In an unexpected (and totally delightful) twist, Hailee Steinfeld—the Hollywood triple threat known for her roles in Hawkeye, Spider-Verse, and her music career—just became the unofficial queen of pupusas for 2024. And no, this isn’t clickbait. It’s the delicious truth.
Here’s how Hailee + pupusas broke the internet and why Salvadorans everywhere are claiming her as one of their own.
🎬 The Pupusa Cameo Heard ‘Round the World
It all started on a press tour for her latest project (Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse or her new album—depending on what hit first). During an interview on Hot Ones spin-off Snack Wars International, Hailee was asked to choose between a “cheesy American quesadilla” or “an authentic Salvadoran pupusa.”
Without hesitation, she picked the pupusa. Then came the line that made El Salvador collectively melt:
“Oh my god. This is so much better than a quesadilla. What is this?! Where has this been all my life?”
Cue global pupusa pandemonium.
🫓 Hailee Steinfeld Declares Her Pupusa Love
She didn’t stop there. A few hours later, Hailee posted a Boomerang on Instagram Stories with the caption:
“Officially a pupusa girl 🇸🇻🫓💛”
Fans immediately started asking if she had Salvadoran roots. Spoiler: she doesn’t. But honestly? That didn’t matter.
Because Salvadorans on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram crowned her anyway:
- “Hailee Steinfeld is now Hailee Pupusa-feld.”
- “She can come to La Libertad anytime.”
- “Put her on a pupusería mural, ASAP.”
📈 Pupusa Sales Surge in LA and NYC
Within 24 hours of the video going live:
- Google searches for “pupusas near me” doubled
- Salvadoran restaurants in LA reported a 30% increase in first-time customers
- Uber Eats and DoorDash saw pupusas trending in top 10 food deliveries nationwide
A pupusería in Silver Lake even launched the “Hailee Pupusa Special”—cheese, loroco, and extra curtido, with a sticker of her winking on the takeout bag.
🎤 Why This Matters
Hailee’s moment is more than a viral bite. It’s a win for Salvadoran culture, especially in the U.S., where Central American food is still overshadowed by more mainstream Latin cuisines.
Her authentic, unscripted reaction showed:
- That pupusas can stand up against any comfort food
- That Salvadoran identity deserves global recognition
- That stars really are just like us… especially when there’s melted cheese involved
🌎 The Global Impact
Fans across Latin America are calling for Hailee to:
- Star in a Netflix series about a pupusería heiress
- Attend the next Festival de la Pupusa in Olocuilta
- Collaborate with Salvadoran chefs for a charity cooking event
Even El Salvador’s Ministry of Culture reposted the clip with the caption:
“Welcome to the familia, Hailee. Pupusas are forever.” 🇸🇻🫓❤️
Summary
Hailee Steinfeld’s surprise pupusa fandom lit up the internet and boosted Salvadoran pride worldwide. Her genuine love for El Salvador’s national dish was more than a viral moment—it became a cultural bridge, a culinary shoutout, and the best free marketing pupusas have ever received. If you needed a reason to grab a pupusa today, Hailee just gave you one.
