New Restaurant Serves Salvadoran Entrees

FARMINGTON -- The city's newest restaurant serves American and Salvadoran entries, as well as a few Mexican dishes.

JC's Food House opened July 1 at 112 Southwinds Drive, Suite 1. Vilma Asencio of Springdale is the owner. Her son, Josue Calberon is manager and another son, Chris Asencio, also is involved with the restaurant.

The restaurant serves pupusas and more. A pupusas is a traditional Salvadoran dish of a thick corn tortilla stuffed with items that can include pork, beans, cheese and vegetables. It is usually accompanied by a spicy coleslaw.

Menu items include quesadillas and vegetarian meals, fresh salads with grilled chicken or beef, tacos, carneasada, rice, grilled veggies, pico deGallo and tortillas. Other items available are chicken and beef, hamburgers, fries and chicken tenders.

Breakfast, tacos and pupusas are served all day.

Desserts include crepes, cheese cake and Choco flan. Vilma said she traveled to Paris to learn how to make the best crepes for her customers.

A kids' menu is available and kids ages 1-10 eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Asencio and her family moved to the Springdale area from El Salvadore about 15 years ago because relatives were living in Northwest Arkansas. Calberon graduated from Harber High School in Springdale and serves in the U.S. Army National Guard.

Chris Asencio will be a senior at Harber High School this fall.

Vilma was working at the childcare center next door to the restaurant and said she had commented Farmington only had fast food available during her lunchtime.

"We needed something else," Vilma said.

The owner of the building on Southwinds Drive mentioned he was looking for a tenant to open a new restaurant and Vilma said she began thinking about it.

Vilma worked with her mother for 15 years in a restaurant in El Salvadore and knew she had the experience and knowledge for running a restaurant.

She decided to take a step of faith, she said.

"Opening the restaurant is a blessing," Vilma said. Her youngest son is interested in becoming a chef and the restaurant will give him a place to learn, she added.

"This is a great opportunity. It's something different for Farmington," said Calberon.

JC's Food House is open six days a week. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sundays.

"Sunday is a day of rest and a day to go to church," Vilma said.

The family has gone through a few trials lately. Their house caught fire because of a lightning strike and then one of their vehicles was damaged because of an accident.

"I'm trusting Jesus that we're going to make it," Vilma said.

They've received positive comments from their customers and are looking forward to being a part of the Farmington community.