Elite Food Zone

About a 1 – 1.5: The hubs and I stopped by to get some gas while in the area, and I saw that there was a little mini restaurant located inside the Citgo. I was pretty intrigued, as the menu seemed pretty promising — their pupusas also looked to be their main attraction. The menu offers empanadas, burritos, tamales, pupusas, quesadillas, tacos, combo platters, hot dogs, subs, and salads. I tried the Empanada de Platano, which was the plantain empanada (this was a fried ball stuffed with whipping cream and sugar (I think it was overfried); I was not a fan of this, as the looks were deceiving! I actually expected it to be crispy and sweet, filled with luscious sweet plantains; however, it was actually filled with a lard-​like frosting with no hint of plantain taste); 2 Pupusas de Queso (cheese pupusas; this was pretty unappetizing, as it was extremely doughy, bland, and not flavorful at all; the little slaw on the side was also incredibly wet and not tasty, and did not complement the pupusas at all!); and, the Philly Cheese Steak (I requested it to only have the fried onions and mayo; however, mustard, green peppers, tomatoes, and lettuce were automatically included T_​_​_​T I was definitely not a fan, as the combination of all those ingredients were just so odd for a cheesesteak). I actually ended up tossing everything, as it was just all inedible. You order first, receive your food (you can either get it to-​go or dine-​in, as there are a few tables), and then pay up at the main cashier counter. I’m glad I was able to check this place out, but with the incorrect/​lack of attention of the orders/​requests and the blandness/​unappetizing factor of the food probably makes this my last visit!
+incorrect orders T_​_​_​_​T
+mustard in cheesesteaks: O
+bland and doughy pupusas T_​_​_​T
+located inside the Citgo

I found this place completely on accident. About four or five years ago, a particular craiglist adventure that won’t be mentioned had me lost in the middle of the sticks Manassas. I drove into this Citgo after noticing the gas was super cheap, probably the cheapest I’ve seen anywhere else. A sniff of the air while filling up the gas made me realize that the convenience store across was actually a pupusaria and I couldn’t resist. I ordered as much as I could off the menu, ate some of the best tacos and pupusas I’ve ever had and drove home. A few weeks later I had forgotten the address and tried to find this place to eat again and it was nowhere to be found… I had lost the receipt I couldn’t find the place anywhere on the internet. A search on Unilocal turned up with nothing. How could this be? How can food this good be completely unnoticed? Did this place even exist? Maybe it was all a dream…
Four years later as I was cleaning out my house, I found a Citgo gas receipt that seemed awfully familiar with an address on it. Was this it? Were my eyes playing tricks on me? Did that night actually happen or was it a figment of my imagination? I took a chance and drove out an hour to the address, not knowing if I was driving towards the holy grail of pupusas or my untimely death in a dark alleyway. It was all coming back to me now… faceless strip malls, crummy used car lots. Then I arrive. This was it.
It was like a time capsule, almost nothing had changed. Gas was still cheap, the same woman who took my order and the same cook was still there. Ordered everything I did before and it was exactly how I remembered it. The pupusas locas still was dinner plate sized with ooey gooey cheese and beans, chicharron, and ample amount of zesty loroco (most places barely add any loroco and it is usually flavorless). The cabbage slaw was fresh and crunchy. The tacos de lengua had perfectly marinated and tender meat. The horchata was amazing and best of all, they had Mexican coke!
I cannot believe I am giving my first five star review for gas station food but this is the best El Salvadorian food in Northern VA, no joke. If I can return four or five years later out of the blue and still experience amazing fresh El Salvadorian food with no loss in quality, they are doing something right. Not to mention the cheapest gas around and the sweetest nicest ladies.