Plátano Salvadoran Cuisine - Berkeley

I stumbled upon this place randomly. My dad is Salvadoran and although my mom has learned to cook all of his favorite Salvadoran meals, he also sometimes likes to eat out and find a really good pupuseria! (Place where they sell pupusas). One day we were in the area and got lucky enough to find Plátano! This was one of our favorite local Salvadoran spots for a very long time. We went back to eat there more than a few times and although we haven't visited the area recently, I've been wanting to go back just to eat here! Their food tastes so authentic and delicious. Their drinks are rich and flavorful as well and my favorite dessert was of course the empanadas de plátano! (Plantain empanada). I wish there was more Salvadoran restaurants available, I also wish I lived closer to plátano to satisfy some cravings here and there. If you're in the area give them a visit. Expect friendly and attentive service, a clean restaurant, and the best darn Salvadoran food you'll try in Berkeley!

Came here to try pupusas for the first time, and it definitely won't be my last! I love that they serve their lunch specials all day so that you're able to try a little bit of everything. Service was super friendly. Our waiter explained the proper way to eat a pupusa with their curtido and salsa. We asked for their house made spicy salsa as well, and I think that's a pro move. I ordered the lunch special that came with one pupusa, plantains, and a salad with avocado, beans, tomato, cheese, and tortilla strips. I got a pollo pupusa that was lightly griddled but perfectly warm and satisfying. The filling was honestly nothing special, but the crisped masa is craveable and their curtido slaw was the best accompaniment. I could eat the whole jar and take another home to-go. Everything else was solid but nothing crazy.

A fan favorite for Berkeley students in the mood for pupusas, I got the chance to meet with a friend for lunch here. We ordered their combo specials I got 2 pupusas (1 pork cheese, 1 loroco) a chicken tamale and casamiento (beans rice). They brought out the jar of curtido and I was in heaven. Everything was a solid portion and so flavorful in each bite. I was especially surprised by the casamiento which I've never tasted before. The service is friendly and they have a lot of seating indoors. The ambience is pretty casual so you could go here for all occasions from family dinner to a date. They also do amazing catering so if you're looking for someone to prepare food for your event, Platano is always a hit!

I enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner here today. We arrived at 5. There were about five to eight other tables occupied. The ambience was cheerful and it wasn't too loud. We were greeted immediately and permitted to choose our table, since it wasn't too crowded. My daughter had a lunch special that included two pupusas, a tamale and casamiento (rice and black beans cooked together). She chose the queso and the carne pupusas. The casamiento was a new dish for us; my daughter didn't particularly enjoy it, but she isn't fond of beans. I ordered a revuelita (cheese and pork) and a cheese with loroco pupusa. We shared some fried yucca and she had a sangria. The pupusas were really fresh and flavorful and the fried yucca was delicious...perfectly fried with a light and crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. I definitely recommend Platano if you're seeking good 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.