Pupusa's- A Culinary/Cultural Treat in Kansas
Having lived near Emporia in the late 1980's, I was dismayed by the small number of dining spots in town, and by how remarkably bad some of them were at the time.

Took a chance on this interesting spot while passing through town on the way back to Lawrence about four years ago. We had a party of four and ordered a wide variety from the menu.

As we invited each other to taste different items, eyes began to widen in amazement, and some friendly fighting over particular dishes ensued.

I knew then I would be using any excuse to return, and have been able to do so at least three times. We later deduced from the eponymous dish, the pupusa, that this was not your standard Mex or TexMex establishment, but that it had a decidedly Salvadorean slant.

Don't know too much about the cuisine of El Salvador, but loved the signature accompaniments of fresh shredded vegetables-- like a tasty salad/cole slaw on the side of many dishes.

If you are a menudo eater (tripe, or more plainly cow stomach soup), which I am, you will not be disappointed. The menudo is a fairly hearty meal, so if you're wanting to traverse the menu, might want to save this dish, as I did, for a later trip(e). Pun intended.

The setting, an old rail car, is your first stage in leaving Kansas as we know it, for a mini-vacation requiring no passport, no airports, and no subsequent bathroom bouts with "la turistas."

On every visit the primary language spoken in kitchen and dining area was Spanish. Soccer matches are usually playing on the TV in the dining area. The staff is always very friendly and accommodating.

Pupusa El Mexicano in Emporia is just off the main old downtown street. Tasty, interesting and memorable.    [12 Feb 2006 13:56:41]

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