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Overview & Highlights

Welcome to Marielo's Pupuseria, a hidden gem located at 820 Green Springs Hwy, Birmingham, AL. If you have yet to experience the delights of Salvadoran cuisine, then you are in for a treat! Known for their mouth-watering pupusas, Marielo’s is the perfect spot to indulge in authentic flavors that celebrate the heart of El Salvador.

Patrons rave about the chorizo pupusas, which have proven to be a crowd favorite at potluck events. One reviewer, Theodore Breaux, notes how these freshly made delicacies were a hit, demonstrating Marielo's commitment to quality and ordering everything made-to-order. Each pupusa is crafted with care, ensuring it's cooked just how you like it!

But the experience goes beyond food. As Jones Street passionately shares, "Don’t walk, run to this place!" The welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff create a sense of community that enhances your dining experience. It’s not just about eating; it's about connecting, sharing stories, and finding a true culinary home. With offers like the pork pupusa paired with remarkable homemade sauces and crunchy vegetable mixes, Marielo's takes you on an unforgettable flavor journey.

While some customers, like Lynne Slater, found the pupusas slightly greasy, they appreciated the fresh ingredients and the accommodating staff who even cater to food allergies. This flexibility is vital in today's diverse dining landscape and showcases Marielo's commitment to customer satisfaction.

Gottfried Kibelka highlights the excellence of the pupusas—smooth and golden with plenty of flavor. He completes the culinary experience with the crunchy curtido, a delightful pickled cabbage that complements the dishes beautifully. Though opinions on the curtido vary, it remains a classic companion to the pupusas that many love. The recommendation to order ahead and enjoy your meal elsewhere speaks to the bustling environment Marielo's operates in—a unique experience nestled next to a Sunoco gas station.

Despite the hustle and bustle of its location, the heart of Marielo's Pupuseria lies in the flavors and warmth of its people. Chef Moises Alvarado mentions their prominence in Montgomery, indicating Marielo's potential to expand its reputation even further. Whether you prefer to dine on-site or take your flavorful pupusas to a nearby park, Marielo's commitment to quality, friendship, and authenticity is undeniable.

If you are craving a taste of El Salvador in Birmingham, look no further than Marielo’s Pupuseria. With affordable prices—pupusas averaging just $3 each, plus fresh ingredients—it's a culinary adventure waiting to be explored. Next time you're in the mood for an authentic Salvadoran delight, consider this must-try destination. Trust us; every bite is worth it!

Comforts & Conveniences

Service options
  • Kerbside pickup
  • Takeaway
  • Dine-in
  • Delivery
Popular for
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible car park
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
  • Comfort food
  • Quick bite
  • Small plates
Dining options
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Atmosphere
  • Casual
  • Trendy
Crowd
  • Groups
Planning
  • Accepts reservations
Payments
  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • Credit cards
Children
  • Good for kids
Parking
  • Free of charge street parking
  • Free parking lot

Where to Visit

Visitor Testimonials (254)

I bought 10 chorizo pupusas as a contribution to a pot luck event, which turned out to be a real crowd pleaser. Lovely people, everything cooked to order, delicious!

Listen… Don’t walk, run to this place!! The food is absolutely amazing!! Pork papusa The sauces and vegetable mix was amazing!! Top tier!! Not only was the food great but the people were awesome too!! So friendly and warm! I found myself talking about my work and my kids.. I know good food and I also know good people!

Super fresh, made to order and very friendly window attendant. Due to food allergies, we ordered a custom item they had no problem fulfilling. There were a couple chairs to sit in while waiting, but nowhere to eat, so we took our food to the lovely park around the corner. The pupusas were good, but a little too greasy for my taste. The cabbage was excellent, but the salsa just tasted like a tomato (no spice or other flavor at all). People drive really fast through the parking lot, and parking itself is a little tricky. The road noise and generator made it not such a pleasant experience while waiting.

Go get some. Very nice, English-speaking operators that serve good, freshly-made pupusas at $3 a piece (incl. Tax). The pupusas come with curtido, a slightly pickled cabbage, and a choice of hot or tomato salsa. The pupusas were smooth, golden without burnt spots, hadn't leaked during frying, and were absolutely delicious. (My companions insist that the pork and beans filled pupusas are the best but I stick to the vegetarian options). The curtido was a bit of a surprise as it consisted of white cabbage, no red cabbage, no carrots (if any, only very few), and pre pickled jalapenos. The cabbage was still very crunchy, and the brine was yellow. All in all good but not my favorite curtido recipe. The hot sauce was actually hot, not scorching, but a refreshing and tasty flavor enhancement. I highly recommend ordering ahead (15-20 minutes) and taking the order somewhere more pleasant to enjoy your meal. This is a "pupusaria truck" adjacent to a Sunoco gas station. There is no shade and no place to sit, other than the curb. Parking is very limited. The smells of the gas station and Hwy 31 are not making for a great location and the loud generator as well as traffic can take away from the enjoyment of the pupusas.

The pupusas so far the best in Montgomery. The curtido was good but can be better if he replace the traditional chile with “Cola de Gallo “instead of the jalapeño.

These pupusas are delicious! I recommend getting the homemade hot sauce with them. Somehow the hot sauce is so good I want to drink it!

Pupusas are one of my favorite foods and this place really knows how to make them! I went with my partner and got one chicken, one zucchini, and one mushroom pupusa. My partner got chicken, zucchini, and pork. We paid about $24 for them and were both very satisfied. We walked across the road to the seating area at The Edge to eat them. These are authentic, delicious, and the staff were kind and welcoming. Highly recommend!

This is phenomenal. Papusas are delicious. Sauces are great. And the people who run the truck are gracious and humble. So good.

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