Did you know that pupusas are the national dish of El Salvador? If you’ve never tried one, you’re missing out. And if you looking for a nearby Salvadorian restaurant, you’re in luck! At California Burrito, we don’t just have Mexican food. We’re also proud to serve delicious Salvadorian food.

As international cuisines go, Salvadorian food isn’t as well known as Mexican food or even food from other countries in Central and South America. In this post, we plan to remedy that by telling you all about the pupusa, the most beloved dish in Salvadorian cuisine.

Here are some facts you may not know about El Salvador’s favorite food.

Contentious Origins

The origins of many foods are up for debate. But few arguments have played a role in the negotiation of a trade agreement. The pupusa, however, does get to claim that honor. In 2004, seven countries, including El Salvador and Honduras, began negotiations doe what would become the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Part of those negotiations related to the exclusive export of certain foods. As both El Salvador and Honduras claimed to be the originator of the pupusa, they both wanted to be its exclusive exporter. The debate carried on for two days, until Honduras eventually ceded the right to El Salvador.

Breaking Records

As Salvadorian immigrants began to spread their love for the pupusa across the world, and especially in the United States, pupusas claimed their place in Salvadorian cuisine. In April 2005, El Salvador declared the pupusa to be its national dish. They also declared that the second Sunday in November is National Pupusas Day. To celebrate National Pupusas Day, the capital and other large cities in El Salvador usually hold a fair. In 2007, the Secretary of Culture arranged to make the world’s biggest pupusa in the capital park. It was 10.3 feet in diameter and fed 5,000 people. Five years later, they broke their own record with a 13.9-foot pupusa. A 15-foot pupusa made in Olocuilta, El Salvador, on November 8, 2015, currently holds the record.

Ever wanted to try a Salvadorian restaurant? Start with California Burritos!

If you’ve never tried Salvadorian food, grabbing a pupusa at California Burritos is a great way to start. We don’t just serve Mexican food, we’re a Salvadorian restaurant, too! Visit us in Nashua, Hudson, or Manchester; you might discover your new favorite food!