A Pocket of El Salvador in Charlottesville

As the waves crash against the coast and the infectious melodies of popular music styles such as cumbia and salsa fill the valleys at the foot of the green, lush mountains of El Salvador, the rich smell of freshly cooked meat and maize wrap the people in a comforting bubble of a beautiful culture. Just at the foot of the mountains that surround Charlottesville, is Mi Casita Salvadorian Restaurant, a local venue featuring authentic food from Mexico to Central America with a taste that reminds local Hispanics of home and will take you there too.

Just ten minutes away from PVCC, Mi Casita is located at 312 Pantops Shopping Center. Mi Casita serves classic El Salvadorian and Honduran breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals. Mi Casita is different from the Hispanic restaurants in the area. “We are not your typical Mexican sit down restaurant, but an informal “HOMETOWN” LATINO-CENTRAL AMERICAN place with a twist. All fresh, handmade, and always hot,” the restaurant venue said on their website. Their detailed attention to bringing the bold and common flavors of El Salvadorian and Honduran cuisine is unmatched with other Latino restaurants in the area. 

When you walk into the dining room, you can automatically feel the home like vibe the restaurant owners describe. There are no overwhelming features of Hispanic culture, just simple decorations with quiet background music including popular Latino styles. One can feel as if they have walked into their home dining room and can feel comfortable and enjoy a delicious meal. 

For breakfast, try a Baleada. This is a thick flour tortilla filled with refried beans, scrambled egg, sour cream, and avocado. Breakfast meals such as Baleadas can cost less than $5. Another popular option is a hot, fresh burrito filled with steak, cheese, and vegetables for under $10. Just, maybe not before class if you want to be awake for most of it. Be sure to pair it with Mi Casita’s Horchata, a plant-based milk drink with cinnamon.

For lunch, if you’re looking to sample of a little bit of everything, find the lunch specials and order “Especial #1,” which includes one taco with steak, a pupusa (a thick cornmeal pocket filled with pork and cheese), and a tamal (or tamale with chicken and a doughy outer layer). All tacos from Mi Casita are common to street food style which is often small but packs a delicious punch. The pupusas and tamals are made just like they would be in El Salvador. Those who dined with me thoroughly enjoyed their meals as well which all ranged between $6 to $12. 

However, all new businesses have their cons. Mi Casita is fairly new and is heavily understaffed at lunch time. When my friends and I went, there was only one waitress taking orders, bringing meals, and ringing customers up for dine-in and carry-out. We waited for about thirty minutes for our lunch. 

This is a nice place to bring a few friends for a long lunch and many who work there speak both English and Spanish. You always enjoy kind service from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

“One thing you can tell about this place is that Hispanics like it. If most of the customers are Hispanic, you know this is good food,” noted one customer. Mi Casita is welcoming back authentic Latino dishes with a formal dining experience to Charlottesville for all to enjoy. For a fresh, hot El Salvadorian meal for great prices, you cannot beat Mi Casita!

View their website here: https://www.restaurantji.com/va/charlottesville/shang-hai-/