About Us
Sharing Salvadoran tradition, community, and flavor with San Francisco since 1987.
Our Story
Balompié's owner, Amadeo Gonzalez, moved to the US in 1974 from El Salvador's Metapán – known for agriculture and near the Guatemalan border.
Originally, we served Italian food and pupusas after two years he decided to take the Italian food off the menu and expanded to Salvadoran treats. Amadeo soon realized that they were missing the comfort of food from home. Amadeo began adding traditional pupusa combinations to his menu that included cheese and loroco.
He was one of the entrepreneurs in San Francisco who had a license to import loroco. He would travel to El Salvador and pick these special ingredients by hand. He found that it was very difficult to keep loroco’s fresh that if he had one bad flower, US Customs would toss the entire batch. He later decided to purchase them frozen from a local market.
Amadeo expanded his menu and started offering flavourful combos like a pupusa stuffed with spinach, mushrooms and carrots, and the Mexicana y Queso, with pork mince, jalapenos and cheese. His authentic and delicious menu attracted loyal customers and kept Balompié afloat during challenging times.
Evelyn is very proud “to give people a taste of my heritage and show them how to eat pupusas.” Balompié Cafe, offers a community gathering space in the Mission District. Everyone can enjoy delicious El Salvadoran food and a fun atmosphere for football fans.
Why Visit Balompié Cafe #1
Located at 3349 18th St, San Francisco, Balompié Cafe #1 offers dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering options. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s easy to enjoy Salvadoran classics any time of day. Visitors come for the pupusas and stay for the friendly atmosphere that makes every visit feel special. For those looking for comfort, flavor, and community, Balompié Cafe #1 is the place to be.