El Balcon

Wow! Our taste buds were in glorious food heaven. Hubby and I got a #8 to share and dined al fresco at the Harborside Fountain Park near the ferry terminal while awaiting our return to Seattle.
Two tacos and two papusas was the perfect choice! We each had a chicken taco and a spinach and cheese papusa, loved having a salsa/​sauce assortment: mild, smoky, avocado lime and sour cream. Toppings were also amazing: cilantro, onion, radish and there is also a unique pickled cabbage slaw to add even more zip to your palate.
The tacos were double tortillas with plenty of perfectly cooked chicken, but it was the papusa that sent us both into instant love of this place… soft melted cheese and spinach inside of a grilled dough pocket of perfection!
El Balcon is a great little spot with a friendly staff, affordable prices, yummy food and just a few short blocks from the ferry terminal. Try it!

Fantastic food for a very reasonable price. I love all the salsas and sauces to choose from to accompany your dish.

I was not aware that this place even existed until now. Decided to check it out and was treated to some of the best el Salvadorian food I’ve had in a long long while. So glad to discover a place like this in Bremerton. I will be returning often.

I’ve heard nothing but good things about this restaurant, so I finally went into to grab a bite around lunchtime. Good ordering service, and I could tell they get good business with people coming and going for lunch. I ordered the Bremerton burrito and an agua de horchata, which I was fully grateful that I did. The pulled pork, aka carnitas is superb. Just the right texture and flavor. This burrito has tortilla chips in it, and it is a great choice between crunchy like a taco and soft like a burrito. Great combo. They also have great sauces, and I knew the cream was authentic, and not just plain sour cream. I will definitely take my friends and family here! Thanks for the great food, El Balcon!

If you’re sitting around wondering «why doesn’t Bremerton have any good restaurants?» get up, get in the car, and drive to El Balcon. Growing up in California, I have become quite particular of where I get Mexican food, Salvadorian food, and the like, but look no more! I’ll admit, parking is sub par so I should take off a star, but the food is just so good that I can’t reduce it to 4 stars. Employees are always very friendly and the music is great. The food is always consistently amazing and fair priced. So get up and go!

El Balcon is very good. I went in one day for lunch and I am just trying to come up with excuses to go back. I had a California burrito and it was absolutely on point. I also tried the Pupusa because I love them and the one I had was great, I would have preferred more pork but otherwise it was delicious. I can’t wait till I can go back.

The food here is really delicious, just plan on getting it to go since there’s only two small counters to eat at.

Fresh and delish. Hits the spot when you are craving tacos. Price is good on your wallet.

Burritos are huge and satisfying, I am a fan of the Cuban or the garlic shrimp. Asada Nachos are good for a group when hanging out nearby at the breweries. The Taco’s don’t come out with much on them, you need to add what you want from the relish bar.

I don’t even know where to begin? My husband and I have been searching for authentic Mexican food for awhile, since moving from Las Vegas. I have been absolutely dying for a Cali burrito for about a year and a half and while there are a few places in town that try to replicate the food that you would find in Las Vegas/​San Diego, I’ve just found that it wasn’t quite what I am looking for .
So I will admit, I was skeptical of El Balcon at first. I mean I was looking for authentic Mexican food, but I kept hearing they were El Salvadorian and Mexican? How does that go together, I kept asking myself? But the reviews were good and the pictures looked great and I will try anything once!
Upon entering their little hole in the wall, I instantly felt like I was back in a Vegas taco shop and all my doubts were instantly squashed with the friendly greeting and great service I immediately got the second I walked in the door. I ordered the Cali burrito and the anticipation was mounting, as I was reading all the «Best Burrito» awards they had won from various city/​county publications.
I was not let down! My ginormous burrito, (they should really weigh those things, I bet it would come in at about three pounds) was AMAZING! It was everything I was wanting and craving for the last year and a half!
Thank you El Balcon for great service and food! I will be back!

This place is amazing! The ONLY complaint I have is the lack of seating, otherwise amazing

What is it with people in Washington in general always overrating restaurants? I started to not trust the red 4 stars and the recommendations anymore. Come on I can’t be the only one that noticed the food here was not good. They couldn’t even make the steak taco right. It was plain and tasted nasty. The worst steak taco I’ve ever had in my life! The shrimp taco was not as good as other people made it sounds. And I was hungry. Usually food tastes better to me when I’m hungry but this just ruined my appetite. Nothing was as close as 2 stars I’m just being honest! Don’t waste your money!

Food was very good, I had the two tacos and 2 popusas. It was quick and the service was good, everyone was friendly and helpful.
I gave it four stars because although it is a small place there weren’t enough stools to sit and there were only 4 people there when I arrived. But I am assuming most people order to go. I am not from around here and just wanted to sit… Eventually I got one it wasn’t a big deal. I would come back next I am in town.

I don’t know what it is about super legit cuisine hiding in downtown Bremerton, but here it is; El Balcon is the truth. If you’re in the mood for Mexican or Salvadoran food, you deserve some El Balcon.
–Huge, diverse variety of items on the menu of every persuasion.
–Friendly, quick staff that’s always on the top of their game.
–Small but clean joint with a nice setup for seating
–Last but not least, the food is GOOD. Much respect to the famous nomadic burrito trucks, but this puts those to shame.
Do yourself a favor and grab a big boy burrito and see for yourself.

Salvadorian food? Had never heard of it before I came here. I had been craving a good burrito for a while and let me tell you this place hit the spot. Generally, there is standing room only as it is a small place, but down let that scare you off. There is a reason tons of folks are milling about the place, the food is freaken awesome!!!
I had never had a Papusa before, I was curious and I had to try. I am glad I did, it was an amazing little corn grilled cheese sammich. Seriously, who doesn’t like cheese. Anyway, I’ve had a hand full of their burritos and I gotta say each one was my favorite.
Go try it, order anything that looks interesting, you will be rewarded with an awesome experience. Staff here is polite but quick, don’t expect to languish at the register long, they have lots of patrons to take care of.

Dang! Their Asada tacos are A-​m-​a-​zing!!!
The locals recommended, since they knew I was visiting, and boy I’m glad I listened. The food is fresh, tasty and reasonable. I tried the Papusa for the first time, and was yummy too! The girl at the register was patient explaining the different foods, and good with recommendations!

YES — go there. The papusas are like an amazing Salvadoran grilled cheese sandwich. You should go eat one. Probably right now. The tacos are small, similar to street tacos, but everything is very fresh and delicious. My friend had the chipotle burrito and she said it was really good. Choose your favorite three salsas (or sour cream) to take with you.
Be advised, seating is limited in this place, and the line can get long at lunch time. I suggest take-​out rather than dining in. If you can, call in your order and avoid waiting in the crowded and small space.

Came here for dinner with two friends. One had been here many times before, us other two hadn’t been here. I’ve heard fantastic things about them for ages, it seems, but I’m rarely in Bremerton to eat. Finally made it a point to come by.
We were able to order immediately off their expansive, but simple, menu. Two chicken street tacos and a spicy spinach pupusa was about $ 7. I have a smallish stomach and it was more than enough food to satisfy me. I love spicy things, and often when I order something called «spicy», it’s rather disappointing. This was not. Talk about needing more water! But it was the perfect combination of spiciness and flavor.
We managed to get a table outside before the big dinner rush. Despite being on busy Pacific Avenue, it wasn’t very loud. Which was nice. My friends got beans and rice to go with their tacos and pupusas and it’s a huge serving size. My friend who hadn’t been here before commented on how tasty their beans and rice are. Definitely grabbing some of those next time.
The service is fast. They know how to make excellent food and still keep the price to the consumer inexpensive. I see great things continuing to happen for this husband and wife and I hope business remains great.

Stopped at this place to pick up some snacks for my ferry ride into Seattle. 2:30pm, there was still quite a line of people so I figured this place SHOULD be good. Place smelled divine and the front cashier was very informative despite all the other tasks she had on her plate: placing orders, double checking orders, bagging orders, filling up sides. They are very much understaffed but she did a fabulous job.
They have specific combos made to fill your «salvadorian fix».pupusas, pastelitos, platanos oh my!
This place is authentic as you can get in a place like Bremerton.
I ordered combo #10 which came with a variety of Salvadorian goodness:
Spinach and cheese pupusa
2 pastelitos
casamiento (rice and beans)
Yuka frita
My favorite of all those listed above was the Casamiento. It was really what had the most flavor. If it weren’t for the rice and beans sitting on top of the Pupusa– I think that pupusa would have been extremely bland and a waste of calories.
Yuka frita was OK. A bit on the oily side (on the inside. not on the outside)
Pastelitos were HUGE. they are essentially like empanadas. ok– but again, could have used more seasoning.
Ordered my food at 2:25– was out the door at 2:43.ran to get to my car by 2:45 and made it JUST in time!
Would I come back if I were in the area? Most likely, yes. But next time I’ll try some mexican dishes.
Side note: sides have a good kick to them. so beware for those with sensitive taste buds.

Found this on Yahoo. Made their best list for Best Mexican in America!!! I’m so happy for them.
On my most recent visit, it was on a weekend, the food didn’t seem as good. I assumed that because the owners weren’t there that the food lost some of the love that it normally has. I hope that is a one time thing, cause I would hate to see this place become one of the typical Mexican restaurants. The salsas were still good.