A family-owned Salvadoran food business founded in 2018 is preparing to expand in San Diego. According to FiveO3 Pupusas’ website, its location at 7007 Friars Road is listed as “In Transition,” with further updates to come.
Founded by the Pinto-Ramirez family and led by Tito Pinto, FiveO3 specializes in handmade pupusas, a traditional Salvadoran dish made with masa and filled with ingredients such as cheese, beans, and meat. The business describes its pupusas as handmade and served with curtido, a tangy cabbage-based slaw, and tomato salsa.
The business began as a pop-up at Palm Springs VillageFest in November 2018 before opening its first restaurant in Cathedral City in 2023.
What Now San Diego reached out to Tito Pinto, who said the transition is in its final stages.
The company currently lists two operating locations in Southern California: its flagship restaurant in Cathedral City and a location at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Diego. The address listed for the upcoming location appears to correspond to Fashion Valley, though the company has not explicitly confirmed the shopping center.
FiveO3’s menu features several varieties of pupusas, along with sides and traditional Salvadoran snacks such as empanadas and fried plantains. Other offerings include sour cream, aguas frescas, and Salvadoran Cola Champagne.
In addition to its restaurants, FiveO3 offers mobile food services and catering for weddings, private gatherings, corporate events, and festivals across Southern California.
For more information, follow FiveO3 Pupusas on Instagram.
