Eats - Salvadorean, Salvadoran Restaurants

Chalateco Tacos Y Parrilladas Restaurant
515 S. 10th St.
San Jose, CA 95112
Since A) I get off of work around 7 or 8 and B) I'm usually exhausted, I stopped off at one of the local fast food joints for dinner. I actually didn't realize this was a Salvadorean place at first, but I ordered a tamal con carneand pasteles. The latter were very different from Vicky's; sort of like long, sealed, deep-fried tacos in fresh masa. Unfortunately, the shell was a little tough, but these were better the following day. The tamal was good with feather light masa and the banana leaf wrap, although the effect is ruined by the use of canned green beans in the filling. The specialty of the house seems to be pupusas (and that's what everyone seemed to be ordering) plus they have huaraches and sincronizadas (sort of double quesadillas cut in wedges) and 12 different meats for tacos, including suadero which I've never heard of. 09/10/04

Vicky's Mexican and Salvadorean Restaurant
San Carlos across from the former Fiesta Bowling Alley
San Jose, CA 95126
Went with my usual lunch crowd. We had the cheese and locolos (a type of bloom apparently) pupusas, the pork pupusas, chicken tamale, carne asada, pollo a la plancha, pasedes, chips and salsa. The pupusas were good, flattened into 4" discs with a nice corn wrapper and interesting fillings. The pasedes kicked ass by comparison, and the chicken tamale was perfect—fluffy masa, well-seasoned chicken and potatos. I didn't try the asada or the plancha, but the latter looked tasty. I'd stick with the Salvadorean menu items, which were unusual, tasty, and a bargain (most are under $2). Service was excellent and the atmosphere was simple and clean. We'll be back. 07/04