Pupusas—El Salvador’s national treasure—are winning hearts across the globe, including right here in the United States. While tacos and burritos have long dominated the Latin food conversation, pupusas are finally getting their spotlight, and more and more American artists, entertainers, and creators are stepping up to show their love for this cheesy, toasty masterpiece.
From viral tweets to food documentaries, here are 10 famous American artists and public figures who’ve celebrated pupusas in interviews, social media, or even their art. ¡Vamos!
1. Roy Choi – The Street Food Chef King
The chef who revolutionized LA food trucks with his Kogi BBQ empire has spoken publicly about his deep love for Salvadoran food, especially pupusas. He’s praised them as one of LA’s best-kept culinary secrets and encourages everyone to “know your masa.”
2. Padma Lakshmi – Host of Taste the Nation
Padma spotlighted Salvadoran immigrants in Washington, DC in an emotional Taste the Nation episode, where pupusas were the centerpiece of a story about resilience, tradition, and flavor. She called them “perfect pockets of history.”
3. Chrissy Teigen – Cookbook Queen and Twitter Foodie
Chrissy once posted a pic of pupusas from a Salvadoran home chef in LA and captioned it:
“How have I never had this before? I’m obsessed.”
The post launched a wave of curiosity from her fans—and the vendor sold out the next day.
4. Cardi B – Rap Star and Snack Queen
Cardi B gave pupusas the social media spotlight when she posted a backstage snap of herself holding a cheese pupusa with curtido and salsa. Fans went wild. Her verdict? “🔥🔥🔥”
5. Jon Favreau – Actor, Director, Food Lover
In The Chef Show, Favreau shared his appreciation for Latin American street food, and he was captured praising pupusas during one of his LA filming sessions. He called them “perfectly engineered for happiness.”
6. Rick Martinez – Food Writer and TV Host
Rick’s known for celebrating Latin American flavors, and he’s featured pupusas multiple times in his recipes and videos. In a recent newsletter, he wrote:
“Pupusas are hands-down one of the greatest food inventions of all time. Salty. Cheesy. Corny. Comfort.”
7. Linda Yvette Chávez – Creator of Gentefied
As a proud Chicana and food lover, Chávez included pupusa culture in her Netflix series Gentefied, showcasing Salvadoran identity and showing one character lovingly devour a pupusa in East LA.
8. Favianna Rodriguez – Visual Artist & Activist
Favianna incorporates food, culture, and politics in her bold posters—and yes, pupusas have made appearances in her work. She celebrates Salvadoran cuisine as part of the fight for visibility and equity in Latinx identity.
9. Rosie Perez – Actress and Icon
While Puerto Rican, Rosie Perez has always supported Central American causes. She’s given shoutouts to Salvadoran restaurants in NYC and has been seen ordering pupusas with the confidence of a seasoned curtido queen.
10. Jean-Michel Basquiat (inspired)
Though Basquiat never directly referenced pupusas, his celebration of urban and immigrant culture laid the foundation for many Salvadoran-American artists to embrace their food heritage in public art and murals. His influence echoes through every pupusa painted on an LA wall.
Honorable Mentions
- 🎧 DJ Envy (The Breakfast Club): Regularly praises his favorite Salvadoran restaurant in New Jersey.
- 🎙️ Becky G: Featured a pupusa recipe on her TikTok and mentioned her Salvadoran fans by name.
Summary
From food shows to Instagram feeds, American artists are showing their love for pupusas—and giving Salvadoran food the spotlight it’s always deserved. Whether it’s a rap queen backstage or a Netflix director telling immigrant stories, pupusas are no longer a hidden gem—they’re a cultural movement on a hot comal.
