This a great lunch spot and worth coming back. Their bowls are tasty and filling. And the tortas are def worth trying as well. Particularly like the grilled chicken and cubana. The staff is super friendly and even though it's busy during lunch time, the line goes by fast. Pro-tip: order ahead to beat the line. read more

Went for dinner Good fast casual Mexican spot. A definitive step above Chipotle. Large diverse menu; friend and I both ordered bowls. Food is solid and great value (large portions). Service is fast. Plenty of seating but the place could have been a bit cleaner (dirty plates left on tables from past diners). Would return for a quick bite in the area. read more

Wanted to try a new spot for lunch and saw Cenote was highly rated so gave it a shot. Mainly known for the bowls, the most popular item is the Tulum Bowl with chicken al pastor. As a whole, the dish was somewhat underwhelming. The ingredients seemed to be randomly placed together, the flavors didn't really blend well. The meat and the beans were quite salty, while the salsa was sweet on the side. Given the presentation and expectation, was slightly underwhelmed. The best part of the dish were the jalapeños, which offered a nice kick. That being said, for the price and quality, fast-food chains like Chipotle may still offer a better deal when it comes to Mexican cuisine inspired bowls. I've heard happy hours are great and the restaurant definitely has a nice ambience. Would be interested in trying more of their dishes such as the tacos and burritos as well. read more

Cenote - Tulum Bowl - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

we stopped by to pick up our takeout. The restaurant was actually quite busy. They seem to have some sort of a group and an area had been reserved for them. In addition, there were many people having food and drinks because this was around happy hour time. I noticed they also have happy hour specials. I tried some fried taquitos appetizer and my daughter had steak tacos. Both were very good. Definitely a place to try if you are looking for a lunch spot or informal happy hour in the financial district. Prices were reasonable for the financial District area read more

Cenote - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Needed a quick lunch in between meetings, and Cenote was nearby. It was 1pm, and while the store was definitely crowded (as you can expect for FiDi), there was some seating available. You order first and then sit anywhere, making it an optimal spot if you want a quick lunch but still want to sit down and eat it. I got the Tulum bowl, which has mango salsa, and added carnitas. I will say - the prices look pretty cheap on the menu, but definitely racks up when you add the protein in. The food came out in 5 minutes, which was great since I was on a time crunch. Loved the mango salsa and the sweetness it added to the dish. The carnitas and beans were incredibly salty though, and left my mouth feeling quite dry afterward. My food also came out lukewarm and turned cold within 5 minutes of eating. I've heard their happy hour is great, so interested in that! read more

Cenote - Tulum Bowl - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

My coworker suggested this place and this place is now one of my favorite places to get a burrito. I have not tried the other items on the menu but the cali burrito I have had twice and it was so good. Let me say I would frequent chipotle down the street but now this is my place to go. I have to say the verse salsa with the chips is so good. Must try and eat!!!! People are friendly here. I told the cashier that this is now my second time here and my favorite. She laughed and smiled. The place is low key and casual. I just ate my lunch's and people gazed from the window but I think there is a tv in there. Regardless it is not too loud and I loved the food. read more

Cenote - Cali style !! - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Carne asada cali style burrito. The burrito itself was not amazing. - Cheese: If you are expecting melted cheese, it's not for you, this was more of a cold cheese deal. - Carne Asada: The carne asada itself wasn't really charred and not a lot of flavor even compared to chipotle. - Salsa: The silver lining was the salsa, nice smoky earthy taste, idk what it's called, the brown one, very good. The green salsa was just average. - Size: slightly smaller than average - Avocado: comes with the burrito and not an add on which is nice. read more

Cenote - Cali Style - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Located in financial district, perfect place to come to for happy hour, which ends at 5:30. We ordered nachos with the chicken, classic margs, and fluatas. You order at the front and there's plenty of indoor seating, it was pretty empty on a Friday afternoon. read more

Cenote - Nachos with chicken - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My coworkers and I have walked by this place a hundred times and finally decided to give it a shot. We had super high hopes but, unfortunately, we were a little disappointed. The burritos were smaller than most other Mexican food restaurants in the area and the flavor was just ok. The salad was good but the menu hanging on the wall was a little deceptive. It read "add your protein" next to the salad options but I didn't realize until I got to the counter that adding a protein to the salad was extra cost. We ordered some chips and salsa to go with the order. The tortilla chips were tasty but the salsas weren't anything special. My coworkers and I took a vote and 3/5 stars seemed to be the most appropriate grade. Overall, it was good but not great in any way. read more

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I had high hopes but was pretty disappointed. For the quantity especially of the protein, I feel like the price is too high but it was also absolutely flavorless. I got the pork pastor but I feel like they maybe gave me chicken (who knows) and either way, the meat was flavorless. There was zero taste of pineapple and in general very under seasoned. I would describe the whole bowl as needing more flavor actually. Mushrooms, rice, beans, and even the salsa macha were all underwhelming. The only component that actually was tasty was the guacamole. The food was honestly more like 2 stars but I don't want to write a harsh review based on one experience.Basically, I am not rushing back here even though it is pretty conveniently located. read more

Love their happy hour specials, especially the flauta and quesabirria. Happy hour menu is available from 3pm-6pm!

This review is for their happy hour! We had a group of 4 looking for a happy hour spot near our office that wasn't too pricey, served snacks, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks - and Cenote checked all of our boxes. We arrived around 4:45 to the restaurant being relatively empty. We all ordered our drinks and snacks at the counter and grabbed a table by the window. The happy hour pricing here is so affordable! I got chips & guac for $5. I don't usually drink alcohol, so I was happy they had a selection of agua fresca flavors. I got the watermelon, which was refreshing and tasty. We also shared a pretty good $6 quesadilla and okay $7 nachos. I would definitely come back for happy hour. read more

Tried this place for the first time as it is near my office and I was super impressed! This is a solid sized burrito and packed with all the fillings. The service was super fast even though they were busy so if you are in a rush between meetings this is a great spot. The inside is really nice and maybe next time I will give it a try and eat there. Definitely recommend this restaurant and will be back soon! read more

Cenote - Cali Style, add mushrooms and jalapeños - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

I popped in for lunch with my Dad after a nearby appointment. I was impressed with how helpful, friendly, and fast the service was! My Cancun bowl was fresh, flavorful, and generous in size. The space was clean, pleasant, and welcoming! A nice find. read more

Cenote - Cancun Bowl - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

I ordered takeout before walking over to pickup. Easy to find, nice staff, clean environment. Food quality is great. I ordered the Yucatan bowl and the Elote. It was a lot of food for 1 person. Would order these again. Definitely a nice lunch time place read more

Cenote - Yucatan bowl with Chicken al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I barely get enough from Cenote! Not only was the food and drink in good quality, but also more authentic enough to transport me back to the ancient Mayan period where the watering hole had been clean for ages. Since I have my own gift card, it's about time I come here for their zesty Mexican food. The first time I bought a steak torta for my brother, he thought the beef flavor was so dry to him. It appears that there's absolutely nothing from the menu option that's suitable to his palate. Second time would be my lunchtime. The Yucatan Bowl definitely hits the spot! Good quality vegetables with vegan taco meat over rice seasoned with herbs and spices! The avocado slices looked and tasted colorfully fresh from the very beginning. Might try Cancun Bowl on the next future visit if I'm brave enough against the spiciness! Churros in a caramel dip were extremely filling than sugary glaze. No horchata, no problem! The Cucumber Lime Fresca was a better refreshing choice than an alcoholic mezcal. Good to meet and greet the people working in a family run restaurant as unique as Cenote. They provided good catering service for my workplace close by. I admit that the steak cubes were dry when I had another spoonful in my mouth, but there's nothing to it since Cenote makes good quality Mexican food from scratch. Just as the watering hole looks clean, so was the food. read more

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Pretty solid / upscale burrito. I dont love that the chicken option is thigh (I am more of a breast man myself), but carnitas work in a pinch. Good crowd @ lunch read more

Came here for happy hour with my coworkers. Happy hour is between 3-6pm. Good selection of drinks and food! read more

Cenote - Guava margarita - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a pretty decent lunchtime spot in fidi, the bowls are pretty flavorful and healthy! With that sometimes super long lines during the lunch rush as well. read more

ordeee lunch from here and got the vegan bowl + beyond meat. it was meh. lacked flavor and tasted pretty bland, wasn't a fan and it def wasn't work kirk $19-$20. wouldn't order from here again lol read more

Cenote - Vegan Burrito Bowl - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food at cenote was very fresh and has great flavors to all their dishes. Was really impressed by their guacamole dip,all the employees there were very friendly and warm. It's small, but has a very nice comfortable feel to it Will definitely add it to my bucket list to go back when visiting San Francisco. Bruce read more

Asked for extra meat, paid $5 but they added extra beans instead. Service was poor, no "Hi" or "thank you" Place itself was however clean. $2.50 for a side of chips, not bad, but free when you eat at the restaurant. read more

Cenote - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

The ambiance is nice. I came with my husband and another couple. We ordered and sat down and the food was brought to us with utensils. There are two water pitchers for self serve. The food was good! Was it blow me away best I ever had? No. But I got the garlic shrimp Cali burrito with pinto instead of black beans and I would 100% come here again when I'm nearby which is often because I work near enough to Embarcadero. It's like a bougie chipotle and since I can only eat halal I'm happy they have well made shrimp. They offer vegan ground beef but I'd pick shrimp anyways. Service was solid. They were pleasant enough not beaming with joy or anything but not offensively frowning either. I do wish it was noted verbally or on the menu that sodas come with one free refill. We only found out bc my husband finished his and liked it enough he was willing to ask for a second cup. read more

Cenote - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I recommended this place for my company work lunch as I saw it had good reviews. The restaurant was a order-at-the-counter style, and though the line was a bit long during the lunch rush, it didn't take us long to put our orders in. The service was great! I was looking forward to the Cancun Carne Asada bowl, but it did not meet my expectations. Though filling, I think it could have been more flavorful. My coworkers agreed. Chips and guac were pretty standard. I would maybe come back for a happy hour and try their other items on the menu. read more

Cenote - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

A great lunch spot to have with friends or colleagues. Came here with some colleagues to grab lunch and we shared a bunch of things together, while also having our own bowls/ personal plates. We shared some guac and salsas and had extra beans and rice on the side. The chips and guac were fresh and good for sharing. I got a Tulum bowl, which came with cilantro lime rice, pinto beans, shredded cheese, garbano beans, mango salsa, icle jalapenos, pepitas and salsa verde. I added extra guac to my bowl. My bowl was good but I made the mistake of not really reading through the menu since I don't really enjoy beans and there were a lot of beans in my bowl. Not a problem though, I just ate around it haha. The mango salsa was refreshing to eat with every bite of my burrito bowl though so I quite enjoyed that. The food came out quickly and served to our table. Water is self serve from a jug. Overall, it was good but not amazing. Still a good spot to go to with colleagues or friends. read more

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Cenote is a great spot for fast but substantial Mexican food in the Financial district. I was in town for a work conference and our small group decided to grab lunch at Cenote. We got some chips, salsa, and guac for the table to share and I got the street style tacos with steak. We came right before the lunch rush so the ordering process was pretty quick and easy. The food came out in good time and the staff was attentive and friendly. I really loved my steak tacos and everyone else also enjoyed their food. The portion size was really good and all of our meals were tasty. It got super busy as soon as the lunch rush came in but I don't think it was every super overwhelming. A great lunch option in the city. read more

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We were out and about, looking for a place to have dinner on a Wednesday evening. We didn't expect that most restaurants were only taking reservations. On our way back to the hotel, we came by Cenote. It didn't look like much from the outside. It only had a few small tables with hard stool-style seats, fast food style. However.... The food was incredible! The four of us had all a different dish, and all four dishes looked beautiful. The flavors were fresh and very tasty. No disappointment! If you are looking for a mid-range priced dinner with awesome flavor in that neighborhood, this is your place! We all paid less than $20 for a fabulous dinner. Highly recommended if you like fresh and flavorful Mexican food. read more

This was an incredible option for a fresh and delicious fast casual lunch. Our group loved everything we tried! The menu is huge with a variety of tacos, sandwiches, bowls, etc. I lovedmy tacos - the pork and steak were so juicy and flavorful! You can order tacos in a few different styles, and these came topped with lots of pico, cheese and crema. The tortilla chips were unreal good and tasted like they were made fresh in house. The guacamole is a can't miss, and even our sides of rice and beans were anything but basic. There is also a cute little bar - perfect if you want to pair your eats with a beer or marg. We were in a bit early for lunch (at around 11) and it was quiet, but by the time we left at noon it was a packed house. I can definitely see why. I'm not in the area often, but if I'm back for work it'll be hard to leave Cenote out of my lunch plans. read more

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Cenote was our first stop in SF and it did not disappoint! The food + prices here are so reasonable, almost too reasonable for the quality and portion you get. All of the mains are well under $15. We compared the prices here to a street cart about a block down and it was insane that Cenote was cheaper. The service at Cenote was also the reason I'd recommend others to visit. The staff was knowledgeable and Mario at the counter was so sweet. When I asked what he'd recommend between the chips and salsa or chips and guacamole he said "why not both!" We ended up ordering a Cenote style burrito with carne asada, vegan bowl add chicken, chips + salsa and guacamole and some drinks. I was surprised Cenote even offered my favorite alternative milk (oat milk) and my brother and I ordered an iced oat milk latte and iced matcha latte for our beverages. The restaurant is clean, food is excellent and service is 5/5. If you're looking for a spot in downtown San Francisco for a casual lunch, I'd highly recommend! read more

Cenote - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Grateful to have found Cenote while in SF for work. I discovered them on Yelp and after checking out their reviews and peeking at their menu, I was sold. Another plus was that it was a 5 minute walk from my hotel and I could order online. Win for me! I ordered their Cali style burrito with garlic shrimp along with some chips and salsa. I'm not normally a burrito girl but I couldn't resist, it looked so good. Additional ingredients in the burrito included black beans, cilantro-lime rice, cheese, avocado, pico de gallo, and a cilantro-lime crema. I'll also add that when I arrived to pick up my order, I was shocked at how big it was. That being said, I ate the entire thing. I was absolutely starving but the fact that it was super fresh and flavorful kept me going to the last bite. The chips were also perfect and I really loved the salsa verde. Lastly, my order was ready so quickly and the staff were super nice when I came through. If I lived in the area I can definitely see this being a regular spot for lunch! read more

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A solid option for a healthy lunch in a really nice fast casual space. I opted for the spinach salad with shrimp and it was fresh and healthy but did cost close to $20. They have a menu of tacos, burritos and bowls and what seems to be a bar with beer, wine and even margaritas. I even spied a happy hour. Not huge, so not great for groups. Overall, a solid fast-casual lunch in fidi if you're looking for Mexican eats that have some healthy options. read more

Cenote - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Inexpensive, delicious, and generous portions. Food options seem to be healthy too. Great if you're craving Mexican food that isn't Chipotle or a burrito. Casual, quick lunch ambiance. read more

I went here for lunch and it was crowded. If you could order online for pick up, do so. The food was good and for the price, they gave a good portion of food. I got one of their salads, the Lolita and it wasn't dry, a lot of condiments but it paired well with the salad. I would come back to try their other dishes. There's an ample amount of seating but the restaurant is loud when it's busy. read more

This is my third time eating at Cenote. I ordered the Yucatán bowl with crispy chicken. It was so yummy and ingredients are always so fresh. The service was quick and staff are always so friendly. read more

I've been here many times. Great shrimp burritos. Great tacos of all sorts. The happy hour quesabarilla is outstanding. Their nachos are all excellent and chips in general are warm and toasty. Bowls are great also. Also a hidden gem here is their organic margarita. read more

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After seeing all the good reviews I had to stop in here for lunch! I came on a Wednesday around 1pm and had no issues ordering or finding a seat. The lady at the counter helped me with menu and gave me some amazing recs! I went with the Cancun bowl with grilled chicken and this bowl was massive and filling!! The number one thing I noticed was how fresh everything tasted. The grilled mushrooms were a great addition and the chicken was so tender. I loved this bowl!! Overall amazing lunch spot read more

Cenote - Grilled Chicken Cancun Bowl - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came on a Wednesday afternoon and was glad my group had a reservation since it was pretty busy. I didn't catch our servers name but they were all amazing! We had a large party and they made sure that everyone was taken care of. Highly recommend the passion fruit margarita--it's a highlight! The quesadilla and chips/guac were delicious and the tortilla soup was a perfect side. We walked from our office but parking is pretty hard in the area so I wouldn't highly recommend walking or Ubering. read more

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Awesome soup! I stopped in and the restaurant didn't disappoint me. Great menu, staff were friendly and took the time to explain a couple of items on their menu. Loved the street tacos and tortilla soup! read more

Walked up on Cenote while on a business trip to SF. Great vibes and service is soon as you walk in. Open kitchen concept, in a well thought out setup for a smaller location. Happy hr vibe was amazing. Great cost to product ratio. I had the birria tacos and chopped salad at the cashiers recommendation, as well as a margarita. Amazing. Salad and tacos were super flavorful, and the consume was delicious. Would definitely recommend! read more

Cenote - Birria tacos, margarita, Mexican Chop Salad - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Oh wow! Definitely a gem in the Financial District for a quick happy hour! We came in on a Thursday afternoon during Happy Hour (4-6 PM). We got a sangria and margarita and chicken nachos. The drinks were about $6 and the nachos were $8 with protein. The value for the price is unbeatable. The sangria was strong and a pretty decent serving. The nachos were a perfect size to snack on with our cocktails! The chips were crunchy and the chicken was well cooked. The food went great with the drinks. The ambiance is nice and well decorated. The staff is sweet and helpful and this place is great! Definitely check out their Happy Hour! read more

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