Urban Legends

Continents get cozy

Comments (0) By Stephen Lemons Thursday, Jul 14 2005

photos by Jackie Mercandetti

Global gourmets: Mercedes Rodas (far left) of Hugo's Salvadorean with platters of pupusas; and Cafe Sarajevo's Seida and Dean Turulja with a Bosnian feast.

Details

Hugo's Salvadorean Restaurant:
Pork pupusa: $2
Bean pupusas: 99 cents
Pan con pollo: $4.99
Yuca frita: $4.99

602-841-4642.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Monday.

Cafe Sarajevo:
Cevapi (sausage) sandwich (large): $5.50
Pileci (chicken) sandwich: $6
Burek (meat pita): $3.25
Baklava: $2

602-246-8004.
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Hugo's Salvadorean Restaurant, and Cafe Sarajevo: 3411 West Northern Avenue (near 35th Avenue), Phoenix

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In addition, Cafe Sarajevo offers a pretty good chicken breast-mushroom sandwich with the same bread, and there's a hefty "meat pita" called a burek, which will easily add a pound or two to your midsection. The owners of Cafe Sarajevo are Seida and Dean Turulja, Dean having been raised here in the States by his Bosnian parents, and Seida being a recent arrival. Seida is a marvel in the kitchen, which is hidden behind the coffee counter in the rear. Like any good cook, she's always got something different brewing for the week. When I was last there, it was a delectable goulash with thick, yellow rice. She was serving it as a side dish, but I'd be going back for an entree-size portion if she added it to the menu.

Everyone has a vision of what an urban environment should be, and the mayor's is pretty goofy, but I suppose I could put up with Gordon's cornpone PR if he'd plunk down a couple of those benches next to Hugo's and Cafe Sarajevo. Not that anyone will be sitting on them until this 110-degree heat goes away in October. But after then, save me a space.