Salsa Grill in Woodlawn Is a Hidden Gem Serving Comfort Food with a Peruvian Twist
I was recently invited in to experience Salsa Grill, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the food. Located in Woodlawn, this longtime neighborhood staple has been feeding the community for decades.
At the helm is Jay, the chef-owner, who brings together Peruvian and American comfort food influences while focusing heavily on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Some of those ingredients even come straight from his own garden! Here’s a breakdown of everything we tried:
What We Ordered at Salsa Grill
- Cream of Crab Soup ($16.99): First things first: this bowl was huge. Packed with tons of crab, this felt hearty and comforting in the best way. Personally, I would’ve loved just a touch more salt, but overall I was very pleased with it!
- Mixed Empanadas ($12.99): You get two massive empanadas per order, plus fresh house salsas on the side. I went with one spinach and one beef so I could try both. They were both delicious, but the spinach empanada edged out just slightly for me. Crispy on the outside, flavorful on the inside, no complaints here.
- Crab cake Combo ($29.99): the crab cake had a bit more filler than I typically prefer, but it was still tasty and well-seasoned. The real standout here, though, was the Caesar salad. And listen… I am not a big salad person. But I loved this one. The house-made dressing was so good that I would 100% order it again without hesitation.
- Jumbo Stuffed Shrimp ($29.99): Another massive dish – Salsa Grill does not play around when it comes to portions. This came loaded with shrimp, crab, and scallops, all served over rice. Super satisfying, very comforting, and great if you are hungry.
- Paella (Lunch Portion – $19): This was the lunch-sized portion, but even that was generous. It came with lots of protein and vegetables, all served over rice. While it was not quite what I would traditionally expect from a paella, it was still tasty and filling – just something to note if you are ordering with a classic paella expectation in mind.
All in all, this was a very solid dining experience. The food is comforting, portions are generous, and the service was genuinely lovely. You can tell the team here is passionate about what they do, and that kind of care goes a long way.
If you love finding spots like this that are deeply rooted in a community, Mera Kitchen Collective in Mount Vernon, Baltimore is another one to know, a worker-owned restaurant run by immigrant and refugee women with Palestinian, West African, and Latin American food.
If you are in the Woodlawn area and looking for a dependable, feel-good spot with a unique Peruvian-American twist, Salsa Grill is absolutely worth checking out.
Have you been here yet? Let me know in the comments – I would love to hear what you ordered
📍6644 Security Blvd Woodlawn, MD 21207, Woodlawn, MD
⏰Su-Th 10-9PM, F-Sa 10-10PM
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