One of the best latin-style breakfast burritos - the flavors are cohesive, the mushed black beans melds with the cheesy chorizo and eggy goodness. The ratios were so good- you never feel like you're rationing the chorizo. Ordered online pickup and it was ready by the time I arrived (8 mins)! Parking is sparse, so beware... The value is insane! $10 for a medium-large breakfast burrito. A lot of places will skimp you on chorizo, egg/cheese while being way more expensive - this place doesn't. I'm coming back and bringing friends to try their other stuff for sure. read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Burrito de Desayuno con Chorizo / Breakfast Burrito with Chorizo - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

This little Colombian restaurant is amazing. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Metered street parking is plentiful in this quiet neighborhood, but one can take the Muni metro to get here. The food came out fresh and hot. Also, the server and cashier was friendly and efficient. This restaurant is very casual, but that's all I'm looking for. read more

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A sleeper hit in the hood. I haven't walked through Viz Valley in decades (since attending elementary) so it was nice to see it change for the good. There's now a charming cafe (Mission Blue) and more dining options on Leland. Yea, it's still hood but these are the places where humble mom and pop shops reside. Creative Ideas Cafe is a woman-owned, family-run catering business that started in 2013 and their café in Viz Valley opened in June 2022. They've been on my list to go to so I'm glad I finally had a chance to visit. Open for takeout, delivery, limited indoor dining, and outdoor dining. M E N U Extensive menu of Colombian and Mexican Fare: Breakfast, empanadas, arepas, burritos, quesadillas, rice bowls, sweets, and more. Vegetarian and vegan friendly. For drinks, they have soda, agua fresca, hot tea, and coffee (Proyecto Diaz). They run their catering business in the same location and are on TooGoodToGo (discounted surplus food). F O O D * Breakfast Arepa w/ bacon, eggs, cheese ($10) Freshly made, griddled corn cake generously filled with soft eggs, crispy bacon, and savory cheese. The arepa texture was on point, crispy on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside. * Rellena "Chicharrón" Arepa w/ guac, fried plantains ($15): https://tinyurl.com/3wn9bbhf The arepa was overflowing with crispy, tender pork belly. The sweetness of the plantains and creamy tang of the guac nicely contrasted the savory pork belly. * Bandeja Paisa: Columbian chorizo, chicharrón, carne en polvo, egg, plantain, avocado, mini cheese arepa, red beans, rice ($23): https://tinyurl.com/yjurnsjh A quintessential, hearty Colombian dish with a little bit of everything - garlicky chorizo, ground beef (carne en polvo), oozy egg, creamy beans, fluffy rice, and crispy cheesy mini arepa. The chicharrón was a bit hard on the teeth tho but otherwise this platter was delicious. Make sure to try their array of sauces and condiments. My favs were the salsa rosada, a ketchup+mayo based sauce and pickled jalapeños. S E R V I C E Warm, welcoming staff. The son (?) of the owner was friendly and attentive despite being fast casual. Even offered water for TT. We were the only customers at the time and food took about 20-25 minutes. If you're in a rush, call in your order. A M B I A N C E Low-key with a large kitchen. Several café tables inside and handful of tables on the sidewalk. P A R K I N G Very easy metered parking. Overall, if you find yourself driving through 101, take a detour through Viz Valley and give this family-run business a try! Get the arepas!!! read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Bandeja Paisa: Columbian chorizo, chicharrón, carne en polvo, egg, plantain, avocado, mini cheese arepa, red beans, rice ($23) - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Colombian|Mexican Eats [San Francisco CA] I thought the name was a little odd for a restaurant and at first we couldn't find the name of the establishment while looking for it until we parked across the street and it was written on the top part of the awning. They are actually a full-service catering business serving Colombian Mexican dishes. They have a small outdoor patio seating under the awning and a couple of small tables inside the cozy interior. Came and picked up an order today -- grilled chicken with rice and black beans. Tortillas were wrapped in foil. Plentiful serving, definitely shareable. The meat was flavorful with the two types of salsa sauces they included with the order. Friendly customer service. No complaints. This was a takeout order. Review #3742 read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - 03.29.25 storefront - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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They were out of the pozole so they recommended (and I'm so glad they did) the Ajiaco instead. It was so hearty and reminded me of home. Service was friendly, with a couple of check ins to make sure we were doing ok. I asked for my soup to be heated up some more and it was promptly accommodated with no hesitation. The other food was the corn arepa, plantain chicharone and fresh avocado. Everything we tried was fresh and delicious. The ambiance is vibrant and lively. Felt cheered up after what had been a crappy morning. So glad I came here and can't wait to come back. :) read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Lunch for 2! - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The first thing you notice is how good the place smells! Your mouth starts watering before you reach the door. Second, is how friendly the staff is. The food selection is phenominal but the flavors are even better. It's a neighborhood jewel that really shines. I'm already planning my next visit. read more

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I went with my friends for lunch, and everything was absolutely delicious -- even the coffee! The star of the day was the chicharrón. It was super crunchy, with just the right balance of meat and fat, and packed with flavor. The service was quick, and our server was incredibly friendly. You'll truly find a little corner of Colombia in SF at this wonderful restaurant. We'll definitely be back! read more

This meal was delightful! The service was friendly, helpful (we needed suggestions), and attentive. We ordered the breakfast plate and the breakfast arepa with chorizo. Our food was out quickly - thankfully, as we were oh-so-hungry. And the food? Oh my gahhhhd. The food was flavorful and filling. We were especially fond of the breakfast arepa. *drool* read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is WONDERFUL!! Everything I've ordered has been delicious!!! My new go to spot while I'm here, as I've been ordering here for once a week for tue past three weeks through to good to go!! Also, the people working here are friendly. All around A++++ and I've tried many foods I wouldn't have otherwise tried!! The empanadas, pozole, and the chicken quesadillas have been so good!! I will be back next week and the week after (my stomach is a happy cam read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Empanadas with black beans and rice (the empanadas were different flavors but all very good). - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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As a Colombian, I'm so thankful for this place. They have delicious beef empanadas, arepas, and buñeulos. They serve fantastic coffee here too. I prefer the pour overs, but the cafe de la olla is also yummy. My husband is a vegan and he has multiple options to choose from including veggie empanadas, and Mexican or Colombian platters. They have delicious sauces - a green, cilantro salsa, a tangy French-style mayo, and the traditional Colombian aji sauce for the empanadas. I wish I lived closer, but it's worth the drive. read more

Great service, food was delicious :) Open late on Wednesdays. Order a grilled shrimp latin bowl and it did not disappoint. I aim to have colorful and vibrant colors on my dish and the bowl was every bit of tasty and sweet (plantains)... super grateful that this place exists in my neighborhood. Also ordered the mushroom and spinach empanada and yum Will return and support them when I have enough money to spend :) read more

We were surprised to come upon this lively spot! It was a Friday in November, they were open late (til 9pm) on the night of the Visitacion Valley Light Festival, and there were tons of people hanging out and eating outside of Creative Ideas. Our friends live in the neighborhood and had already recommended this place, and we just had to go. Plus, I've been looking for an arepa spot on this side of the city! * Pulled Pork Arepa - 5 stars Tasty meat, crisp yet soft arepa, this really hit the spot! * Fish Tacos - 4 stars Confusingly, the menu says "fish tacos, $12 for 2", but when my partner said "I'd like the fish taco", he was given (and charged for) just one. When my friends ordered, they specifically asked, do you want 1 or 2? But they didn't ask us that for some reason. Anyway, the sauce and flavors were great! These are not battered/fried FYI, I found the fish slightly overcooked, but overall tasty. read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - 2023-11-10 Pulled Pork Arepa - 5 stars. Tasty meat, crisp yet soft arepa, this really hit the spot! - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious food from a cute hole in the wall. Had restaurant week special, empanadas were really good. Had the burritos with carne asada was delicious. Salsa delicious too. The bandeja paisa was recommended but was only ok, would not get it again. Friendly staff but may been a wait food is made fresh. read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Restaurant week menu. - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The guy that works here is sooo fioneeee And the food is good too Has outdoor seating for fur babies read more

Creative Ideas is my go-to! My favorite item is the Latin Bowl--I usually get chicken or salmon, both are such a hit. From Arepas and other traditional cuisine to tasty sweet treats, Creative Ideas is a must try. The staff are friendly and they offering delicious catering too! read more

My friend and I found this place on our trek thr the Crosstown Trai. We sat outside at the nice tables to enjoy our Latin breakfast. There we got to view the pretty tile works and the big wall mural across the street. What a great neighborhood. Arepa - corn cake stuffed with cheese, eggs, tomato, and onion. Cafe de Olla was good tasting coffee, not bitter, not sour. read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Arepa - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Struggled with this review. On the one hand, I think it's a great lunch addition to the area. The food is solid, and prices are palatable. On the other hand, they seem a bit disorganized. I inquired about catering with them, I didn't hear back in a timely manner, and the week before my event they call and ask if I'm still interested. Seriously?! Haven't been back since due to that poor experience. Previously was a regular here for lunch. read more

Incredible food! Great service! Very quick and a lot of options! If your thinking of going go! read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Arroz con pollo & Empanadas De Carne/ Beef Empanadas - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Breakfast arepa was authentic and delicious. There are so many vegetarian and vegan options. The staff are friendly, also. There are a few tables inside and a table outside if you prefer to eat outside. There is music and they also have some cute columbian and mexican items for sale on the side. read more

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Super yummy. Got food to go and it was delicious. There were lots of vegetables and everything was super fresh and not too heavy. I was also stupidly happy that everything was packed with care (it's depressing when the food is thrown into to go boxes and is all messed up before you even dig in!) Cheap friends the prices are reasonable. You could maybe find cheaper in this city filled with Latin restaurants, but not of this quality for this price. Check it out! read more

Love it for the empanadas, arepas and the red and green sauces. Truth be told, the mushroom + spinach empanada is incredible! A little unassuming spot in the Viz. I'd never have found/tried it if my colleague-homie hadn't brought me. read more

Food - 4.5 stars Had the chicken bowl that came with cilantro rice, black beans, well-seasoned chicken, and 3 tortillas. I enjoyed the roasted (red) salsa with these items. Good taste and value! Service - 5 stars Staff was very friendly and courteous. Ambiance - 4.5 stars This is a small restaurant in a not-so busy neighborhood. While I was waiting for my food, I saw many people leisurely wait for their food and eat at the tables outside. I love the chill and friendly neighborhood vibe here. read more

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It was first time I had Colombian food I was very impressed i like how they bring all the food together service was amazing. I like how they got outdoor seating so that was not too bad overall I enjoyed their food cuz it tastes so well snd very feelings. read more

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We did an Earth Day project at Coffman pool at Sunnydale and visitation in San Francisco! Afterwards we had made arrangements to walk down to the creative ideas Café! Turned out to be a great choice! kudos to my colleague. VIrginia had a great variety of what I believe were Columbian breakfast and lunches. The food was absolutely delicious and I would highly recommend this restaurant creative ideas café. They have a nice selection of drinks. Somewhat limited, but we sat outside and it was very pleasant and service was fast! read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Best Breakfast - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was delicious, the perfect fat to salt and sweet ratio, The beans and rice was perfectly cooked, not your average dish, the avocado ties everything, not to mention the cruch from the Chicarron perfection in every bite. The service is friendly and welcoming, it's on a quiet side of town, comfortable seating. This place is a SF must. 5+ Stars I will return read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

A taste of Colombia right here in SF. The Bandeja Pasisa is not to be missed if you want a nice desayuno auténtico colombiano in the city. Empanadas and arepas are on point and the pandebonos are so soft and delicious. It's just a great time and the owners are super friendly and thoughtful. Honestly, it might be my favorite brunch here, I try to go whenever I can find the time. read more

I try a great many of the area ToGoodTooGo merchants, and I grant them as a rule a generous rating & review scale, but there are times the merchants falter greatly. In the case of Creative Ideas Cafe that has a focus on Colombian Cuisine the merchant had both a positive Yelp and ToGoodTooGo Rating. Sadly the food was Vile & Disgusting with the very smell making me nauseous. The Meat, Starch & Vegetables we're all swimming in a rank cold liquid, and though the merchant had advised to heat the dish my fear was that the consumption would make me deathly I'll. It's also important to note that the food in question was all cooked on an earlier day. I was provided with Kitchen Nightmares Quality Food. The order was placed on August 29th, and I am still awaiting a reply in regards to my request for a Refund. Given it's been a week with no answer I'm posting this review to warn off others. As for the shop it's in a nice little merchant area, and I was able to find parking on a parallel street. I'd avoid this merchant if your thinking of ordering via ToGoodTooGo. read more

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The empanadas are good but I really liked the shrimp arepas. The shrimp was so juicy and tasty! I'd love to go back and try other items here. The staff is friendly and they also do catering. The restaurant is cute and has a bit of outdoor dining space. read more

Delicious food, dank vegan options, the service is amazing the people are so sweet, and the vibe is very chill and warm.

Super good food. I had the carnitas arepa and the cafe de olla. Good service. Cute seating outside. I'll be back!

We ordered the steak lunch burrito (super) and one chicharron arepa. It took a while to come out (assuming it was the arepa that was being freshly made) so I recommend only getting a burrito if you're in a hurry. The burrito was okay but definitely needed assistance from the salsas. I think what really knocked off a star for me was the price of the arepa. One arepa costed more than the super burrito. One arepa plus burrito came out to be $37 after tax and a $4 tip. The arepa was okay, but the chicharron wasn't that crispy. Overall, I don't know if I'd come back here but if I did, it'd just be for the burritos. read more

Amazing , delicious food. Great gluten free options. I always get empanadas for my kids

This is our go-to place for Colombian food. I had the fortunate of a friend taking me on Wednesday, then I went with my spouse on Friday. I knew when I had the empanadas that this place was solid. The crust and meat were perfect, then each sauce given was just so good you couldn't have one, you had to cycle for each bite. The coffee was really good too. Then I had the rice bowl with steak. Delicious. The plantains were delicious and perfectly cooked. The meat was tender, full of flavor. I've been to other Colombian joints which are few in the Bay and each is good, but this is the best easily. The staff is really sweet and eager to share what they have going on. They are prompt and kind. The place itself is small, but works out for this cafe, the outdoor seating has been especially nice with this weather. They've got a lot of cute things outside of food too, stickers and cups. We also got buñuelos to go and damn, like these folks just do not miss. Perfect texture, airiness, perfect all the way through. It's impressive how every dish we had was just solid, I love having a menu to explore rather than just a single safe item to get. read more

As a Colombian, this is a great place to enjoy our cuisine. It is really close to home, with great flavor, killer empanadas, and arepas, and it is a charming little place. We will come back as many times as possible. Highly recommended. read more

Love this place! Love the Latin bowl - so fresh and healthy too. My partner had a bacon cheeseburger and fries. Both outstanding (he was surprised to get such an excellent burger at a Columbian restaurant). Look forward to next time! read more

I can't begin to describe how amazing these people are! Their service is top tier!! They are a small family business that create great quality food. The ambiance is amazing with their mural and music. Must visit. Very clean and a great place for a quick meal or hangout spot with family or friends. read more

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In my sister's neighborhood she suggested we check this place out before my drive home. I love that we we're literally around the corner and got in a leisurely neighborhood walk. She had shown me the menu the night before snc I was excited to explore this cafe. They take a while to make the food she warned me. I got excited to know they had Arepas my longtime favorite. The menu was pretty extensive and the restaurant staff that greeted us was very helpful in explaining the various dishes. I loved the mural and overall vibe of the cafe, it was small but given the outdoor seating made for more space, I went with a cafe de olla, chicken arepa and few dessert items- dulce de leche cheesecake, cheese bread and guava cookie. As I'm writing this I'm thinking about the hot and mouthwatering arepa. I loved the salsa music adding ti through flair and that they have daily specials, I already told my sister I'm thinking about the next time I go down and getting the same food, the downside is that it was a good 40 minute wait from when we ordered the food to bring handed it so we talked about calling it in next time. read more

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This is one of my favorite dishes. I'm Brazilian and I call this the X-Tudo fries because it tastes just like a Brazilian burger. I've got it 4 times now and every time they don't hold back on the servings. They give your your moneys worth. My only complaint is I don't know anywhere else to get it lol. Not sure about anything else on the menu, but that mazorcada is 10/10 so they get 5 stars read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Mazorcada - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of my favorite things on the planet is a breakfast burrito with chorizo. This spot does not disappoint. It comes with scrambled eggs, cheese, potatoes, black beans and your choice of bacon, sausage, or chorizo. I got the black beans on the side and my toddler loved them! The burrito was the perfect size (just satisfying enough where you don't have to make yourself sick by finishing the last few bites but kept me full ALL DAY) and only $9, which is a steal these days...especially in SF. The staff is always super friendly too! They have these really cute stainless steal containers they serve their food in which was a nice touch. We will be back! read more

Kel and I live and work in Visitacion Valley, our Main Street is a San Francisco treasure. Beauty is all around, a world-class library, small shops, and the new T Line connecting us to Chinatown and NorthBeach. We can now boast of world-class Columbian and Mexican food. After too many delicious too empanadas and arepas, we have recently opted for a new favorite - chicken salad. The menu rotates, and catering is also available. Whether you are on the crosstown trail, visiting Candlestick or McLaren Park, or just stopping by the Viz Valley, include Creative Ideas as part of your visit. read more

Creative Ideas Cafe - Chicken Salad - Colombian Near Me - San Francisco, California