Shrimp In Tomato Sauce
Atlacatl

Atlacatl

301 N Berendo St, Los Angeles, California, 90004, United States

Spanish • American • Salvadoran • Latin-American


"Once inside, we felt as if we had been transported to another world, filled with lively conversations in Spanish. The menu featured a variety of traditional dishes, many of which were new to us. Our hunger got the best of us, and we ended up ordering more than we intended! The standout dishes were definitely the pupusas de loroco y queso. Loroco, which are small, unopened edible flower buds, are commonly used in Salvadoran cuisine and have a flavor reminiscent of asparagus. These pupusas had a fantastic creamy taste and texture, thanks to the melting cheese, the masa flatbread, and the loroco. We also enjoyed the curtido, a cabbage slaw served in a generous bowl, which added another layer of flavor to the meal. However, the pastelitos de puerco y verduras were somewhat disappointing. These deep-fried ovals had a bland filling that didn't impress us. We decided to try the Atol de elote without knowing what to expect, and it turned out to be a bowl of corn soup that leaned towards the sweet side for our taste. It appears this dish has Maya origins, which is intriguing from a historical standpoint. The mojarra entomatada, a whole tilapia served with tomatoes, cucumbers, and a black bean purée, was absolutely perfect; the fish was sweet and moist. Perhaps the most unusual dish we tried was the Chilate con nuegados, which consisted of plantains, sweet potatoes, and fried dough balls shaped like mushrooms, all drizzled with a honey sauce and chilate. We couldn't quite determine what chilate was, but I later found out it is a beverage made from atol, cacao, and chili—an interesting complement to the nuegados. All of this was accompanied by freshly made rounds of flatbread and several bottles of Salvadoran beer! The service was also worth mentioning, as it was warm and friendly. Our waitress struggled to describe some of the dishes, but she did her best with a smile. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience, and we left the restaurant eager to return."