/brettanderson/2009/05/maya_and_la_macarena_serve_up.html) and decided to give it a try. i had the chicken soup which was really good- different from traditional chicken soup but delicious.
the passion fruit tea was also really good, similar to what i used to drink in brazil.
for my meal i had the carne asada, very tender and flavorful and tried the pupusas my girlfriend got- all delicious!
service was friendly and definitely will be going back.

breakfast burrito with chorizo. best breakfast ever!


-----30 may, 2015-----

wish we had this back home. breakfast is phenomenal here! the plantains were outstanding, the breakfast burritos were amazing the chorizo used is out of this world. if you're not eating breakfast here you're missing out. my family is from guatemala and this is our go to restraunt when we visit new orleans.


-----09 nov, 2014-----

great little breakfast place.. we ordered the cosmopolitan and nola breakfast burritos. the food was so good and tasted so fresh. definitely try the fried plantains.


-----09 nov, 2014-----

great little breakfast place.. we ordered the cosmopolitan and nola breakfast burritos. the food was so good and tasted so fresh. definitely try the fried plantains.

must have pupusas! can't leave without at two or three pupusas. don't forget about the shrimp tostada appetizer special and the fried plantains are to die for!

odd experience. i've spent a lot of time in el salvador and love pupusas. the pupusas here are good but a little bland for my taste. for the inexperienced palette i'm sure everything will be terrific. the service is typical small latian establishment. no professional servicers but personable. i really liked the atmosphere. over all - blah.

wonderful place to get breakfast/brunch! tiny so can feel a bit crowded when all tables are full; there are a few tables outside. get the pupusas! doesn't matter which kind they are all good (and i mean come on, where else can you get perfect little stuffed tortilla pillows?!) i adore the americano breakfast burrito but the nola special has hot sausage and i can't refuse a nibble when my sister orders it. the agua frescas are cool and refreshing as well. to all the refried beans connoisseurs: i have no idea what kind of spices la macarena works with in the kitchen but the beans are magical.

the food is everything you could hope for. people/service also. seating is limited and the place is small, but take-out is available. the location isn't sexy, either (near a shopping center in a generic looking building, a little tucked away from view), otherwise i would have given the place a 5 out of 5.

this pupusa place is amazing! if you are searching for something new and culturally authentic, you should make this charming restaurant your go-to place. the owner is very personable and caters to his patrons. open every morning for breakfast and brunch, but also serves a great lunch! five stars!!!!!

best kept secret in new orleans. we almost didn't stop in, but i am so glad we did. very friendly staff who clearly take pride in their food. the food was delicious, especially the sweet corn tamale. we loved the tapas-sized options that gave us an opportunity to try some different items - all of which were great. we will definitely be back every time we come to the city.

great salvadoran food!. this was our first visit to this wonderful salvadoran restaurant. we enjoyed the pupusas, which are corn tortillas filled with pork, beans and cheese. it was freshly made and scrumptious. the guacamole and fresh made tortilla chips were a great starter. we also ordered the salvadoran tamal and papusa platter. it came with one organic chicken tamale and two traditional papusas. we also got a horchata. a horchata is a traditional milky, rice based drink flavored with chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, spices and ground nuts. another drink we had was a passion fruit and tamarind fusion. it was made from fresh fruit. the owner travels to el salvador regularly for fresh ingredients. how cool is that? overall, we had great time, it was like a homestyle meal with great service. highly recommended!

a slice of el salvador. tonight i went for the first time to "la macarena", a salvadorean restaurant with authentic salvadorean food. it has been the best and most authentic salvadrean restaurant i have been too. the tamal and the fried plantain were simply superior, and the horchata --a gift from their grandmother-- was out of this world. i will go back soon for a brunch!
a salvadorean

amazing food with great service at extremely reasonable prices and no corkage! great vegetarian options and their pupusa platters are fantastic with huge servings and the most delicious plantains. we come here often and have never had a bad experience.

awful experiences despite multiple tries!. first time i went, it was with a table full of vegans since they really advertise that they have vegan food this didn't seem like a problem. they were given advance notice that we were coming and 2 of our party had even gone early to snack and do some work while they were waiting for us. when we were all there, the owner made sure to come over and tell us that everything on the vegetarian menu could be made vegan. awesome! we all place our orders. i couldn't pronounce my mushroom and yucca order, so i had to point it out, have the waiter say it, and then confirmed that that was what i wanted in the vegan version. after a while, everyone had their food except for me. when we ask the waiter just says he doesn't remember taking my order, i say what i wanted again, and the owner who was right there says they can't make that vegan.... okay. it was quite a bit through the meal so at this point i just ate off of our appetizers.
time two:
i was so frustrated with the first time but mistakes happen! the guac was so good! i had to try again, it must have been a fluke. i had said i was vegan and the guac comes out covered in cheese. being that it's on the vegetarian/vegan side of the menu i would think that that would be noted...when i mention it to the waitress and she asks if i would like another one, i say yes. i would like to eat what i ordered. it never comes.... i just ate my main course and my friends enjoyed the guac.
time three:
third times the charm? they can't get it wrong again! i go with my mother, we order the guac and i make sure to say no cheese. "no cheese because you're a vegan?" awesome, yep! "oh, okay, because we put egg in the guacamole too" ....weird, but so glad he caught it. he did great too, he addressed any specials that were non-vegan to my mom and the veg options to me. things seemed promising and i got my guac fix! and then my food comes out covered in cheese. when i say something to the waiter he just laughs and says "huh, yeah, guess i forgot" we were the only table there...i don't even understand.
i had to call it quits with this place. i should have known after the first time with the owner saying they could make anything on the veg options vegan and then saying otherwise there was something wrong here...

favorite brunch. this place has my favorite brunch in town because the vegan and vegetarian options are just as yummy as the food for meat eaters. the huevos rancheros are the best i've ever had anywhere. my favorite is the fried yuca with chicharrones but those are normally a special menu item so if those aren't available i highly recommend the fresh guacamole & chips as an appetizer. the owner and staff are very friendly and make you feel at home. this is a spot i always suggest to friends visiting new orleans because after a long weekend of drinking and indulging in heavy fried foods its nice to have some delicious, fresh, food that is still as unique as the city.

just had an absolutely lovely meal yet again here. healthy and home cooked with love in every bite. service was friendly, sweet, and thorough. we were even surprised w a free simple plate of toast w spicy guacamole on top. the pupusas are amazing-we recommend the one w the portobellos. food carefully prepared takes a bit more time, so do not expect fast food.

delicious pupusas and guacamole & chips! the quality and freshness of the food here is unbeatable! i enjoyed the entire dining experience...the owner was very friendly and helpful, as was the waiter. i will definitely return soon!!