My partner had eaten here before and was craving it post trail run…read more We ordered the pork ribs combination plate and the roast pork sandwich. The service was impeccable with helpful workers constantly monitoring and making sure everyone was taken care of. One of the workers was friendly and gave us the run down on recommendations and what was popular. The interior is so colorful too! This place is amazing !! The sandwich hit the spot with the perfect amount of meat and veggies along with the sauce. The pink beans were nice to try and were a nice side to the perfectly salted ribs. The ribs were made so well and had the perfect amount of salt to meat ratio and went well with the rice. The lemon zesty salad was refreshing and the garlic platains really hit the spot. We both enjoyed the meal so much and need to try other items.

Everyone raves about the food here so of course I had to stop by and try it…read more The menu is overwhelming but there was a person at the door who explained that the combinaciones are their most popular items, so I ordered pollo al horno which is baked boneless skinless chicken thighs served with organic salad, white rice, black or pinto beans, and plantain or P.R. fries. The food is good but I don't think I would order this meal again. What I will rave about is their house made hot pepper sauce. It's delicious, mild, sweet and tangy. The seating is family style or community seating where sitting with others at their table is encouraged. Service is fast and the restaurant is usually busy. It's a unique experience and I'm sure I'll go back to try another menu item.

If you're looking for authentic Guatemalan cuisine, this place is a must-visit! The restaurant was…read morevery clean, and the ambiance was warm, welcoming, and comfortable. The wait staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. The food was the highlight, some of the most authentic Guatemalan flavors I've had. Everything was well-seasoned, fresh, and full of traditional flavor. They also offer a nice variety of dishes, making it easy for everyone to find something they'll enjoy. I highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be coming back!

#30 of 31 for 2026!!!…read more Get the garnachos! So good!!!!!! The surf and turf we got was really tasty. I think this was the first time I had Guatemalan food before and I would def come back. Tastes authentic (:

They make your pupusas fresh and over-sized within 10 minutes! I chose cheese, spinach, zucchini,…read moreand pork. Very tender and savory inside. The outside was grilled to perfection--well done... *not* undercooked like some pupuserias. Lively Latin music played at a nice volume where you can talk with your companions. Merengue and more. You give your order and are given a number. You pick your own seat. Signs are bilingual--mostly Latin patrons, which is my usual litmus test that usually means the food has authentic flavor, which I love and look for from ethnic dining experiences. It's very clean and looks freshly painted. I was here just before noon and there was a steady stream of patrons.

La Esperanza Pupuseria and Diner opened 5ish years ago where El Perol Pervuian once was. Inside…read more and outside seating available. Greeted quickly, courteously upon arrival. Ordered, pay at counter. Food came within 15 minutes. Cashier not English prolific. Enough to process my order. Decor of pics, paintings. Guatemalan/El Salvador artifacts & flags. Soft music in background. Offerings (El Salvador): pupusas, breakfast, lunch, soups, entrees, best sellers. Bites: Bistec Encebollado (steaks & onions 20.69) -heated up warm corn tortillas, not freshly made in house. Commercial grade. Ok. Nothing special. -dab of fresh salad of iceberg lettuce, tomatos, cucumbers, lime squeeze. Deliz it was. -fresh fluffy rice helped soak up juices from steaks -beans smooth creamy texture. tasty. -many steak pieces: some chewy, some tender. Mostly large. Grilled tomatos and onions added sublime savoriness. 4.5 stars. Service: great! Quality: pretty good. Corn Tortillas a minor issue. Quantity: reasonable.

Chica y Café is such a little hidden gem! It's a small Colombian and Peruvian restaurant, and the…read morefood is really, really good. Their Colombian tamales, fried empanadas, mojarra frita, patacones and arepas are delicious and taste homemade. The people who work there are so nice and really take care of their customers. There are a couple of tables if you want to eat there, but it's mainly a pickup place. I love finding little places like this. The food is excellent, the people are wonderful, and I definitely recommend trying Chica and Café. You won't be disappoin

This place is exactly what you hope to find when you're on the hunt for a hidden gem. It's…read moreabsolutely delicious--a beautiful collaboration between a Peruvian husband and his Colombian wife. The menu reflects both of their backgrounds, offering a wonderful variety of traditional dishes along with thoughtful fusions from each culture. I started with the Colombian side of the menu because the Colombian half of the team was the one who served me, so I asked her what she recommended. I decided on one of their signature dishes, the bandeja paisa, and it was absolutely delicious--and an enormous amount of food. If you want to leave feeling completely satisfied, or take home enough for a second meal, this dish will certainly deliver. The prices are also excellent for the area. I was especially impressed by the balance of the dish. The pork was prepared in a unique way, and it was fantastic. When the plate first arrived, I was sure I would be taking some home. Instead, I ended up eating every bite right then and there. It was simply too good to stop. I can't wait to return and explore more of the Peruvian side of the menu. There are so many options, and everything looks tempting. To finish, I had a couple of their beautiful soft dulce de leche cookies (I took most of them home as it was just so much food) along with an incredibly strong coffee that kept me buzzing long after the meal. Consider yourself warned: Colombian coffee means business. I also noticed the one-star review claiming that the owners were not hospitable. That was not my experience at all. The owner was the person who served me, and she was doing everything--working the tables while running the entire restaurant. She checked on me at exactly the right moments to make sure I had everything I needed, even though I was the only person at my table and she was clearly busy. It would have been easy for her to overlook me, but she never did--not once, right through the end of my meal. I also watched her interact with the other customers, and she was consistently kind and polite. She is taking English classes and is still building her confidence speaking the language, but she was warm, attentive, and welcoming throughout my visit. Based on what I personally experienced, that one-star review seems completely at odds with reality. Chicha is clearly gaining popularity. While I was there, the restaurant was filled with Colombian and Peruvian diners, and the maracuyá had already sold out for the day. When people from the owners' home countries choose to eat there, I take that as a very good sign. I truly wish we had more places like this. We're lucky to live somewhere that welcomes people from around the world and gives them the opportunity to share their food, culture, and hospitality with the community. I wish we would welcome them more because Chicha is a wonderful example of that--a genuine hidden treasure. My mouth is watering just thinking about the meal, and I'll be back many times before I've worked my way through the entire menu.

Ambiance is awesome (IMO). Food was really good…read more Good service. We arrived at 1:30 on a Saturday. Only 5-6 other people in the restaurant/bar while we were there. Not sure why there weren't more.

I am very sad to write that I called Marintas today to arrange a meal with some friends and they…read morehave discontinued the Peruvian portion of their menu we fell in love with. They still have Lomo Saltado and Peruvian Ceviche which are both very very good but not the wonderful menu I previously reported and reviewed. The Perviuan menu in my photos was, to be fair, a Peruvian independence day special menu. But, losing the Polla ala Brasa really hurts. :( This was literally the best Peruvian food I have ever had in the states that I didn't cook myself or with Mamita (my mother-in-law) or my Peruvian wife. This includes Miami, SF, Marin, and East Bay. I have had their Mexican food as well and it is also delicious and I would recommend. Especially the steak or carnitas tacos. And, the churros are a kid favorite!

My husband and I went here immediately after porchfest and yes, it was crowded and yes, we had to…read morewait (a fairly long time for food, but our table was available immediately). We have been coming here off & on for about 10 years since we moved to Marin and I'm so glad we remembered this place as we were walking back from the porchfest in gerstle park. I had a shredded chicken burrito and took half of it home to my teen son. The flavors were all there and just incredibly tasty and not too salty like a lot of Mexican food can be. It was one of the best burritos I ever had and having lived in the city for 15 years before here we ate a lot of great Mexican food in the mission. My husband had the steak plate and loved it, with refried beans and salad. We had the sangria and I was nervous about it because I don't like very sweet drinks, but it was only mildly sweet and very refreshing after a long day at porch fest. I heard someone saying there was a new chef and that he was a bit overwhelmed by the unexpected crowd of the porchfest, but I must say he sure handled it well as did the entire friendly welcoming team of staff. My husband actually is there right now the next day, eating lunch on the patio and getting in order to go for our son (the same chicken burrito)! If you are craving Mexican food in Central MARIN, I highly recommend this gem - very family, friendly vibe of staff caring and upbeat. Food is delicious and the restaurant is very relaxing and spotless clean.

I used to come here weekly, decades ago, when I worked down the street. I was back in town and came…read moreback for nostalgia. It's the same great quality! This is NOT some typical below par Mexican restaurant where all dishes taste the same, like is common at strip malls across the country. This is fresh and everything is delicious! I would still be here weekly if I lived or worked in the area. Strong recommendation!

CALDO DE RES!! this place has captured my heart with the caldo de res!! It's super flavor and has…read morelovely chunks of veggies and meat that are delightful and delicious! My colleagues have also had the seafood Marisco plate and the pollo chicken plate . I look forward to coming here all the time and I love the music and their customer service is also very warm and welcoming. They have huge TV screens and have soccer usually playing . Highly recommend them and will definitely plan on coming back soon . Love it and will be back !!

I had the garnachas and caldo de res. Because of the glowing reviews of the caldo de res, I came…read morefor that. Cute little Guatemalan flags accompanied the dishes. The garnachas which seemed to be similar to tostadas, were surprisingly soft but not too soggy, so it was great. The caldo de res ticked all the taste boxes. What I had a problem with was the texture of the beef...it was a little tough so I could not finish it. However, everything else about it was simply great. Luckily this restaurant is actually not far! The menu provided was entirely in Spanish, but there are pictures in case you find yourself lost. It was a nice Guatemalan restaurant experience, despite the parking not being the easiest.

This is a small but delightful restaurant in the fast, casual ethnic food category. There's a lot…read moreof Mexican food restaurants out there, which are great, but this restaurant specializes in central American food. If you haven't become familiar with it yet, give it a try! Their pupusa and their tamales are delicious. And you don't have to spend a lot of money to get great tasting food. I only spent $11 for example on my recent lunch there and got two items which filled me up sufficiently. I'll definitely be going back to Cocina Antigua on my rounds through Novato

Homemade tortillas, great flavors/seasoning. I've been looking for good tacos in Marin and there…read moreare only a couple of decent spots - this is definitely at the top for me so far!

I've been meaning to try this place for a while now and finally did today since I had a job close…read moreby. I'm glad I did ! They have jalapeno con queso pupusas I got a bean/cheese, jalapeno/cheese and rebuelta. I'm a foodie and let me tell you I know when someone puts love into their dishes. The pupusas were delicious. The lady that took my order was super sweet and welcoming. She asked me in the middle of my meal if I needed anything else and how everything was. This place got a new customer for sure, I will be back to try other dishes

Popped by after a weekend of camping. Ordered a bunch of different pupusas…read more Excellent: revueltas and chorizo with extra cheese were def the best and most flavorful of the bunch. Top with the cabbage mix and salsa for extra zing! Fried plantains were great too. Good: beef and cheese Skip: jalapeños and spinach, horchata (odd flavor) Good friendly service, big screen showing the World Cup matches.

Took my daughter here on our quest for the best taco in marin. Definitely stood the test, good sign…read morethat we were the only two gringos. We definitely liked the el pastor the best! Juicy, grizzly, tasty!

I don't know if they changed owners , since the food wasn't very good . Until I tried it again…read moreafter 2 years and let me tell you , the burrito especially was goood I give it 5 stars !