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Reviews

• • LouieKim
    May 23, 2012
    2 reviews
    4 stars: 1
    5 stars: 1
  • A solid place. Great food. Extensive menu. I heard it's been around for a while, interesting to see how it grows with Kunming's fast development with the rest of wenlinjie changing quite fast.

• • yunnanlaowai
    May 10, 2012
    5 reviews
    1 star: 1
    3 stars: 2
    5 stars: 2
  • Salvador's definitely earns its reputation in Kunming: great food and service all for decent prices. My favorite is their bottomless cup of coffee available each morning.

• • Natsymir
    April 15, 2012
    5 reviews
    4 stars: 3
    5 stars: 2
  • Sorry for just preaching to the choir, but yes, this has to be one of the best restaurants in Kunming. The dining area looks great, the concept is sympathetic, the prices are okay, the menu is immense, interesting, and varied. Of course you can find even better restaurants if you're eating chinese, but if you're in the mood for great western food in a cozy environment, Salvador's is the best.

• • FantasticMrE
    March 3, 2012
    7 reviews
    2 stars: 1
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 3
    5 stars: 2
  • Excellent restaurant. The staff can sometimes be a little bit "away" and don't always listen. But in my experience that is not very unusual in China. The food and atmosphere is great. The pasta, sallad and nachos is excellent. I havn't tried the burger yet but I heard that it's as good as it's get in Kunming!

• • paulb
    February 26, 2012
    3 reviews
    2 stars: 1
    5 stars: 1
  • Fantastic restaurant! I've been in Kunming almost two weeks and have been having to force myself to NOT come to this restaurant every single day. Instead, it's been every other day :)

    Salvador's is the only restaurant in Kunming I know of that has a grade-A filtration system, ensuring the water is always safe. Because of this and its other food safety policies, I feel safe ordering salads, which I never expected to be able to do in Kunming! But it's not just the salads that are delicious - it's everything I've tried on the menu so far.

    The prices are quite reasonable as they stand right now - my only concern is that they will eventually have to increase with inflation.

• • SuperSarah
    February 16, 2012
    3 reviews
    5 stars: 3
  • I just love Salvador's. I crave their quesadillas at least once a week (with homemade salsa and sour cream!) and they are the only place I've found with regular brewed coffee with free refills, and it only costs 12 kuai. Mexican food and real coffee are so refreshing! I also love the falafel wrap and the bean dip served with tortilla chips.

    The staff is very friendly and patient with me when I attempt to practice my Chinese. I love the punch cards that lead to a free drink, and the portion sizes are huge. Salvador's gets almost everything right, the only downsides are the lack of wifi and it is a little too dark inside. But the food is so good that these are easy to overlook.

• • MichelinStar
    October 12, 2011
    5 reviews
    1 star: 1
    2 stars: 1
    3 stars: 1
    5 stars: 2
  • Best place in town to grab a coffee and have a sandwich.

    Salvador's became my favorite lunch spot.
    Service is fast and always friendly and the atmosphere is great.
    Just one very little thing, I always have to ask for salt because everything I order is lacking salt.

• • triathlete
    June 17, 2011
    7 reviews
    4 stars: 6
  • I wanted to take a minute on my last day in Kun Ming to share a comment or five about the Salvador gathering place. It is so much more than just a cafe, bar, restaurant, etc. It truly is a great place where people come to meet, share a beer or two, and pass the time away in sometimes meaningless conversation or just "people watching". I have made some great friends there.
    The girls at Salvadors are the best. Yes, sometimes they do forget a pieice of my order, but they go out of their way to make it right. All and all, compared to most of the other places, the staff goes way above the norm. I commend Colin, Chris, and Josh for giving the girls the respect and responsibility to make the place work. Even on the most difficult nights, the girls smile and go about their work.
    I will miss the evenings at the outside bar—far too many people to mention or thank for their friendships.
    My best wishes to one and all, and God Bless each of you,
    Tom

• • Smillz
    June 3, 2011
    9 reviews
    4 stars: 2
    5 stars: 6
  • I am really surprised at the last two negative reviews- to me Salvador's beats any other Western restaurant in Kunming hands down. Great food, very reasonable prices, and service that puts other places to shame. As for complaining about things like having too many foreigners-well, if you are so interested in having such an authentic "Chinese" dining experience, perhaps you should choose a CHINESE restaurant. Just my two jiao.

• • the truth
    June 3, 2011
    5 reviews
    1 star: 2
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 2
  • - Food : more and less ok

    ...but i dont think i was in china !

    overloaded by foreigners :(

• • sanyiseul
    May 30, 2011
    16 reviews
    2 stars: 1
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 3
    5 stars: 6
  • Whenever I go downtown, Salvador's is for me the only place worth going. The service is ALWAYS great.

    I get what I want, even if I want something different from the menu.
    The prices are, compared to the quality of ingrediences more than cheap (I would happily pay more for everything on the menu).
    A big Thanks to the owners and the staff of Salvador's!

    Keep it up!

• • coco1
    May 28, 2011
    5 reviews
    2 stars: 3
    5 stars: 2
  • Walked around for ages trying to find the place (google maps and an iPhone), finally found it after 4 hours!

    Had high expectations after reading reviews but disappointed.

    Service needs improving. I asked simply for water, which I finally got after I finished my meal, and they gave me one cup (two people). They never gave me other little things I politely asked for either...

    I thought smoking was banned here? Or am I wrong? Next to a table of French guys who were smoking like chimneys...

    I wouldn't order the power tea, it's very bitter even after adding sugar

    Do Not order the waffles. Ours were terrible. Like someone added too much baking soda or baking powder and no sugar to them.

    Warning, the roof is very low! Built for very short people and bumped our heads a few times, a little uncomfortable.

    However... the cookie monster drink was dangerously nice. (Expensive but nice).

    Overall... MIGHT give it another try... really hesitant, very put off by our experience though. A lot needs improving.

• • Yuanyangren
    May 27, 2011
    3 reviews
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 2
    5 stars: 1
  • Great Mexican food and ice cream, excellent Raspberry smoothies and an overall good atmosphere. Can't do much about the low ceilings on the second floor, but the early closing time could be adjusted, after all, the nearby French Cafe closes at 1am.

• • chewbacca
    May 23, 2011
    6 reviews
    2 stars: 1
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 1
    5 stars: 3
  • pumpkin soup, ice cream and really good and friendly service make me come back to salvadores.
    not all the food on the menu is worth 5 stars, but since the selection is HUGE there is still enough left which is.
    they sell the best plain joghurt ive found in kunming.

• • DanTheMan
    May 23, 2011
    40 reviews
    1 star: 2
    2 stars: 1
    3 stars: 2
    4 stars: 8
    5 stars: 14
  • I was surprised to see someone saying that the menu has been creeping up in price. I know for a fact that prices haven't changed in the last two years – during a period of very high inflation.

    For the record, shitting in the toilet isn't allowed, so don't do it. It's happened twice while I've been sitting here this afternoon and the poor waitresses have to clean up after it.

• • KuBiDe
    May 16, 2011
    7 reviews
    2 stars: 1
    3 stars: 2
    4 stars: 3
    5 stars: 2
  • Despite no Guacamole the Mexican dishes (love the Chicken Burrito) and ice cream deserve 4 stars...Happy hour specials, rest of the menu, coffee, drinks, staff and service are all reasonable. Menu has experienced price creep and is now not the most reasonable in town.

    Unfortunately, THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONLY COFFEE HOUSE IN KUNMING WITH NO WIRELESS INTERNET! - only a few wired connections available at a single inconvenient table with uncomfortable plastic chairs. Is this due to Salvador's publicity success in the Useless (Lonely) Planet guide leading to an overrun of backpackers hogging the tables and abusing the free wi-fi? Don't know. But from what was a regular haunt for a regular customer, the net result is what was once a great spot to grab some decent food, enjoy wi-fi while having a cocktail or a coffee has definitely slipped a couple of notches...

• • birdabroad
    April 10, 2011
    6 reviews
    3 stars: 2
    4 stars: 1

  • Dear Salvador's waitresses,

    I get it - maybe you've been told not to memorize people's orders instead of writing them down, or maybe you think it's impressive not to take notes...

    But you know what I'd find more impressive? Getting my order right. Ever.

    Salvador's has great food, but every time I eat here my food is missing something I ordered, or has something sprinkled all over it that I asked to be left out.

    Seriously, just write the orders down. I won't think any less of you!

    xx birdabroad

• • dr. chibbles
    February 28, 2011
    14 reviews
    1 star: 1
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 6
    5 stars: 7
  • this past weekend salvador's was ridiculously busy. packed upstairs and down, inside and out. and yet the service never dipped. the food came out quickly and the girls behind the bar were laughing and helpful despite the chaos. first rate.

• • mingbai
    February 23, 2011
    6 reviews
    2 stars: 1
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 1
    5 stars: 3
  • Has great food and coffee, the nicest staff and best value for money!
    加油！

• • iliveinkm
    February 22, 2011
    3 reviews
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 1
    5 stars: 1
  • Best Coffee Latte I have had since I arrived KM!

• • QQWEN
    February 10, 2011
    6 reviews
    1 star: 1
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 2
    5 stars: 1
  • Great pasta and quick service. The salad was too salty though.

• • Omgiri
    January 27, 2011
    13 reviews
    1 star: 1
    2 stars: 2
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 2
    5 stars: 6
  • A great place, the food is really good tasty stuff. I usually get pasta and think it's the best I've had in Kunming by miles.

    Ice-cream, coffee, chili, salad.... All reasons to come here.

    To top things off the owners are a great bunch who do more good than most around here, and the waitresses are very friendly and professional.

    For me the tomato sauce pasta dishes have a little too much sauce and not enough pasta. But that hardly warrents knocking off a star.

• • william15
    December 21, 2010
    7 reviews
    1 star: 1
    3 stars: 2
    4 stars: 1
    5 stars: 3
  • The food is great for sure.
    Plenty of choice, good sandwiches.
    Nice place, however sometimes too much "western" atmosphere...

• • Hazelnut
    November 18, 2010
    7 reviews
    0 stars: 1
    2 stars: 2
    4 stars: 2
    5 stars: 2
  • I have been eating at Salvadors many many times.

    And my main reasons for coming back all the time is very simple. They really care for good quality ingredients and the staff is always nice and friendly!

    But the best for me: The Shipwreck, I so love this coffee!

• • TeacherAshley
    September 20, 2010
    3 reviews
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 1
    5 stars: 2
  • Wonderful! I really love it here. I came here with some friends a few nights ago and we had a great time. The Mexican food is really good, the closest I've had to an authentic American taste in a long time, even at some of the other Western places. Plus, the atmosphere is nice. True, I wish they had wifi, but you just can't beat their food. It's the best in the city.

• • lostinyunnan
    September 8, 2010
    4 reviews
    1 star: 1
    2 stars: 1
    4 stars: 2
    5 stars: 1
  • Good coffee and nice ice cream. Haven't tried their food yet but menu looks nice if a little pricy. Wish they had wifi instead of ethernet connections.

• • HedgeSlug
    February 1, 2010
    2 reviews
    5 stars: 1
  • Whot, whot! Salvador's legendary happy hour has just gotten more legendary with the addition of beers!

• • Dorie
    January 8, 2010
    1 reviews
    3 stars: 1
    5 stars: 1
  • This place is really great. The grub is good and gives you that western fix when you need it. THe owners seem like decent chaps to. I'd go back all the time if it wasnt so inundated with foreigners like me I guess!

• • funkyreggae
    October 22, 2009
    9 reviews
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 4
    5 stars: 4
  • From one look at these reviews, I guess Salvador's is a place that you either love or hate. For me, an American living here for 9 years, Salvador's, Moonlight Corner, The Box and Green Kunming just make this city a more positive place to live. And now with the addition of Green Kunming and French Cafe's baguettes, I'm starting to wonder what this town still lacks.

    Salvador's is a place you can feel good about spending your money. Things are run thoughtfully, the food is great, service is with a smile and I could happily spend an entire lazy day there. Sure it would be nice to have the owners around more, but they've done well handing the reigns over to and empowering the workers.

• • rollsroyce
    October 14, 2009
    4 reviews

  • I went to Salvador's last year around September because of all the talks about this place. So I was pretty excited to try this place out. I went in and ordered a beer and cheeseburger.
    Long story short, I never went to Salvador's ever since.

• • Andorra
    October 8, 2009
    17 reviews
    0 stars: 1
    1 star: 1
    2 stars: 7
    3 stars: 6
    4 stars: 2
    5 stars: 1

• • misseward
    August 28, 2009
    4 reviews
    5 stars: 1
  • Happy Birthday uncle Salvador!

• • speedstar
    March 9, 2009
    2 reviews

  • What else can I say,

    good food, nice service and great atmosphere!

• • wo jiao dong dong
    March 9, 2009
    2 reviews
    5 stars: 2
  • wei wei wei wei...

    WAA! WAA!

    gei wo yi kuai qian. wo yao yi bei putong kafei.

    WAAA.

    wo jiao dong dong.

• • Dr Doom
    March 1, 2009
    3 reviews
    0 stars: 1
    5 stars: 2
  • Great coffee, great food, nice atmosphere. What else do you want?

• • chocolatlova
    February 14, 2009
    1 reviews

  • i didn't know Kunming existed when the last person posted his comment. So i just got to see the new and improved Salvador's.

    its a very layback cool place to eat good chocolaty food. (and general food as well)

    the only thing is that the second floor has a ceiling that is way to low for my liking but i am taller than everyone so i guess ill have to get used to that in China ;D

• • acu_j
    December 13, 2008
    1 reviews
    5 stars: 1

• • shelley
    November 8, 2008
    3 reviews
    3 stars: 1
    5 stars: 1
  • Salvador's is mediocre at best, along with most of the western restaurants in Kunming. We do like some of the new sandwiches but over-all nothing special. Also, I was on my way through the alley last week and I was freezing so I stopped to get a cup of coffee to go. It had to be one of the worst cups of coffee I've ever tasted in my entire life. Nothing fresh about it, had that burnt, been sitting on the burner for who knows how long kind of taste. For a coffee house the coffee could use a little work.

• • banishedimmortal
    October 22, 2008
    11 reviews
    3 stars: 2
    4 stars: 5
    5 stars: 1
  • say what you want, but it's amazing that this place exists anywhere in china, let alone kunming of all places... some of the best coffee, food and ambience to be found at any cafe on the mainland OR hong kong, how they've managed to fit so much good stuff into such a small space is beyond me. respect!

• • colinflahive
    April 11, 2008
    3 reviews
    5 stars: 1

  • As one of the owners, I can assure you that Jared is not one. However, your description of our ice cream recently is regrettably true. There have been problems with our machine that have now been taken care of. But being that we use only natural ingredients, our fruit flavors of ice cream will always suffer a little from iciness due to the water content in fruits. We hope those who have not been impressed with our ice cream recently will give it another try.

    As far as our sanitation goes, we try to hold one of the highest standards in Kunming. We have four owners who eat the same food as our customers daily and therefore are quite concerned with Salvador's quality and sanitation. During business hours the kitchen can be a bit chaotic as we are often quite busy. But the kitchen will always retain its sanitation. In addition, we are one of the only restaurants (if not the only one) who washes fruits, veggies and dishware with purified water.

    Those who have been customers at Salvador's for some time may be pleased to know that our new menu to be released in the next month or so that may include treats like artichoke hearts, feta, bacon, and sun-dried tomatoes. We are also trying out a new "No Smoking Day" every Wednesday for those who are turned off by the smoky atmosphere Salvador's sometimes suffers from nightly. We highly value this review system and encourage more commentary. Cheers

• • lovelb
    April 9, 2008
    8 reviews
    2 stars: 2
    3 stars: 3
    4 stars: 2
    5 stars: 1
  • Arguably- YES, because i and many others do not agree with you jared. Are you one of the owners?
    Salvadors is a mediocre, dirty, mama huhu cafe. As for the mix on the menu, that is what it tastes like-a mix. And if you don't mind waiting forever, i guess that is fine. I hate to say this but when i see your kitchen and your bathroom it makes me worry a bit. For a "western" restaurant your standard is not. I dont even want to say what i watched as i sat on the bar. And of course my favorite item was taken off the menu, and the ice cream is getting a bit icy too. But i do like your chai!

    Sure you guys meet a need, and were the first in town but step it up a bit. Not everyone in Kunming is voting for you guys!

• • Jared
    January 20, 2008
    5 reviews
    0 stars: 1
    2 stars: 2
    4 stars: 1
    5 stars: 2
  • Arguably the most popular and best all around Western restaurant in Kunming, Salvador's has been a fixture of the international community since it opened in 2004. Originating in Dali, the café's funky ambiance is very much in the spirit of its namesake, the eccentric Spanish artist Salvador Dali.

    The relaxed environment, suave tunes, and top-notch menu are great for anything from a hearty breakfast and coffee to a Friday night drink with friends. Readers of GoKunming.com recently voted Salavador's "Best Café" and "Best Cocktails" for 2007. There's no doubt Salvador's earned every vote.

    Nearly every item on the menu stands out among foreign cuisine in Kunming. The mix of offerings is perhaps a uniquely American blend of Mexican, Italian, and even Middle Eastern fare. My personal lunch/dinner favorite is the Deluxe Quesadilla (available with a choice of chicken, beef, or shiitake mushroom, ¥24), served with a side of salsa that actually tastes like salsa. The spaghetti selections are also excellent, one-upping even the city's Italian restaurants. After meal options are just as appetizing, featuring ice cream sundaes like the "UFO" and the "Star Destroyer." Beware though of the milkshakes. Despite the best efforts of the management, the staff routinely over-blends and under-fills them. The result, unfortunately, is the somewhat typical "milky shake" found at many a Chinese Western establishment.

    Though Salvador's last call on the early side at 11:00pm, it is in fact one of the better bars around. The best time to enjoy their strongish cocktails is during the generous happy hour (4:00-8:00pm, daily) when Gin Tonics, Vodka Tonics, and Screwdrivers are all available at ¥10. Beer drinkers might be at first disappointed with the absence of the local Dali Beer, but can find solace in the moderately up market – though superior – Lao Beer.

    When it comes to coffee, it is obvious that Salvador's takes its Coffee House moniker seriously. With imported Nuova Simonelli espresso machines and a specially selected blend of Yunnan coffee beans, the entire range of their java selection is phenomenal. Until 2:00pm each day you can enjoy a bottomless cup of regular brew coffee (¥12). While free refills go together great with complimentary WiFi access, the real draw is the espresso drinks (¥10-28). Thorough staff training produces a consistently tasty cup. For those that can't get enough, you can take a bag home (¥38 for a small bag, ¥72 for a large).

    While Salvador's certainly deserves its reputation among the international resident community with authentic recreations of Western cuisine, the secret to its success lies in its ability to attract ever-greater numbers of local Kunming fans. If you plan on making a first time visit, it is best to avoid the usual lunch or dinner rush and try mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Salvador's makes an effort to be welcoming to new visitors, with menus available in Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, and Thai.

• • Kyle Essary
    January 1, 2008
    2 reviews
    5 stars: 1

  • I like Salvadors. If you can find a smoke free area, then the atmosphere is really nice. Salvadors has wonderful drinks. As I mentioned in my review of the Silver Spoon, I love Chai, and the Chai at Salvadors will not disappoint.

    My biggest complaint is that their food is somewhat bland. They pride themselves on their Mexican cuisine, but even their fresh salsa has little flavor. With that said, I'm Texan, and we have more specific tastes for Mexican food than people from some places and I've had people tell me that they really like their salsa. Despite being somewhat bland in my opinion, I still find myself getting the Mexican breakfast more often than not. I do wish they used fresh tortillas though as the ones that they do use (on this as well as other menu items) are often flaky and a little crispy (possibly from being stale? It's hard to tell).

    Salvadors should be highly recommended for their ice cream though! It's really, really good.

    Overall, I like the atmosphere, think the main food items that I've had were mediocre, but love the ice cream. Some seem to rate these Western cafes and restaurants as compared to establishments in Europe, England and America. I prefer to rate based on their comparison to other Kunming establishments, and as such Salvadors is worth four stars in my opinion.

• • prd34
    December 25, 2007
    13 reviews
    0 stars: 2
    2 stars: 1
    3 stars: 2
    4 stars: 4
    5 stars: 4
  • OK Bernie,

    You are right! I have changed it to a 4. But I have yet to get sick at Salvador's. The rating at Silver Spoon still holds. To make food and leave it out all day is just not Kosher! And then they have the nerve to complain about my complaint - rather than trying to change anything! At least Salvador's is open and receptive about complaints - and they are considering losing the WiFri. (When you start to develop Alzheimer's you might also agree.) Peace!

    I have been patronizing this place more recently - I started mainly because I heard a rumor they were going to get rid of their WiFri (your brain), but it has yet to happen. Having said that, I have become addicted to the burritos, which from my experience so far, I would say are the best in Kunming. When they do get around to doing away with the WiFri, I hope that they also make it a non-smoking establishment (or at least in the mornings and afternoons) since it is extremely annoying to non-smokers to have smoke blowing over to where they are sitting when they are trying to enjoy their food. Yes, definitely take Mulga's advice on doing away with the WiFri (your brain). I concur!

• • Bernie
    December 23, 2007
    21 reviews
    1 star: 5
    2 stars: 4
    3 stars: 10
    4 stars: 5

  • Permit an open question to 'prd34'. You recently awarded The Silver Spoon Cafe a zero rating. But, here, with its WiFi and cigarette smoke that you complain about, you give five stars. I'm wondering if that was a mistake -- because there's hardly any chance of an improvement with a 'five'.

• • m18371
    December 22, 2007
    24 reviews
    0 stars: 1
    1 star: 1
    2 stars: 4
    3 stars: 12
    4 stars: 10
  • The upper deck is a bit dark but the atmosphere is okay for friendly talking but not surfing internet through Wi-fi. Music is good and not too loud (unlike Vintage) and good choices of light music rather than songs and mind-blowing hip-hop music. My suggestion is to set up a smoke-free corner but it could be difficult as I noted that 80% of the customers smoke in the cafe!!! It is too dark to read a book in the upper deck as the lighting is dim!!! It is because the cafe is "long" while other cafes (e.g. Vintage, Prague and Mazagran) are "wide" (if you get what I mean). However, it is a good place for friendly gathering and talking.

• • mulga
    October 14, 2007
    1 reviews
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 1
  • My family and i really enjoy Salvadors. The food is good and generally consistent which is not always easy to find in China. The coffee is also good as is the icecream .More importantly the beer is cold!

    For those new to Kunming i would take some reviews about poor service from Salvadors with a grain of salt. You are now living in Jamaica and nothing happens in a hurry. Just try doing business here! My family and i find the service good by Chinese standards and if you happen to get

    forgotten ask the girls and they will try and fix the problem.

    One complaint: what the bloody hell happened to the wasabi chicken and mushroom bagel melt!

    Advice: (for what its worth), get rid of wifi so all the tables aren't taken up by individuals cruising the net and sitting on a cup of coffee all afternoon.

    Thought: Have taken an interest in the food and drink reviews. Have noticed that Bernie is not backward in coming forward with complaints about restuarants. Would

    be good to know what and where you do like Bernie.

• • WeiXue
    October 11, 2007
    12 reviews
    3 stars: 4
    4 stars: 8
    5 stars: 1
  • The service is not the best, but the food more than makes up for it.

    I would especially recommend the Mexican food (the cheese quesadilla and salsa is only 14 kuai!), but any of the bagel sandwiches, breakfast meals, pastas, etc. are good.

    The ice cream is also great and you can't go wrong for only 10 kuai!

    The Happy Hour specials are great too.

    Beware that Salvador's is often totally packed during the main dinner rush, though.

    You might want to have a back up plan.

• • Kevin
    October 10, 2007
    6 reviews
    1 star: 2
    3 stars: 1
    4 stars: 2
    5 stars: 1
  • I have always had a good experience at Salvador's.

    The atmosphere and food is pretty good.

    The customer service can be hit and miss at times, but the nice fuwuyuans make up with it with their smiles.

    The work environment is obviously nice for them.

    Some suggestions would be to clean the bathroom more regularly and maybe a little better lighting to make it easier to study!