El Paisano: Spring Valley's Wide-Ranging Table for Mexican and Latin American Favorites

Spring Valley's South Central Avenue is the kind of street where a good meal is never far away, and El Paisano Restaurante Salvadoreño is one of its most wide-ranging stops. The restaurant's own site welcomes visitors to its Spring Valley location and offers online ordering, and its menu runs far beyond the usual taco-shop lineup.

The taco list alone tells the story. Alongside al pastor and carnitas, the menu includes lengua, tripa, cecina, suadero, longaniza, adobada, and shrimp tacos, plus a 30-taco mixed platter for a crowd. Tortas get equal billing, from the Cuban-style torta to chicken and beef milanesa, and the antojitos section covers elotes locos, papas locas, salchipapas, and guacamole with chips. Horchata and jamaica round out the drinks.

The kitchen does not stop at lunch and dinner. Breakfast brings chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, huevos a la mexicana, and breakfast burritos, and there is a kids menu for smaller appetites. On Saturdays and Sundays, the specials board adds pozole, caldo de pancita, camarones a la diabla, and sopa de mariscos - the kind of weekend dishes that reward a return visit.

The practical details make it an easy stop. El Paisano sits at 99 S Central Ave #1 in Spring Valley, and its site lists the phone as (845) 482-0493. Hours are Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Delivery and pickup are also available through DoorDash.

For a neighborhood restaurant, the appeal is simple: a big menu, familiar favorites, and a few dishes worth going out of your way for. Next time you are deciding what to eat in Spring Valley, El Paisano is a table worth trying.