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Chao Pescao

4.3 (354 reviews)
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CHAO PESCAO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - Chao Pescao

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Tarta de Queso sin Azucar
Teri K.

Great spot for dinner before a show! Copa Havana cocktail= smoky pineapple sweetness, Empadanas... All good but the pork one was the best, the fried chicken = crispy goodness with super flavorful rice& beans. And surprisingly delicious low sugar cheesecake was the perfect way to end the meal. Would definitely come back! Extra perk is $5 validated parking!

Steak Sandwich
Christian R.

Came to Chao Pescao for a team lunch of eight people. We had a reservation, so we were seated pretty fast! Let's start with the food: I got the Pan con Bistec, a nice steak sandwich with thin cut fries ($22). The sandwich was pretty good! The steak was nice and tender, and the sauce on the sandwich was super tasty. I appreciated the fresh veggies and the crispy bread. I wish there was a bit more steak on the sandwich, but overall it was good. The fries were crispy and well salted. We also got brussels sprouts for the table. I'm not too sure what the sauce was, but it was delicious, and the sprouts themselves were very crisp. These were the best thing we ate. The service is really the only downside to this restaurant. Sure, we had eight people at the table, but it took so. long. to get our food--about 45 minutes to an hour. Many at our table were talking about the long wait. At one point a waitress spilt a bit of water on our table and did not try to clean it, or even give us anything to clean the spill. It wasn't a big deal, but just not the best experience overall. So, yeah, I think you can come here for pretty good food but this may not be your best option if you're planning on a quick bite for a lunch break.

Yuca Frita
Vivian L.

Came here for a team lunch. We made reservations for 8 people and had to wait a few minutes for the table to be set up when we got there. We enjoyed the appetizers more than the actual meal itself. We ordered the Colombian style chicharron, empanadas, yuca frita, and Maduros. They were all so delicious but I think my favorite was the chicharron with the sauce that they had. Majority of us got the sandwich and did not enjoy it too much, it was a bit dry and plain, and smaller than we thought. I got the pan con bistec (ribeye) sandwich and it was plain & dry. All of us ordered drinks and they were very strong (which is good LOL). I got the mango tango drink. Service was fine, a little bit on the slower side (and restaurant was empty). The restaurant has two restrooms and only street parking. They also have parking validation for $5 too.

Delicious Caesar salad!
Sondra H.

Came here before a show at the Orpheum Theater. Shared the pork empanadas and a Caesar salad with shrimp. The pork empanadas were especially tasty and came with a hot sauce that was equally tasty, but I have to say I enjoyed the empanadas by themselves. The Caesar salad was delicious and I was disappointed that it was such a small portion. I would definitely go back and try other dishes that I saw on other tables!

Tostones with pistachio salsa verde: 4 stars Wish
Eve K.

Latin with Cuban and Colombian influences with a fun happy hour. 3.5 stars Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 3 Cost to worth it rating: 4.5 for HH Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: sure for hh Highlights: - Happy hour: good amount of food and drink on the menu plus discounted drinks on standard menu. Appreciate timing going til 6pm - Cocolatl Maize cocktail: excellent cinnamony rich version of an old fashioned. 5 stars - Empanadas: tried one of each pork, beef, chicken, and veggie. All were great with a crispy exterior that was gluten free too. Beef and pork were the faves if we had to choose. 4 stars - Pork arepa: lots of shredded pork in between nice masa patties. 4 stars - Tostones: thicker version than the typical flat but loved the green salsa with pistachio. 4 stars - Close to war memorial or Davies for shows - Staff: super nice and helpful - Gluten free: most items which is great for us where that's friendlier to our stomachs Midlights: - Happy hour: in bar area only but didn't note that on the website - Bar area kind of dark: hard to read the menu - Atmosphere: was pretty dead on a Thursday night Lowlights: - Steak arepa: bit hard to eat even though steak was thin was hard to bite into. 3 stars - Pao de bono: usually love there but flavor was lacking and a bit tough too. 3 stars Wish the vibe was more energetic but food and drinks were fine and had a good time.

Southbeach
Mercedes Y.

One of the friends referred Chao Pescao. So I made a reservation for 5 people at 4 pm. After watching the MJ Broadway Musical, we walked to McAllister. We got our bar table. We told the server if we can take the regular table since 3 were ordering from the regular menu & 2 were ordering from the happy hour menu. The Happy Hour was from 3-6 pm. The other lady approached us and said since we were earlier she was doing it as an exception giving us the regular table. A friend remembered being at this restaurant while on jury duty years ago. The wall decors were colorful & interesting to enjoy the dining room. The restroom was neutral and had nice wall decor. The server Carolina came and helped us with the cocktail drinks. We ordered Pina Colada, Mojito for me, Southbeach, Draft Beer (I forgot the name). I got the 4 special empanadas with beef, chicken, pork & veggies for $10. They were 3/4 size bites from the regular. They did not have this on the Happy Hour menu but one regular empanada for $5. From the regular menu, my friends have the BISTEC DE PALOMILLA, CEMITA POBLANA, Cubano sandwich, Yuca Frita & Hamburguesa from Happy Hour menu. The drinks were delicious. My empanadas had good delicious filling. The salsa complemented the empanadas. My friends enjoyed their steak, sandwiches and burgers. We took our time eating & drinking. When we were done, the server came with her tablet. We told her we were paying individually. So she came around us and 3 paid with their credit cards & my other friend & I paid in cash. My friends who paid with credit cards added tips. Even I added another cash for tip. But the other girl did not give tip. A friend who paid with credit card was calculating how she paid so much with no cocktail just sandwich. So we called the attention of the server. When we revisited how much we paid, we did not know there was the mandatory gratuity 20% included and added tip on top of the total. The server apologized telling us they had not updated the system yet. She was nice adjusting each one's credit card payment and she gave my cash for the tip back. I would give 5 stars but we don't want this kind of service. Yes the ambiance & food & the service were good until this glitch happened & wasted our time. I will give another chance Chao Pescao in the future if we are in the area for shows but we will be cautious how the bill would be paid.

Thu N.

Solid spot for Latin Caribbean cuisine in the Civic Center area, especially when it comes to happy hour deals between 3-6PM! recs: empanadas price: ~$30/person We came by for happy hour on a Friday and didn't have a problem walking in, although the space filled up super quickly closer to 6PM. Chao Pescao is located conveniently near all the bustle of Market St but has a beautiful view of the community garden and City Hall that you should totally check out. - Chicharron: For $15 at happy hour, this was unanimously agreed upon as a shockingly large portion. Paired well with the pickled veggies and red onion that came with it, but personally I thought it was a tad dry. - Tostones: Fried plantains that were sweet and savory and taken to the next level with the avocado-pistachio salsa that came with it. - Empanadas: Both the beef and vegetable empanadas were spectacular and each one came with their own sauce. The crust was perfectly thin and crispy, and the filling was plentiful and piping hot. Seriously considered getting more of these. - Pan de Bono: Got this just to try -- it was surprisingly bouncy and savory, like a dinner roll but 10x better. Service was decent despite the busy dinner crowd! So glad we got to try this spot!

Pan De Bono

In the area for a matinee show at the Orpheum Theatre and since it was nearby, we wanted to check it out. After scoping out the menu, we settled on four items: quinoa y aguacate (salad), cubano (sandwich), empanadas vallunas de cerdo, and pan de bono. After our orders were taken, the pacing of our orders came out timely. The restaurant is vibrant and airy. Our favorites were the salad and empanadas. We chose fries with the sandwich. The fries were salty towards the bottom. Since everything was freshly made, we barely made a dent on the pan. We took the rest of the pan to go but had to surrender it when the theatre didn't allow outside food. Will come back again should we be in the area and try other items.

Yuca Fries
Andres N.

Had a delicious lunch here with great service. This place definitely makes it feel like an escape. It doesn't feel like you're in Civic Center or let alone SF in general. I had been intrigued by this place after learning about them having Colombian food. We tried an empanada, a steak sandwich and a side of yuca fries. Our server was very kind and pleasant and overall this was a fun escape and place to be with delicious Caribbean/Colombian bites and a well crafted cocktail menu. I enjoyed being here and looking forward to coming back to try more items! They also have a happly hour during the weekdays that I wanma try.

Cubano Sandwich
Dede T.

This restaurant is close to UCF Law School and a nice walk from my restaurant but a bit sketchy. I would recommend getting a ride instead of walking. I found this restaurant through yelp, thank you yelpers! I wanted some Caribbean inspired food and this caught my eye. The restaurant is super cute and the decorations make a welcoming vibe. There's also a garden next door and the door stayed open during my visit so you may have some insect visitors. Now the food and service were okay. I was not super hungry and since it was my first time I asked the bartender/server for some recommendations. It took a while for the actual service to start and I had to approach the bartender for service. I had a Cuban sandwich with beef and fries. The meat lacked flavor for a Caribbean dish. I requested some hot sauce to add some flavor but that also fell flat. I ended up eating half the sandwich and all the fries. I would go back to try something different but left disappointed with my choice.

Yuca fries
Jasmine C.

Ambiance 5/5 - lively, bright, not super noisy even thought it was filled up for a Saturday supper Service 5/5 - they were all so nice and attentive! Food 5/5 - explanation being I'd want to come back here over and over. Some of our favorites were - empanadas (gotta try em all! Crispy but not overly greasy with well balanced filling. The sauce, too, so good), De Cemita (their version of fried chicken with rice, beans, and masa pockets. The batter was crispy with chicken so juicy on the inside. Just wow!), their shortbread cookies (highly recommend), and ALL of their cocktails! So yummy you'll WANT to be back!

Spencer Q.

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: Definitely one of the better places to eat at in the neighborhood. I'd go back if I'm in the area. The extended review... Food: Ropa Vieja - 4/5 - I've found it somewhat difficult to find this dish in the city and this is one of the few that has it. It's a very tasty dish with some good accompaniments. Service: 4/5 - Friendly and attentive service. Ambiance: 4/5 - A very festive and vibrant ambiance.

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Chao Pescao Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Chao Pescao

When is happy hour and is there a menu published anywhere? I don't see it in the website...

They are all on their website.

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T'chaka - Soup Joumou...

T'chaka

4.6(171 reviews)
7.9 miOld Oakland

As a Haitian food connoisseur I went to visit this restaurant not once but twice so I can give it a…read morefair shot and review. I initially didn't expect much since every Haitian restaurant on the west coast seems to flop pretty bad except for the one in Moreno Valley, CA. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Things to consider about Haitian food. Oxtails and anything jerked (jerk chicken) are NOT typical Haitian dishes. Leave those to the Jamaicans that's their specialty. I would NOT order that at a Haitian restaurant. If you order these we know you don't know anything about that culture. Now that we got this out of way. I've ordered the legume (stewed veg with no meat), fritay griot (fried pork shoulder) akra, fried green plantain, kremas, pikliz to go. Pros: Located in a vibrant part of Oakland this restaurant is very cleaned and spacious with arts displayed throughout showcasing the Haitian culture and spirt. There's even a huge outdoor seating. The service was fast and I am not talking by islands standards. Before i can blink was food was in front of me. To my surprise, I really enjoyed my food and ordered some to go. I thought to myself maybe I was really hungry hence the reason it tasted so good. So I went back a 2nd time the very next day, you could tell the food is made fresh because they don't have the same thing on the menu. Oh boy was I surprised again about how delicious the food was. Subsequently, I am giving this restaurant a 5 Cons: There's only street parkings which can be hard to find and it's not the restaurant's fault. I agree with some of the comments that the greeting might need some improvement. Then again this is a family owned business, where their young son is in charge of greeting & seating folks down. He may not have an inviting smile but he was not rude per se. Overall: I have travelled to over 65 countries there are certain things you can't except from people. Not every business is ran based on American expectations. This is a small family owned business with delicious & authentic Haitian dishes. What people want to know is "does the food taste good?" Yes or no. Also, while I was eating there I saw many Ubereats and/or Doordash couriers coming in and out, that might be an option for those who don't want to dine in. I would absolutely go back whenever I am in the Bay area. Lovely family and I wish them the best. I hope they open a restaurant here in Los Angeles.

My Haitian friend just moved to the bay. We searched and found her SPOT!…read more Family owned - casual feel - owner went out of her way to make us a fresh batch of "pikliz" (spicy pickled cabbage). We tried the Legumes with Chicken - Griot (pork) and Oxtail. What a great tasting menu. Awesome spices with plantains / beans & rice compliments. This might be in our monthly rotation :)

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T'chaka - Inside the restaurant

Inside the restaurant

T'chaka - Red Snapper

Red Snapper

T'chaka - Inside the restaurant

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Inside the restaurant

Casa Borinquena - Chicken Pincho Sampler plate

Casa Borinquena

4.7(74 reviews)
0.5 miUnion Square, SoMa

I went to Casa Borinquena the other day for the first time and WOW I've really been missing out…read more The menu is small but mighty. Everything sounds delicious but the sample plates pack the most punch. I love plantains so having those figure prominently, with delicious rice and plant based chicken, is perfect. The service is incredibly fast and easy, and being at Saluhall, you get to take advantage of other vendors and a full a bar. It felt a little quiet on a Friday night but places like Casa Borinquena definitely make it a destination for me. Go now if you've been waiting. Casa Borinquena is not to be missed.

Wepa! Casa Borinquena is anything but boring. Puerto Rican vegan food with all the flavors is far…read morefrom your typical mall food. Saluhall has two floors of food options. Definitely go upstairs and explore Casa Borinquena. If you're wondering what Market Street has to offer, duck inside IKEA. There are many seating areas. Yes, in addition to IKEA's viral food court, there's so much more. Saluhall opened with all-vegan vendors but things have shifted back to meat and dairy. Case Borinquena is the last standing all-vegan stall. This is Caribbean soul food and it's so good. If you're looking for a salad or something light, this is not for you. This food will fill you up and leave you wanting more. Loaded Tostones is pumped up with nacho-ish toppings. Served with a thick and tasty mama sauce. I was dunking everything into that sauce. I opted for the side of tostones because I was craving the crunchy plantain. It was crisp perfection! Lulu's Famous Pastelillo filled with vegan beef or chicken was another winner for me. The dough was fried perfectly and I loved the chicken filling flavor. Chef's kiss. Coquito cake is on the menu! If you love eggnog, get this right now. I want to return for the sampler plate. At $20, it's cheaper than a flight to Puerto Rico. Pro-tip: first hour of parking is free!

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Casa Borinquena - Some of our menu favorites

Some of our menu favorites

Casa Borinquena
Casa Borinquena - Vegan chick'n pastelillo. Yummy!

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Vegan chick'n pastelillo. Yummy!

Lolinda

Lolinda

4.2(2.6k reviews)
1.7 miMission
$$$

First time here and we loved it! We got the ceviche, citrusy with a kick - loved the fritters. The…read morepulpo was tender with savory, salty base. Steak frites were so good. Asado mixto was nice to share for the table. Got the ribeye too, so good. For dessert, we loved the chocotorta which was decadent. The passionfruit flan was nice, tart. Place has a dim, calm ambiance. Plenty of seating downstairs and upstairs. Our server, Rayne, was kind and attentive to us. Will definitely recommend this place to others!

Restaurant is located in the Sf mission district. We came here for dinner and as you enter the…read morerestaurant, the host area is lit, but when you enter the main dining, the lights are dimmed and felt romantic. The restaurant has an upstairs as well. Our server was very nice and pleasant to speak with. Gave us some recommendations on the menu as well as drinks. We started with a cocktail and a glass of red wine. For our appetizer we had the Pulpo, coliflor and Hueso Asado. The pulpo which is octopus was nice and tender. Really delicious. The coliflor was okay. It was a little dense for me. The Hueso Asado was scrumptious, buttery and full of flavor, but half of a bone marrow was too small for an appetizer and only served with 4 small thin crostini. For entree we had the Ojo de Bife and Malbec short ribs. The Ojo de Bife which is the rib eye was delicious and grilled perfectly. The meat was not as tender, but the meat itself had a lot of flavor. The short ribs were excellent! Very tender and scrumptious. I would order this again. They should bring back the beef tongue or Lengua. I heard it is a must try. Anyway, we had a great time. It was a great atmosphere and love the vibe on this place. Would definitely come back!

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Lolinda - Inside from waiting area

Inside from waiting area

Lolinda - Ceviche pescado

Ceviche pescado

Lolinda - Cookies and milk

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Cookies and milk

Nalo’s Jamerican Soul - Jerk wings

Nalo’s Jamerican Soul

3.6(58 reviews)
9.6 miNorth Oakland

4496 Broadway Oakland, CA 94611…read more The other day, I got a tip that the spareribs are really good at this restaurant. So I placed a pickup order thru Doordash, and used some credits I had on my account. I ordered for takeout: - Jerk Ribs w/ 3 sides - Sides= Rices & Peas (beans), Coleslaw, Mac 'n Cheese Now, it being Jamaican food, I was expecting something spicy or perhaps exotic flavors/spices. What I got was an order of BBQ spareribs. OMG, those ribs were "fall off the bone" tender. The rice and peas were tasty and moist. The coleslaw and mac 'n cheese were dry. I have ordered BBQ ribs from Everett & Jones, Flints, Famous Daves, and I made my own. These were good BBQ ribs with a mild sauce. Some of the other reviews state that the menu isn't 100% Jamaican food, and they are correct. Maybe it's Jamaican food and American soul food. Then BBQ ribs would be on the menu. If you're looking for Jamaican food, I guess it depends on what you order.

Ok. So I was really enjoying this place. Had been there several times and was always very pleased…read morewith the service and food. I went 2 days ago and there was new staff cooking. The food has suffered. It's still ok, but definitely not at the same level. I'm definitely gonna give this place 1 more try, but if it's the same as my last visit, I'm going to have to find a new spot for my Caribbean food. Will post again after I try it next.

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Nalo’s Jamerican Soul - Drinks

Drinks

Nalo’s Jamerican Soul - Curry goat

Curry goat

Nalo’s Jamerican Soul - Snapper

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Snapper

Chao Pescao - caribbean - Updated May 2026

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