Greeted with a clean open space. The cafe is cute and has the set up of a lounge for chatting and…read morecatching up (perfect peace). I waited for my food and listened to the laughs of some girls and conversations of some educated 20 something men. The coffee was amazingly tasty! The owner (assuming) is a nice guy who made sure I knew what I was ordering... macchiatos made here are "Italian style" Food made fresh and smelled amazing!! My sandwich was delicious

Really enjoyed our visit to Chalos! We had the bacon breakfast burrito, sweet beef empanada, and a…read morecup of Sightglass coffee. The burrito and empanada were delicious and flavorful, and the staff were warm and friendly. The food takes a little time since it's made to order, but we didn't mind the wait. Drip coffee was mediocre. The space felt welcoming, with plenty of tables and chairs available. There's no WiFi, which actually makes it a nice place to put your phone away and enjoy the people you're with. Our only small note was that the salsa portion was a bit small, and we asked for extra - i was surprised to hear they charge extra. Not a big deal, but it would be nice to have a little more included. Overall, a lovely spot with really tasty food, and also serves alcohol!

First and foremost, I have to apologize for not having a better photo of my empanada! Our family…read moreeach bought one before heading to Angel Island and packed them away to enjoy later. As tempting as it was to eat them immediately while they were still warm and filling the air with their amazing aroma, we wanted to save them for a picnic with a view and it ended up being one of the most memorable parts of the day. Even after cooling down, my mushroom empanada was phenomenal. The pastry was beautifully flaky without being dry, and the filling was packed with flavor while remaining well-balanced and not overly salty. Other members of our group were equally impressed with their choices, including the beef, shrimp, and ham-and-cheese varieties. If the empanadas were this good after sitting for a while, I can only imagine how incredible they are fresh out of the oven. Honestly, one was not enough! I'd gladly order a few more the next time I'm in the area.

every hormonal catty teenage girl needs to try this asap. it is SO BUSS!!! all your…read moregastrointestinal issues? gone. all your men problems? gone. all your struggles with feeling misrepresented by society and popular media, and double standards, AND advocating for women's rights without being demeaned and labeled as a man hater? gone...ish. i love the mushroom and corn empanadas!!! long line. the lamb is a bit too cumin heavy. the pastry is SO flaky, not overly crunchy, and soaks up all the goody goody flavors. soo savory. located in ferry building! come flock to the shop my fellow wonderful catty teenage girls

Oh my goodness! This was my first time here and also my first time trying this Argentinian staple!…read moreI came alone on a quiet Saturday night, and the moment I walked in, the lady in the back immediately welcomed and helped me. I ordered the spicy beef empanada, and OMG it was SO good. It was packed with flavor and perfectly crispy. I loved it so much that I ended up getting a second one, the chorizo and that one was amazing too. The chipotle spicy sauce and chimichurri complemented the empanadas perfectly. One detail I thought was really cool was how they stamped the restaurant's name, "VENGA," around the border of the empanadas. Such a small touch, but it made the experience feel even more unique and authentic. The food, hospitality, and cozy atmosphere made this such a memorable experience. Definitely would come back here again!

Cool spot for a snack or quick bite in the mission. First time trying Argentinian empanadas and…read morethey had hella flavor. I especially enjoyed the sauce and chimichurri that it came with. Easy to eat inside with seating, or quick for pick up to-go. Service was chill, very relaxed ambiance. Note that these are also frozen and reheated.

Perfect place for a snack and coffee!! Empanadas were warm and delicious and coffee was excellent…read more Definitely recommend!!

Stumbled across this cafe while I was walking from Cal Train to SFMOMA. I hadn't eaten yet and this…read morewas the perfect spot to grab a quick bite. I got the beef empanada and the nopales with cheese empanada. Sooo good! I wish I had gotten some more to-go they would've been the perfect snack too. I love the way they're labeled, they taste fresh and the cafe was chill spot to hang out for a bit. They also have some drinks there and I was so happy to see they had those adaptogen blend drinks. They had a mocha I believe, a matcha, and I went with the reishi cacao (no espresso). It's like a better for you Hot chocolate and I loved it, so warming and yummy! Not too much interaction with the staff as they have one of those order screens to place your order but they were kind and seemed friendly! Definitely would come here again when I'm back in SF!

Why 5 stars? Because despite a few non-ideal circumstances, it was very worth the visit…read more --- --- --- After eating lunch nearby, I had one final stop to make here for coffee and dessert, before I headed to SFO. The issue is that I was definitely pushing it on time if I planned on making my flight. As I was driving here, I had the thought that if there was an annoying parking situation or a line, I would just have to pivot and forego patronizing. But as it turns out, there was one spot available right next to the front door and no one inside. But then when I requested a nitro, the owner (I assume?) was extremely apologetic that their coffee machine broke. I asked for a few alternate types of coffee, but it turned out said machine controlled it all. So we shifted to the pastries. I read on the website that they had something with guava, so I asked for two of those: one for me, one for the wife. He even offered to heat mine up, which I will say yes to 100% of the time. I then jumped back in the car and was back into "don't' miss your flight mode." Of course, when you're in a hurry, you manage to hit every red light along the way, so I was doing a lot of yelling at electricity and God. But then I figured I might as well take the time to try the pastry that I'd originally planned on eating on the plane. As it turns out, it brought me into a nearly immersive experience of zen. The only bad thing is that I devoured it within seconds and then it was merely a thing of the past. My wife is fortunate that I have the amount of integrity that I do because I am sitting on the plane as I write this and I could easily inhale that 2nd pastry with her being none the wiser. If you're reading this, wife, remember that you hit the spousal lottery.

Discovered Milonga at the farmers market and so happy I did! Their empanadas are amazing!…read more My husband and I tried the mushroom, potato, tomato and basil, chorizo, beef and pineapple. They were all well balanced, not too salty or sweet, toasted to just the right crispiness, and definitely satisfying. Not to mention the staff were fun and friendly

These are hands down the best Chilean empanadas in California, and don't even get me started on the…read morepastel de choclo--absolutely delicious. I actually got emotional eating it. I miss home so much, and this incredible food transported me back to Chile for a moment. A huge thank you to Chile Lindo Empanadas y Dulces Chilenos. Paula, you outdid yourself. Gracias totales!

I was walking by this place when the empanadas caught my eye. I love a good empanada. This is a…read morelocal, small-business owner, also known as a legacy business in SF. She was so friendly and amazing to talk to about the area. I bought some chicken empanadas, and the flavors were amazing. The location is designed for takeout and enjoying warm empanadas. Walking through the Mission is a wonderful experience.

Lovely spot for a quick snack and coffee!! I mostly come to El Porteño for the coffee because the…read morelocation is super convenient for a morning pick-me-up, and it's often my favorite part of the morning. The coffee is rich and nutty, and it pairs well with all of their milk options (they have oat and almond for my fellow lactose intolerant folks). I have yet to try one of the empanadas, but they smell and look divine -- I'm always super tempted. Depending on when you come by, sometimes you can catch the staff working on the next batch, which is always fun to watch. The team is friendly, and the space is quite large. It's usually pretty quiet -- even though they have a decent flow of foot traffic, most folks don't stop for long. If you need a relatively quiet place to work for a bit, they do have a good number of tables and outlets, although there, tragically, isn't WiFi.

What a pleasant snack to grab! Our family started our day SF trip here right after landing at the…read moreCaltrain station nearby. We grabbed a light snack with the jamon y queso (ham and cheese). The cheese was creamy and delicious, wish there was more ham. The pastry itself was excellent. Good consistency, good profile, and very tasty; just the right amount of flakiness. Would come back again and try the other flavors next time we're out and about in the city.

I'm very thankful to the instructor from the pottery class we took at Pinckney Clay a few years ago…read morewho recommended the pan con todo from here. We had never come here prior, thinking it was only a bakery. I love breakfast sandwiches, and the pan con todo falls in that category. It's eggs, black beans, cheese, and crema on a French roll. There is a selection of meats (or plantains if you're vegetarian) that you can add to it. I've tried them all and will vary my order, but my favorites are the carne asada and the pork adobada. It also comes with a side of hot sauce that has a surprising kick. The balance of ingredients is just right. Universal is now a regular in our neighborhood takeout lunch rotation. The price is quite reasonable too, between $7-$10 depending on filling choice. They have a bunch of other breakfast plates, lunch entrees, tortas, etc as well. I've thought about trying something else but the lure of the pan con todo sucks me in every time. Plus I'm typically getting takeout which these are perfect for. They also obviously have a variety of baked goods available too.

The ladies that work here are sooo friendly! I always order a pan con todo with asada and always…read moremake sure to get their hot sauce, it's soo good. This place is perfect for an affordable breakfast or lunch!

Excellent food and customer service. I have never been to any place where I have been treated so…read morewell with such a gracious owner. We came almost at closing time. We placed our order and waited for about 20 minutes. After our server delivered our food, Steven whi is the owner came out and greeted everyone. He came to our table and check up on us and chatted. I was eating a hamburger and was taking food from other. Steven noticed I didn't have any utensils and brought out a new plate setting for me. When we have left over, he brought out extra buns, lettuce and tomato for us to put the extra steak so we can make a sandwich later. What a kind and considerate man. We ordered the Tagiota Burger. It huge and perfectly seasoned. The patty is crispy outside with all kinds of toppings. It is one of the best burger I have. The beef empanada is filled with beef and very filling. The milanesa is the Argentina interpretation of country fried steak. It has cheese, ham, and tomatoes layered along with perfectly cooked French fries. Portion is generous. Food 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Customer service 5/5 Value 5/5. Can't wait to come back to try everything else on the menu.

Good to see you again Tanguito…read more I had the skirt steak with fries, and those fries were seriously good. Thick-cut, crispy, flavorful, and easily some of the best fries I've had in San Francisco. I could have eaten a whole second order. The skirt steak came medium. They didn't ask for a temperature, and I normally eat my meat rare, so I was a little nervous. But it was still juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. Argentina knows its beef. And then there's the owner, who made the experience even better. He was genuinely kind, and we ended up having a great conversation about his garden, his house in Buenos Aires, and his country Argentina. That kind of personal connection is something you don't always get when you're grabbing lunch. Great food. Great prices. Very welcoming. They've been here since 2008, and yesterday happened to be their anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Tanguito! I'm coming back for the choripán next time. That one is already on my list. A little food truck, a little Argentina, and some seriously good fries.

This place was really good on my bm the cashier (didn't catch his name) he was pretty chill not…read morethat expensive tbh I got a breakfast empanada and it was delicious the place looks nice I do recommend

Casual spot offering comfort food!…read more I ordered three empanadas to take home and heat up for dinner: Gallina, spinach, and spicy beef. Each one was better than the last! The crust was flaky and the fillings were hearty and perfectly season. Gallina: the onions and peppers were stewed perfectly and the chicken was tender Spinach: perfect balance of spinach and cheese. Thai paired soooo well with the orange sauce. Spicy beef: this was my favorite. The beef and potatoes were so soft and tender, but not mushy! Perfect texture all around. It's not a cheap meal if you're hungry, but it was hot and comforting! I definitely enjoyed it. I'd stop by again!