Ceci's Grill in Baltimore: Salvadoran Pupusas and Grilled Meats on Greenmount
Ceci's Grill is a small counter-service Salvadoran restaurant specializing in pupusas, grilled chicken, and traditional Central American sides in the Waverly neighborhood near Greenmount Avenue. The operation runs lean: a few tables, a walk-up counter, and a focus on straightforward execution of core dishes rather than broad menu experimentation.
What Ceci's Grill actually is
This is a neighborhood spot built around the pupusa, a thick Salvadoran corn tortilla stuffed with cheese, beans, and meat, cooked on a griddle until the exterior crisps. Ceci's also grills chicken by the half or quarter, served with rice, beans, and warm tortillas. The space itself is utilitarian: laminate tables, a small kitchen visible from the counter, no table service. This is the format common in El Salvador and across Central American communities in U.S. cities, not a casual-dining concept. Most customers eat in or order to go within 15 minutes.
Menu, pricing, and portion sizes
Pupusas cost $2 to $2.50 each, depending on filling. A standard order is two. Cheese-and-bean (quesillo) is the baseline; chorizo, chicharrón (seasoned pork), loroco (a Central American plant bud), and mixed fillings are available. Pupusas arrive with curtido, a pickled cabbage slaw, and tomato salsa on the side.
Grilled chicken costs $8 to $12 per half chicken, with a quarter around $6. Each plate includes rice, refried beans, and four warm flour tortillas. A full dinner for one, with two pupusas and a drink, runs $10 to $13.
Sides and specialties: yuca (cassava root, fried), $3.50 to $4; tamales, $1.75 to $2 each; beans and rice sold separately, $2 to $3. Drinks are bottled sodas and agua fresca (horchata, Jamaica agua), around $2 each. Prices have remained stable; confirm current rates by phone before a large order.
How Ceci's compares to other Salvadoran spots in Baltimore
Baltimore has a cluster of Salvadoran restaurants concentrated in the Greenmount, Mondawmin, and Canton corridors. Ceci's differs from larger sit-down establishments like Santa Rita on Greenmount in scope: Santa Rita offers a full menu including seafood soups (mariscos), grilled fish, and a dining room for families and groups. Ceci's is faster, cheaper per item, and suited to solo diners or quick lunch runs.
Compared to takeout-heavy spots like Las Delicias (also on Greenmount), Ceci's has slightly more table seating, though both prioritize turnover. The pupusa quality and griddle work at Ceci's is consistent; both places source similar ingredients, so the difference comes down to proximity and minor flavor preferences rather than technique.
If you want a full meal with table service and beer, Santa Rita is the choice. If you want two pupusas and a grill chicken thigh in under 20 minutes for under $12, Ceci's serves that need.
Who it suits and who it does not
Ceci's works for weekday lunch, solo diners, office workers in the Greenmount corridor, and anyone craving pupusas at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday. It suits people who know what pupusas are and want them made without pretense.
It does not suit large groups looking to linger, diners who need a full bar, or people unfamiliar with Salvadoran food seeking a guided introduction. The staff does not explain dishes, and there are no illustrations on the menu. If you arrive without knowing what to order, expect brief answers to questions.
What a first visit involves
Walk in, scan the handwritten menu posted above the counter, order at the register, and wait 5 to 10 minutes. Food arrives in a plastic container or on a plate, depending on whether you are eating in. If eating in, grab a napkin stack and hot sauce (table). Pupusas are best eaten immediately, while the exterior is still slightly crispy. The curtido cuts the richness.
Grilled chicken is tender and seasoned minimally: salt, garlic, maybe cumin. Sides are traditional preparations without embellishment. If you are used to more assertive flavoring, request extra salsa at the counter.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Ceci's is open for lunch and early dinner, typically 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, with reduced weekend hours (verify by calling). Street parking on Greenmount is unreliable during peak hours but available early morning or mid-afternoon. The restaurant is a short walk from the Greenmount Avenue bus stop.
Because hours occasionally shift with staffing, confirm before planning an evening visit. The space is cash-preferred but accepts cards at some locations; call ahead if paying by card matters for your visit.
Ceci's Grill fills a specific, reliable role: pupusas and grilled chicken made without shortcuts, at a price point that makes a weekday lunch accessible. It is not a destination restaurant, but for the Greenmount neighborhood and anyone seeking straightforward Salvadoran food, it is a dependable choice.
