We decided to come here on a Friday evening, and the vibe was great from start to finish. The décor was beautiful and full of interesting details, making it fun to take everything in while deciding what to order. We started with two cocktails: the Mango Tango and the Copa Copa Havana. We weren't huge fans of either at first, nit after a couple sips they definitely did the trick. For our meal, we ordered the ropa vieja, lechón Cubano, pan de bono, and yuca frita. Every single dish was a 10/10. Everything was incredibly flavorful, perfectly prepared, and the portions were generous, so don't be surprised if you leave with a to-go box. I can't wait to come back. From the unique décor and delicious food to the warm, attentive service from the waitresses, this place delivered all around. Definitely 10s across the board! read more

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My first time here in the former home of Millenium. I liked that it was easy to park and get in here at night, which is surely is less so during the day at the Civic Center. The steak sandwich had maybe the best first bite of any I have ever had. The beef was crispy at the edges and also flavored with sauce. The middle was decent too, but the edges were sublime. They have three beers on tap. I know I like the two light ones and I took the Firestone Hazy IPA, which made me rethink that I didn't like IPAs. The salads my companions had were huge. read more

If I could give it more stars I would!! Visited in a Wednesday' around 5pm, Staff were friendly, didn't go above and beyond, but also not bad. Service was as expected. Food was delicious! Appetizers Empanadas we were really good, the sauce that came with it was awesome Maduros cooked perfectly with a great seasoning Dinner Lechon - so much flavor Dessert Rice pudding, yummy I will be back for sure!! read more

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Great happy hour. Food and service was very quick and friendly. The happy hour food was pretty small considering the price hence only 4/5 stars. But would definitely go again! read more

What a lovely spot for latin american cuisine! Made a dinner reservation here on Friday evening, before attending a musical at the Orpheum Theatre just around the corner. My friend and I were greeted with prompt and cordial service at arrival. Found parking diectly in front of the entrance too (meter is free after 6pm). The quirky decor inside the restaurant added character to the place, with each wall panel in the main dining room showcasing a unique theme of 3D artwork, like instruments, phones, and mirrors. There was also high top seating available near the bar, toward the front of the eatery. We ordered quite a few items from the menu and ended up with leftovers. The classic mojito and mango tango cocktail, the latter which came in a cute tiki glass, were both refreshing and delicious. For food, we had the arepa rellena de bistec without habanero salsa, which was stuffed with flavorful skirt steak, a bit chewy but tasty nonetheless. Got it with regular fries on the side which were surprisingly really good and quite addicting. Added an arepa with cheese and this was so buttery and cheesy. Loved it! The cubano was served with thick pieces of ham and pork, and the dijon sauce came on the side. As recommended by staff, we opted for yucca fries to go with this dish, which were thick and dense, not bad, but we liked the regular fries better. The soup special, ajiaco, was a unique concoction of chicken, corn, potatoes, and veggies, topped off with crema. It was enjoyable as well. All in all, we had a positive experience. And Chao Pescao is a convenient option for grabbing a meal if catching a show at the Orpheum nearby. After dinner, we continued our awesome evening with a tale as old as time. read more

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Restaurant Week 2026 This is what my coworker and I chose to explore Restaurant Week....so here we are. I had the beef empanada, pork salad (Havana salad), and rice pudding. Wow, the most underwhelming tasteless (as in no flavor) empanada and salsa I've ever had. My coworker said the same thing about her empanada. This was supposed to be shredded flask steak and it was like some tasteless thing I would expect from a tin can from camping minus the views and fresh air. The salad was actually decent. Notice I said salad and NOT the shredded pork on top of it. What is with the meat here? Don't get me started on the rice pudding dessert that looks like oatmeal that you'd get at a prison somewhere. Both of us disliked it. It tasted like mushy cinnamon with raisins. HARD skip on this. The normal price for their rice pudding dessert is $12 which is laughable. You'd have to pay me $12 to eat this, and I still wouldn't do it! Cubano sandwich that my coworker had was a "meh and oh" of surprise. She said it was basically unevenly seasoned where the bites of pork that were seasoned were good, but the bites that didn't had no flavor. See a pattern here? No flavor. She liked the bread and shoestring fries though. The lemonade and Arnold palmer that we both had were very tart and not worth the $8. Service was one waiter who didn't refill out water, and who was running from table to table. It started of empty but then he had like 5 tables to attend to, which included ours. For the price, quality, and taste of the food it's a hard NO for me. I couldn't imagine paying regular price for this. I felt robbed paying the restaurant week prices let alone regular prices LOL read more

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I came here for a work lunch and it was decent overall with a festive vibe, but the service was a littl euneven that day. I normally cut a lot of slack when a restaurant is serving a group, but it seemed like there were problems with the kitchen. That said, the server/manager-type guy was very warm and welcoming; he checked in a few times apologizing for the delays. We received our food a bit more than 45 minutes later, so had to rush through the eating part. I got the Tajin Fried Chicken which was nicely cooked. The plantains were excellent and everything was very fresh. It was good chicken, but honestly I didn't notice Tajin in the chicken or the sauce. I almost wondered if they forgot it? The fried brussels sprouts were awesome though and I'd definitely get it again. In conclusion, I think they just had an off day, but it has all the right pieces to be a good restaurant. read more

Chao Pescao - Fried brussels sprouts were great! - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Service was little spotty, seemed well staffed but had to keep catching different servers to get to go boxes. It was lively for happy hour. Brussels were nice and crispy and the zero proof colada was delicious! Others were mediocre. Good choice for a bite before the symphony or a show at bill graham read more

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MAR2026 3.5 I'd say. We came in for a work lunch. Service was very friendly and accommodating for us and the group though it was hit and miss. Water refills were infrequent. Compatriot had gotten the ceviche and the empanadas gordo. I had ordered the tajin fried chicken. The empanadas were cooked well, had a nice crispness to the exterior. The ceviche while tasting fresh as far as the ingredients and being lime forward, it needed salt to really bring the flavors together. The tajin fried chicken was prepared well. I liked the fried plantains along with it for change of pace. It was a hearty meal, and the chicken was fried well. I liked how crunchy it stayed even after the meal. The sauce didn't really hit the mark though, was expecting more punch and citrus tho it had a decent kick. Having salt on the table as an option could've saved some things I think over the course of the meal. Just some missteps tho it seemed others had liked their meals. Would try other things and see. read more

Second time visiting and love love love Chao Pescao! Cute decor, love the bar, and great staff. The food is excellent and the fried items are some of the best I've ever had (great crisp with great salt). Love the selection of food and drinks. I could spend all day here having the Coco Locos. Very allergy friendly as well. Clean bathrooms. Large space. Love the Latin music playing and the best tostones I've ever had!! Can't wait to come back. Really close to a few iconic Bay Area venues too. read more

Cute restaurant. Great Happy Hour. Plenty of choices for drinks. We shared the empanadas. Tried steak, chicken, pork and veggie. All were good, chicken was my fave. Service was slow even though there was sufficient staff. read more

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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. read more

Chao Pescao - Steak Sandwich - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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. read more

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Ate here before watching a show at Orpheum Theater nearby. Place has a cool Latin-Caribbean vibe and lively atmosphere. Capacity was almost full but the staff was always attentive. The food was very good even though I only had appetizers. Will come back again for the full meal experience. read more

Chao Pescao - Empanadas (3) - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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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! read more

Chao Pescao - Delicious Caesar salad! - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great San Francisco lunch or happy hour spot! Close to City Hall and the Main Library. The food is amazing and the servers are so helpful. A ton of great tequilas. Give them a chance and you'll be glad that you did! read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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Food was delicious, the service exceptional and the place looks really nice. Great place to have drinks or dinner around Civic Center

Came here before catching a show at the Orpheum Theatre and I'm so glad I did! Getting There: I took BART and got off at Civic Center/UN Plaza. The restaurant is only about a 5-minute walk from the station, and I felt comfortable walking through the area. Arrival & Atmosphere: I originally planned to make a reservation, but since I wasn't sure what time I'd arrive and Yelp required a deposit, I decided to walk in instead. I was initially offered a spot at the communal table, but they cleared a regular table almost immediately. The hostess was super friendly and accommodating, and I waited less than 5 minutes to be seated. The decor is bright, colorful, and fun, with loud Spanish music playing in the background. The whole place had such a lively vibe! Most people were dressed up, which made sense since many seemed to be heading to the theatre too. Our server was very attentive despite being busy, and the food came out quickly. What We Ordered (from favorite to good): Empanadas -- MUST GET!These were my favorite! Perfectly crispy, flavorful, and honestly worth coming back for on their own. I got 3, which was the perfect portion for me. Cubano SandwichGenerous portions of juicy, flavorful meat. The sandwich was huge and came with fries that were perfectly crispy. If you like spicy food, definitely ask for some hot sauce! HamburguesaA solid burger, but nothing particularly memorable. The fries were AMAZING, though! Ropa ViejaGood flavor and a generous portion, but it was a little on the dry side. Mexican CokeCame in a 500ml glass bottle, which was much bigger than I expected. Very refreshing! WaterThey provided a glass pitcher so we could refill our own glasses, which was super convenient. Overall, I had a great experience here. The food, atmosphere, and friendly service made this a great spot to visit before a show. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the area! read more

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! read more

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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. read more

Chao Pescao - Yuca Fries - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The good: great rice and black beans. Server was sweet The bad: server seemed to be the only wait staff for the whole restaurant Shrimp was a bit over cooked and the noise level was high. Not planning on returning. read more

so delish!! didn't eat much however; one of my co-workers gave me a bite or two of her lunch which was from here (specifically the pan de Bono) and it was amazing :) although I didn't eat a full meal I can tell you just from those 2 bites I could tell that the food there is amazing read more

The cocktails are pretty good and interesting but the food is just OK. The place is quite loud and the service was pretty slow with some drinks apparently forgotten, despite not being full. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Chao Pescao - Cubano Sandwich - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've enjoyed several items on the menu, the lechon, love the steak sandwich, hard to go wrong here, but come on, it's the Tajin Fried Chicken. No contest. Bring your appetite for this one. It's worth it. And bring a little patience as they make this one fresh. Only way to go. Also, love their Habañero sauce. Ask for a little extra if you want to kick it up a notch. (Don't worry, it's on the side). Fabulous service, light and airy space, always a great lunch spot. You forget where you are sometimes. read more

Came for a team lunch - 10 of us. The place was empty! Ordered a salad with jack fruit as my add on. What a surprise to find a restaurant offering jack fruit! It was delicious! Others enjoyed their food and there were no complaints. Service was prompt and got all of our orders right. It's a nice spot and I would return. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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I don't know if I've ever had Caribbean food before, so when I was invited to try out Chao Pescao, I was down to go. Really good food, along with bright, welcoming decor. I really enjoy the unique wall decors with mirrors, and unexpected items such as phones and instruments. The empanadas are solid! Definitely recommend that as an appetizer. The papusas are also very good. Nice spot right in the Civic Center area, super-close walking distance from Civic Center Bart and City Hall. read more

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I'll keep it short and simple. I've been here many times and have never been disappointed with the food! The tostones are my go to app and it's a must to order for the table. I would add some photos of the food, but I always eat it all before I remember to take pics! Alfajores for dessert. read more

Fantastic place for a pre-theater dinner. Yuca fries were great, love the sauce and the flavored oil that comes with it. The portions are good sized. The Lechon Cubano was flavorful, meat was tender. The Arepa de Cemita was also wonderful. The Dos Mariposas cocktail was tasty, with edible butterfly-shaped decorations. The Arroz con Dulce de Leche was fantastic, cinnamon forward. Charming atmosphere. Good service too. read more

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Bright colors and fresh flavors sing, but slow service and food consistency leave some things to be desired. Positives: plantain chips are a MUST. Delicious tomatillo-based dipping sauce pairs perfectly with the crispy Caribbean fried fruit. Vibe in the restaurant is warm and inviting, and our server was fun and flirtatious (without crossing any lines). Negatives: food didn't arrive until an hour after reservation began. They ran out of bistec (marinated ribeye) but didn't inform us until 30 minutes after we submitted our order -- these things happen, but it was frustrating to re-order so long after we initially spoke with the waiter. What to order?: Pass on the arepa (disappointingly dry). Instead, order the GORGEOUS fried chicken sandwich ("Cemita Poblana") -- the sandwich was larger than my outstretched hand and included a mountain of fries. We almost could have shared one between two people -- generous portioning in this dish was awesome, though it was missing in the arepa and empanada dishes. We'll come back again for the great flavors, but not on a night with a timely event after dinner -- we were late for our post-dinner evening concert despite arriving nearly two hours before the event (which was two blocks away). read more

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The infatuation brought us here and we were not disappointed! Super cute restaurant and the food was delicious. Not pictured are the x2 Dos Mariposas cocktails I ordered!! read more

Chao Pescao - Tajín Fried Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came by with a reservation on a Saturday night. They get pretty busy but we were able to flag down our waiter throughout dinner if needed. Everything we ordered was tasty--the ropa vieja, pan con carne, chicken empanadas, and alfajores. Unfortunately they were out of the sweet plantains, maduros, which the waiter notified me of after I already received my plate of food which was missing the plantains ordered. Despite the miscommunication, the experience was nice. read more

Chao Pescao - Alfajores - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of the tastiest hamburgers I've ever had! The meat was so flavorful and juicy, and the bun was nicely toasted. Service was friendly. Vibes were fun - there's a bar where I think a company was having a happy hour when we went. We easily got a table for two on a Wednesday evening around 7pm. read more

Chao Pescao - Hamburguesa - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We went here before seeing a musical at the Orpheum. From the outside it is very unassuming but once you open the doors the music and decor are so lively and vibrant. We were warmly welcomed. Important note, happy hour is bar seating only. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable, he answered all of our questions and did an excellent job of checking in without being overly helpful. Now for the food, we started with Empanada de Cerdo which was pork filled and it was very tasty. The pastry was a little stiff for my taste. I would try it again to see if it was the same or better. For our entrees I ordered the Lechon Cubano, the slow roasted pork was heaven. It simply melted in my mouth. The black beans were a perfect compliment and I didn't even need the crispy plantains. This was delicious. My husband ordered the Bistec de Palomilla and his steak was cooked perfectly, the grilled onions were delicious and the beans were the perfect complement to the meal. For dessert there was no question we would be ordering the Alfajores and let me say I still have dreams of these heavenly cookies. The shortbread was perfect and while I wondered how the coconut would work, it elevated a cookie that was already pretty perfect. This restaurant is a gem and we will definitely visit again. If you are looking for a different cuisine to try, definitely go ahead and pull up a seat. Your tastebuds will thank you. read more

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