Located in the corner basement of a large building, there's nothing in this homey restaurant but three small tables, three hard barstools and three bright-eyed, pretty cooks working in the open, well-lit kitchen. An El Salvadoran specialty, pupusas are small, hand-pounded cornmeal pancakes that are stuffed with a variety of tasty fillings like pork, frijoles, zucchini or queso and then fried up on a griddle. They're very cheap at $1.35 each, very filling and when topped with a bit of sour cream and vinegary, oregano-speckled slaw (curtido), they make for a delightful meal.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Misty Tosh