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El Pulgarcito is a Salvadoran family restaurant that Carlos Ruano Cruz has been running at 5921 Merriam Drive since 2003 — 22+ years of pupusas, caldos, carne asada, and Salvadoran seafood soups in the Merriam/Shawnee corridor. Named for “El Pulgarcito de América,” the traditional nickname for El Salvador (the smallest country in Central America).

Description

El Pulgarcito Salvadorean Restaurant has anchored Salvadoran cuisine in the Merriam/Shawnee corridor since Carlos Ruano Cruz founded it in 2003. The name means “El Pulgarcito de América” — the traditional nickname for El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America — and the kitchen delivers the full range of the cuisine: handmade pupusas stuffed to order in corn or rice flour, fresh-ground caldos slow-simmered for hours, mariscos platters, and antojito-style starters like yuca frita and pastelitos. Over twenty-two years, the restaurant has become the KC-metro’s most enduring Salvadoran family operation, with catering services, online ordering, and a loyal following across the KCK-Merriam-Shawnee community. “Family owned restaurant … healthy, fresh food.”1

Tier classification

Tier 2 — KC-dedicated Salvadoran family operation, 22+ year tenure. Carlos Ruano Cruz (founder and owner) is the operator of one of the KC metro’s longest-running Central American restaurants.1 His personal background and country of origin are “ — no press profile found. Based on the restaurant’s name, cuisine, and “El Pulgarcito de América” branding, a Salvadoran origin is strongly implied but not press-confirmed. Tier 2 on KC-dedicated grounds (22+ year operation, full KC community embeddedness).

Last verified: 2026-07-14 · Source: El Pulgarcito official site (live food + drink menu) · URL(s): https://elpulgarcitosalvadoranrestaurant.com/merriam-el-pulgarcito-salvadorean-restaurant-inc-food-menu · Confidence: High (live website with itemized prices)

El Pulgarcito serves a full Salvadoran menu — handmade pupusas in corn and rice flour, antojitos, tacos, mariscos, slow-simmered caldos, and Salvadoran breakfasts — at 5921 Merriam Drive.2

Pupusas — corn ($2.99–$3.50)

  • Chicharrón — pork2
  • Queso — cheese2
  • Frijol y Queso — bean and cheese2
  • Loroco y Queso — loroco flower bud and cheese2
  • Revueltas — chicharrón, bean, and cheese mixed2
  • Espinaca y Queso — spinach and cheese2
  • Ayote y Queso — squash and cheese ($3.50)2
  • Asada y Queso — grilled beef and cheese ($3.50)2
  • Molida y Queso — ground beef and cheese ($3.50)2
  • Pollo y Queso — chicken and cheese ($3.50)2
  • Camarón y Queso — shrimp and cheese ($3.50)2
  • Jalapeño y Queso — jalapeño and cheese ($3.50)2

Pupusas de arroz — rice flour ($3.24–$3.74)

  • Chicharrón · Queso · Frijol y Queso · Pollo y Queso · Molida y Queso · Camarón y Queso — same fillings prepared in rice flour2

Pupusas especiales — three-filling ($3.89)

  • Chicharrón, Loroco y Queso2
  • Asada, Jalapeño y Queso2
  • Pollo, Frijol y Queso2
  • Ayote, Espinaca y Queso2

Antojitos / Appetizers

  • Tajadas — fried plantain slices ($3.79)2
  • Yuca Frita / Salcochada — fried or boiled cassava ($8.99)2
  • Pastelitos — Salvadoran stuffed masa turnovers ($8.99–$9.99)2
  • Tamales — ($2.99 each)2
  • Empanadas — ($2.49)2

Tacos ($2.99 each)

  • Asada · Barbacoa · Lengua · Pollo · Molida · Pastor2
  • Fish / Shrimp tacos — by the order ($9.99)2

Mariscos / Seafood ($14.99–$19.99)

  • Mojarra Frita — whole fried tilapia2
  • Submarino — seafood-stuffed preparation ($19.99)2
  • Camarones Rancheros — shrimp in ranchera sauce2
  • Filete — fish fillet, breaded or grilled2
  • Cóctel de Camarones — shrimp cocktail2
  • Mariscada — Salvadoran seafood soup ($23.99)2

Caldos / Soups ($11.99–$23.99)

  • Caldo de Res · Caldo de Pata · Caldo de Pollo · Caldo de Gallina · Caldo de Camarones · Caldo de Pescado2

Carne de Res / Beef ($14.49–$19.99)

  • Carne Asada · Carne Guisada · Bistec Guisado · Salpicón2

Pollos / Chicken ($13.59–$14.99)

  • Pollo en Crema · Pollo Guisado · Pollo Empanizado · Pollo Frito · Pechuga Asada · Pan con Pollo2

Fajitas ($13.99–$17.99)

  • Steak, chicken, shrimp, and mixed combinations2

Desayunos / Breakfast ($11.59–$14.99)

  • Salvadoran breakfasts #1–#4 — plates with plantains, beans, eggs, cream2
  • Baleadas2
  • Plátano Maduro — sweet fried plantains ($3.99–$7.99)2

Ensaladas / Salads ($6.99–$10.99)

  • Garden Salad · Ensalada de Pollo · Ensalada de Camarón2

Kids ($5.99–$8.99)

  • Nuggets · Quesadilla · Burrito · Chicken Strips2

Sides & Extras ($0.59–$3.99)

  • Rice, beans, tortillas, cheese, cream, curtido, and salsas2

Especiales Festivos / Party Platters ($20–$160)

  • Catering trays — tamales, rice, and prepared meats by the platter2

Drinks

  • Horchata — house-made; additional aguas frescas and beverages on the drink menu2

Sources

Footnotes

  1. El Pulgarcito Salvadorean Restaurant — elpulgarcitosalvadoranrestaurant.com — confirms address (5921 Merriam Dr, Merriam KS 66203), phone (913) 384-3887, email elpulgarcitokc@yahoo.com, hours (Mon–Sat 9am–9pm, Sun 8am–8pm), founded 2003, owner Carlos Ruano Cruz, “family owned restaurant, healthy fresh food,” full menu with prices (accessed 2026-06-29). Online ordering at orderelpulgarcito.com. ↩ ↩2

  2. El Pulgarcito Salvadorean Restaurant — official menu, https://elpulgarcitosalvadoranrestaurant.com/merriam-el-pulgarcito-salvadorean-restaurant-inc-food-menu (accessed 2026-07-14). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27 ↩28 ↩29 ↩30 ↩31 ↩32 ↩33 ↩34 ↩35 ↩36 ↩37 ↩38 ↩39 ↩40 ↩41 ↩42 ↩43

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On the record — ks.city/registry/el-pulgarcito · record updated 2026-07-17