A monumental culinary feat unfolded on the streets of Washington, D.C., as a team of dedicated chefs successfully cooked and unveiled the World’s Largest Pupusa, smashing the previous record and cementing the capital’s role as a major hub for Salvadoran culture.
The gigantic pupusa, a thick, stuffed griddle cake that is the national dish of El Salvador, measured an incredible 6.15 meters (20 feet, 2 inches) in diameter.
Culinary Team Effort at Fiesta D.C. : The record-breaking attempt took place on September 28, 2024, during the annual Fiesta D.C. festival, a massive celebration of Latino heritage. Over 80 chefs from across the D.C. area banded together to create the “Mega Pupusa” on a specially commissioned, 20-foot-wide griddle.
The massive ingredients required included:
- 400 pounds of masa (corn dough)
- 200 pounds of cheese
- 80 pounds of chicharrón (pork filling)
- 50 pounds of loroco (an edible Salvadoran flower)
The entire process, which required four and a half hours of intensive labor and coordination, was verified by Guinness World Records. The previous official record, held by Olocuilta, El Salvador, measured 14 feet 9 inches.
The event was more than just a culinary challenge; it was a vibrant celebration of the thriving Salvadoran diaspora in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area.
“Specifically, we’ve always called D.C. the District of pupusas. We have so many pupuserias—actually, 270 pupuserias in the DMV,” said chef Iris Jimenez, one of the project leaders, highlighting the deep cultural significance of the dish.
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser was in attendance to cut and serve the first ceremonial pieces of the massive dish, which was then distributed to thousands of eager festival-goers alongside traditional curtido (pickled cabbage slaw). The successful record attempt stands as a delicious testament to the community’s pride, skill, and collaboration.
