Try the Papusas at Atlacatl

Named for the legendary Pipil warrior chief who led resistance against the Spanish conquistadors, Atlacatl Restaurant and Pupusería brings the soul of Salvadoran cooking to Columbia Pike with honesty and skill. The pupusas here — thick, hand-formed corn masa stuffed with cheese, beans, loroco, or chicharrón, served with the requisite curtido and salsa roja — are cited by regulars as some of the best in Northern Virginia, and the restaurant’s comfortable, unpretentious atmosphere feels genuinely like a traditional pupusería.

Beyond the pupusas, the menu ranges widely: the mariscada con crema is a rich, deeply flavored seafood soup worth the trip alone, and the plátanos rellenos con crema and fried yuca offer a satisfying survey of Salvadoran comfort food. Portions are generous, prices are honest, and the family atmosphere makes it an easy choice for groups.