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Acajutla
- Hours:
Wed-Thu 11 am - 8 pm
Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 8 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
10 reviews for Acajutla
10 reviews in English
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Review from Dave C.
I want to preface this review by saying I have zero tolerance for spicy food... standard hot wings from a pub are usually too much for me... it's pretty pathetic actually. And when I eat spicy food, I get hot and sweaty and generally unpleasant.
With that out of the way, I'll get to my experience. The restaurant is very bright, vibrant and welcoming. I wouldn't say the food was slow to come out, but being a small kitchen it takes a little longer than your average chain restaurant and I'm perfectly fine with that.
Our server was nice and attentive and helped me decide on a dish. I went with the Chicken Escabeche, which was three chicken thighs with peppers and onions and chimol on the side, which is kind of a salsa/salad with tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos and cilantro. Our server asked if I wanted the chicken spicy or medium and because of my aforementioned weakness for anything that is spicy, I didn't hesitate in choosing the medium option.
Thankfully, the chicken wasn't overly spicy. It warmed me up a little bit, like a hot toddy after a long day of snowboarding, but nothing to complain about. Then I tried the chimol -- an innocent looking mix that was anything but. It was a raging inferno disguised as a cute little salad. After a large bite, my eyes started to water, my sinuses instantly cleared up and I started sweating... I actually wanted to go home and shower. Now mind you, my wife and friend, who both have much higher tolerances to spicy food, didn't have these same symptoms, but did say that is was probably too hot for them to enjoy. And I understand that since Acajutla is known for being very authentic, this is probably the way this dish is meant to be served, so that's cool. But it was way too much for my unaccustomed tastes.
We also had three pupusas - bean, pork and mixed. They were all pretty tasty and I would recommend them as a small appetizer.
Overall, the experience was great. If my mouth and lips didn't feel like a flaming upside down police car on streets of Vancouver after a Game 7 Stanley Cup Final loss, I probably would have given it a five. -
Review from Johnson T.
Edmonton, AB
12/3/2011
I took a Spanish class in school, so I had this menu down pat. Yes, I love mexican food and Acajutla appeared to bring that with a El Salvadorean influence to the menu as well.
It was decently busy but snared a reservation pretty quickly.
I take pride in my ability to eat anything whether I like it or not and I struggled with that on this day.
The first course was the beef soup. It tasted good but they ran out of tripe earlier in the day and replaced it with more beef tendon. One issue with this dish; is that it smelled terrible enough I couldn't finish.
We ordered: ceviche, pupusas, tamales, enchiladas, carne asada steak and sausages.
Ceviche was refreshing but I should've asked what kind of fish it was because it had an oiliness to it.
Pupusas came with an awesome cabbage slaw. We got the mixed plate and they were great little pockets of meat and cheese. Definitely worth a try.
Tamales and Enchiladas were forgettable. Both were painfully dry and the enchiladas were probably the worst I've ever had.
The steak was requested medium and it definitely probably was medium but you probably couldn't let because it was just gristle. The sausage were nice and earthy but small. The beans and rice were definitely something I could stand behind.
At Acajutla, I failed to find anything that stood out despite suggestions from friends and the waitress but I will definitely give it another shot because there were things on the menu that I wanted to explore.
The decor and lighting was plain in a run down way but the flourishes of color around the dining room gave it a distinct South American feel. -
Review from Kristin K.
Edmonton, AB
6/3/2011
PAPUSAS! Need I say more? My husband and I come here just for their mixed papusas - (my feeble attempt to describe) a corn like tortilla stuffed with cheese, beans, and mixed meat (pork and chicken I think) with a variety of hot sauces and sweet and salty cabbage served on top. An El Salvadorian staple and Acajutla's does it right!
We have tried several entrees there but nothing is as delicious as the papusas so we usually just order a platter of 6 or 7 to share and we are happy as clams!
Be advised the wait can be awhile and if you want a large order of papusas for a large group, it's best to call ahead and let them know. They make everything from scratch to order so be prepared to wait... oh so worth it! Have a nice margarita while you wait... -
Review from Sarah W.
6/21/2011
I can't say that I am a mexican food expert. I've been to Mexico, I've eaten Taco Bell, that's about it for me. But I started going to Acaljutla at the request of an old friend, and I really fell in love with it. I fell in love with it even more when I took a new friend (who moved here from Mexico) to it and she couldn't get over how much it was "like home."
The place is in a shifty part of the city, on 107th Ave. I've witnessed more than a few homeless guys getting tossed into the police van while sitting there, eating my dinner. But when it comes to food, I'm one who goes for more of a tasting-experience over all else, so I remain undeterred.
The restaurant is a shabby little place with colorful decorations tacked up all over the walls. It is family owned and while the service isn't exactly bursting with cheerfulness, they are efficient and know what they're doing. The food is cheaply priced but wonderful and authentic. The menu is rather large and there are lots of new things to try. When you walk in and get settled, you kind of feel like you're eating in someone's home. That kind of care and love for the food goes into your meal.
If you are seeking an authentic, different meal with no frills and satisfaction, definitely try out Acaljutla. Definitely great for the long winter months when all you need is a little vacation - if you can't go to Mexico, bring Mexico to you! -
Review from Katy E.
9/7/2011
Went here for lunch with 2 friends recently with high expectations after reading the good reviews. The service was completely terrible!
The place was on the crowded side when we arrived, but most of the tables seemed to be finishing up and it mostly cleared out within a few minutes of us being seated. Nonetheless, no one acknowledged us for at least 30 minutes after we were seated, despite numerous attempts to make eye contact. We eventually managed to flag someone down and told her that we wanted to order, but it wasn't until several minutes later as we were getting up to leave in disgust that someone finally came to take our order.
When our food finally arrived it was alright, but definitely not worth the wait! -
Review from Nandan F.
Ottawa, ON
10/5/2010
I visited this place with a Salvadorian friend. Its a simple family owned diner...wouldnt really call it a restaurant. The food itself is amazing!
I had the tamarindo to drink. I havent had the taste of real tamarind in years! The other drink options although I cant remember the names were good. Tropical punch style drinks...non-alcoholic though!
I had a pupusa which is like a stuffed pita pocket with pork, beans and veggies. Also had a tamale which is stuff corn bread kinda mix steam cooked while wrapped in a banana leaf. Both were excellent. A bit pricey I thought but they both are labourious to make from what I heard.
For mains I had the combination platter as some other did on this forum. The spicy homemade sausages were really good. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. -
Review from Mark S.
De Winton, AB
Updated - 9/17/2010 1 photo
OK, I lied. I decided to give this place another try. In all honesty, I drove by Acajutla to go to another Mexican restaurant but I found that one to be closed. So, last time I came here, the soup was good enough to allow me to convince myself that I may have ordered the wrong entree. Here we go again.
I ordered the Tortilla soup again. It was even better this time. This stuff is delicious. It really isn't worth $6.99 but what bowl of soup can be. I must admit, this is as close to being worth it as you get. It has a little feta, cilantro, avocado, onion and chunks of chicken in a slightly spicy broth. This is a must for any new customer. I'm sure it will hook you.
I decided to have the Combonation plate and a side of re-fried beans. The combo had a beef taco, chicken fajita, chicken tostada and a deep fried thing with potatoes and pork in it called a pastel. Kind of like a really big perogy that was deep fried.
The chicken tostada was delicious. With re-fried beans, chicken, lettuce, cheese and egg it was definitely the best thing on the plate. The crisp taco on the bottom made it almost impossible to eat but the flavor kept me trying.
The beef taco was chunks of steak and onion on a soft shell. It was good, but plain. I was impressed that it was actual chunks of steak instead of ground beef. I added some Pico de Galo and dipped it in my beans and it made it pretty good.
The chicken fajita was ok but I could have done with out the pastel. It didn't taste terrible but for as bland as it was, I'm not sure my cholesterol spike was worth it.
I don't know what the spicy vinegar cabbage is called but it seemed to be "Mexican cold slaw" if there is such a thing. It was quite nice. I enjoyed it so much that I have tried to duplicate it at home, with out any luck I might add.
The plate didn't come with re fried beans so I ordered a side. They looked like paste, but they were very good. I like the beans to be baked a little and with melted cheese and these were neither.
All in all, this place was ok. If I'm in the area I will probably try it again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/2/2010
After reading a bunch of reviews I decided that this was the place to try. It certainly is not in a… Read more »
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Review from Silvia N.
St Albert, AB
6/23/2011
it tastes great, I am mexican and i can tell u this place its 100 % authentic, the portions arent huge, but everything tastes great, mm i want a pupusa right now lol really try it this is real mexican food, not like taco bell (thats crap n shouldnt be called mexican) i love also their tacos either the beef tacos or chorizo ones simple an tasty with the freshly made corn tortilla and cilantro n onios , fresh lime n salsa u cant go wrong
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Review from Maria F.
11/20/2009 1 photo
Being located in the not so glamorous part of our city, Acajutla is a restaurant worth visiting. Both times I visited Acajutla, I had a dining companion as I wouldn't risk visiting the area where this restaurant is located alone. Acajutla serves Mexican and Salvadorian cuisine which is definitely a huge step beyond Taco Bell and Taco Del Mar. The food is authentic and flavorful. The restaurant itself is small, with rather simple yet festive décor. The menu isn't very long but sufficient enough. I have tried Chicken Escabeche which consists of marinated chicken thighs served with bell and jalapeno peppers, onions, refried beans and tortillas; and a combination plate which has pastel, taco, fajita and tostada all topped with salsa and cabbage salad. To say that these meals were good would be oversimplifying it! They were savory and fulfilling yet didn't make my stomach feel heavy as sometimes happens when I eat Mexican food.
Acajutla is a cozy restaurant that feels homey. Chefs put their hearts into the food they prepare. And these two facts result in a pleasant dining experience for those of us who decide to come to Acajutla. -
Review from Jennifer P.
Edmonton, AB
11/7/2008 1 photo
Long before I moved to E-town I visited and my host brought me to this little restaurant. It was cute, simple and felt very traditional, colourful and festive. They serve up authentic Mexican and Salvadorean food. I had papusas, which are like dough patties filled with ground meat, cheese, shredded cabbage, spices and hot sauce. It may seem a little plain, but it's absolutely delicious, hardy and filling. I used to get them at an El Salvadorean pavilion in Toronto's Kensington market, so this stirred up a bit of nostalgia. These are the kind of places you know about when you wear your home town like an old, worn glove. You find the places that are comfortable and have character. Those little businesses that could because they offer a unique experience amid all of the umbrella owned restaurants that parade as unique, small outfits. If you want to see what Mexico or El Salvador is like before you make the trip, come here and find out what the people and culture off-the-resort can offer.
