Plátano Salvadoran Cuisine - Berkeley

I ordered the lunch special that included one pupusa, plantains, and a salad with avocado, beans, tomato, cheese, and tortilla strips. I chose a pollo pupusa, which was lightly griddled and warm – truly satisfying. While the filling was fairly ordinary, the crisp masa was delicious and the curtido slaw made for an excellent complement. I could easily finish an entire jar of it and still want more to take home! Everything else on the plate was good, but nothing too extraordinary.

A popular choice among Berkeley students craving pupusas, I had the opportunity to have lunch with a friend here. We opted for the combo specials, and I enjoyed 2 pupusas (one with pork and cheese, and the other with loroco), along with a chicken tamale and casamiento (a mix of beans and rice). They served a jar of curtido, and I felt like I was in heaven. The portions were generous, and every bite was bursting with flavor. I was particularly impressed by the casamiento, which was new to me. The staff was friendly, and there’s plenty of seating inside. The atmosphere is quite casual, making it suitable for various occasions, from family dinners to dates. They also offer fantastic catering, so if you need food for an event, Platano is always a crowd-pleaser!

I stumbled upon this restaurant by chance. My dad is Salvadoran, and while my mom has mastered all of his favorite Salvadoran dishes, he still enjoys going out to find a great pupuseria. One day, while we were in the area, we were fortunate enough to discover Plátano! It quickly became one of our favorite local Salvadoran spots. We've returned more than a few times, and even though we haven't visited recently, I've been craving to go back just for their food! Everything tastes so authentic and delicious. Their drinks are rich and flavorful, and my absolute favorite dessert is the empanadas de plátano (plantain empanadas). I wish there were more Salvadoran restaurants around, and I really wish I lived closer to Plátano to satisfy my cravings! If you're in the area, make sure to check them out. You can expect friendly and attentive service, a clean restaurant, and some of the best Salvadoran food in Berkeley!

The place was packed when we got there. We went their during lunchtime, so we tried their lunch specials #3, #4, and #9. Lunch special #3 comes with 2 pupusas, plantains, casamiento, and sour cream. Lunch special #4 comes with 2 pupusas, casamiento, and chicken tamale. Lunch special #9 comes with 2 pupusas and a small tropical salad. We also tried their horchata, atol de elote, fried yucca, and chicharrones. Pupusas were good but needed a little bit more flavor, so we all pretty much used up an entire bottle of the sauce they provided us. Plantains were cooked really well. Chicharrones was delicious, too. Overall, it was a good experience.

Platano is a super cute local Salvadoran business in downtown Berkeley. After my friend couldn't stop telling me about how good the food was, I decided that we had to go. There are so many options on the menu, and the inside of the restaurant is so welcoming and homely. I decided to get the lunch special that came with two pupusas and plantains. I was taken away by how big the portion size was! The worker was super friendly, and the food was quickly delivered to us. Are the ingredients tasted so fresh, especially the plantains and beans. I had enough leftover for a second meal the next day. If you're looking to support a local business I'd highly recommend visiting Plantano. It's perfect for a small group, or a nice meal with family and friends.