El Chapin Restaurant Oceanside

This place is very traditional Guatemalan taste. My girlfriend and I we really enjoy the food here. I'm Guatemalan so to me was very impressed that the food was delicious and good customer service. We were passing by so we stop it was worth it. We actually thinking to come back from LA.

El Chapin was a great experience. We were expecting a hole in the wall, and that is what we got, but it really is so much more. The owner, referred to by the server as “Mom”, is a great cook, and serves up her own recipes, with a little added home-cooking. The menu is in Spanish, and being friendly Canadians, we tried to use Google to translate. Finally, we gave up, and Mom came out to describe her favourite dishes … and we ordered them! We heard that the pupusas were the main reason for the restaurant's success, so we order a few of those to share. A couple of cheese and jalapeno, and a couple of shrimp. Served with curtido, a type of cabbage slaw, these thick stuffed corn tortillas were delicious! We also order two starters of Platanos Fritos, or fried plantains. They are sweet, and served with beans and a thick cream sauce. Sweet, like dessert! The entrees were at first a little overwhelming, but we eventually decided on Brocheta Mixta, a kind of small sampler with shrimp, beef, and chicken. We also ordered the Pollo en Crema, a quarter chicken cooked in a cream sauce with red and green peppers. Very Good! Also ordered a Chili Relleno, and it was done right … a stuffed pepper. A little bit of spice, but really nice! We had no room for dessert! The owner and her staff were very friendly, the service was great, and the food was excellent! If you are in Oceanside, and looking for a great affordable meal, I highly recommend El Chapin

Pupusas are good. Yucca frita with chicharrón plate is soooo delicious! But this place is way too expensive. I think because they know they are the only Central American restaurant in the area, they take advantage. Plus, not all plates are being sold since COVID. And sometimes they don't pick up the phone and close earlier than their hours posted. They are a bit unreliable but their food is good if you are willing to spend a little extra.

Horrible food , I paid extra for chorizo and got this nasty white stuff all around it, meat was very hard and no flavor. Horrible customer service no toppings they forgot to put the salsa I had to drive back again and when I called them back they didn’t even apologize or offer to make a new plate. If I was you save your money this food is nasty

Incredible Service. Loved the food. The pupusas are incredible and everything is made fresh.

Those papusas were the best I've ever had. I haven't had them any other time before this time. The tamarindo was the best I've ever had as well. Really top notch. The little tortillas with the beef and cabbage were like little tostadas and I ate them up in one bite. I did notice the prices were a little higher than what the menu advertised but I will just keep that in mind for next time. Tamal elote was great and my son couldn't believe it was corn. He had never seen something like that before. This is a family friendly place with fantastic food and agua fresca. I wish I lived across the street so I could just have them deliver to me.

Above average papusas. AMAZING fried platanos w/ frijoles & crema.

Love the papusas & I had a plantain dish that was so yummy.

I love love this place! They have a variety of drinks and dishes on their menu. Serving sizes will leave you full and satisfied. I always get pupusas de chicharrón, horchata or ensalada They also sell pan dulce and other Central American goodies!

I’ve eaten here a few times and I love it. It really tastes like authentic Guatemalan food. The owner is sooo nice and very caring. She makes everyone feel right at home. The staff is amazing. Definitely recommend this place and I will definitely be coming back.