My 1st time eating at El Lucerito and my tastebuds were in heaven! My mouth was in shock of the authentic flavors and mouth watering food! I had the mojarra frita ( Fried fish) white fish that was cooked to perfection, soft inside but flaky crust outside and the red sauce was flavorful but not to spicy. We ordered two other dishes and also completely in shocked how delicious they were! Great location with outdoor setting and no issues finding parking (either street parking or across in store parking lot). Very clean atmosphere and lovely decoration! Respectful staff and friendly. Prices are a bit high, but everything right now is expensive. I'm from this area and surprised I had not found this fabulous restaurant before, it's been around for over 15 years. Definitely will be back to try other platillos!! Yum!! You won't be disappointed as well! read more

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During a Twitter Chat with fellow food and travel bloggers, one of the moderators raved about a Guatemalan restaurant in Marin that piqued my interest.  Nothing fancy in an area of San Rafael I have never been to is this hidden gem dishing out delicious unpretentious dishes.  When I mentioned it to my new Yelp friend San Rafael native Rebecca, she second how good this place is.  Fast forward a few weeks later and on the way back from a day in Sebastapol, we stopped by for some light bites including the Rebecca recommended Garnachas which was delicious.  Carne adobada and the tamarind and soursop agua frescas rounded out our light meal and already thinking about what we want to get next time we're in the area with an empty stomach read more

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Pollo asada was delicious and I was hungry too, also the agua pineapple was refreshing and right on sugar. Recommend it to anyone around the San Rafael area for lunch. read more

La cena tipica is just an amazing meal, delicious and satisfying. Great quality ingredients and the staff is wonderful, very hospitable. The food here is as authentic Guatemalan as it gets! Yum yum yum read more

My expectations for Guatemalan food are high given that my mom is a great cook who for many years sold food both in Guatemala and in Los Ángeles. Her tamales and chuchitos are honestly the best and always sold out. While some of the food at El lucerito is good, longaniza (Guatemalan sausage) and adobo meal (our al pastor version) are pretty good, the Chuchitos were awful. First, they had very little tamal sauce (the same sauce mom uses for paches and trámeles). They also put beef instead of pork meat!!! I was shocked! I had never had a chichi to work beef meat. It truly was not worth it. So order other menu items but stay away from Chuchitos (a very traditional Guatemalan small tamale). read more

The food is so authentic!!! My favorite is the carne asada. The service is always friendly and fast. Family ambiance for sure.

Great Guatemalan restaurant! Totally was not expecting to love it as much as I did. We came as a large group for family dinner on a Saturday night around 6pm. It was not super busy and there was plenty of seating. There is a great selection of aguas frescas. I opted for jamaica which was super good. We had the garnachas to share with the table and they were allllllllmost as good as the ones at Casa Chapina in Guatemala City. Not as fluffy but still the meat was delish. My tia ordered the tostados of every kind. The ones with frijoles were also great. The beans that came with my dinner were very wet and had to be sipped from a cup. I was hoping for refried but the favor was great. We left with some baked goods for our coffee the next day. Everybody was happy and I got my fix for the month of plantains. Would be awesome for another large gathering with our family. Highly recommend. Parking is okay on the street. Do not risk parking in the lot two buildings down; there is a small lot for this restaurant. There was ample street parking when we arrived but not when we left. read more

El Lucerito - Steak, plantains, rice, black beans - Latin American Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Very tasty, a welcome departure from the same old same old Mexican restaurants. The twist is they're not super big about sauces and instead season meats in their own way. Huge portions. read more

Coming from a Guatemalan household. I will say this is by far the best Guatemalan restaurant I've been too. Especially around the bay. At least when I was here the service was good and environment was great. Definitely will come back again with the family. read more

Ordenamos garnachas para llevar y luego nos damos cuenta cuando ivamos a comer q el Curtido no sirve esta descompuesto hasta tiene Lana de descompuesto q esta es un asco Pongan atencion a lo q venden xq nosotros pagamos no es regalado no Sean Cochinos atencion personal q atiende favor de hacer bien su trabajo si las Comida no sirve no la Vendan puede no enfermar a los clientes tierenla read more

El Lucerito - a plastic cup filled with food - Latin American Near Me - San Rafael, California

This is the place to go to if you want good Guatemalan food! The establishment is very clean and well maintained. Staff is friendly, courteous, and very respectful, just how it would be in Guatemala. Waiters say "buen provecho" when food is served so you know it's authentic. You know it's good when you see other Guatemalans eating here ;) Food itself is delicious, the homemade corn tortillas are bomb! Love the friend plantains that come with the carne asada plate, my go to. I used to stop by for the Atol De Elote but recently the recipe must've changed cause it doesn't taste the same. Other than that, this place is a must try! read more

I had the champerico fish with shrimp rice and beans and salad and it was very good. The chuchitos are really big and good. Lucerito plate was very good and they give big portions. Definitely going back to try more of their dishes. read more

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Never order anything from this place I order a plate of Estofado to go and when I get home and open my food it was only two little pieces of meat and the tortillas looks like it was a left over ( cold , old , and one of those tortillas was missing big piece of it ) I am really disappointed .... Like I said never order to go . I called to complain about it and two deferant people sounds like they didn't care. read more

Open until 9am and Yelp say that this business is open at 7:00am for breakfast and I was like an idiot waiting!!!

Was going to hit up taqueria el palmar for a burrito but ended up here for a nice dine in. Didn't expect the food to be so good, but it was delicious and fulfilling. Random yelp restaurant came through! read more

El Lucerito - Camaron plate - Latin American Near Me - San Rafael, California

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What a hidden gem! We had our annual construction company holiday party at El Lucerito's private event room and everything was absolutely perfect! Kevin helped me from pre planning to the event itself and he was so helpful, accommodating and went the extra mile to ensure everything went smoothly. The private event room has its own restroom which is so convenient. I was able to bring my own decorations, they even had a table setup for me to present the employee gifts, the FOOD AND DRINKS WERE DELICIOUS! From freshly squeezed juices to imported beers and authentic Guatemalan cuisine, everything was perfect! The staff were so helpful and truly went above and beyond for us. I just can't believe I didn't know about this family owned establishment sooner. I would highly recommend El Lucerito for any event or gathering as well as just for a delicious dinner out. Thank you guys so much for making our holiday party so special and warm. I felt right at home and so did all our employees. read more

The michelada and jamaica is so good, the carne asada plate is decent, platanos were amazing so is the homemade thick tortilla, a great spot for dinner with friebds and family read more

El Lucerito - Latin American Near Me - San Rafael, California

This restaurant offers authentic Guatemalan food. The food is average and the serving size is decent for the price you pay. The wait is about 10 minutes or less depending on how busy they are. Food: B -Mar Y Tierra ($23.95) is a combination of chicken, steak and shrimp. It also comes with rice, tomato, avocado and two sauces. The steak and shrimp were cooked perfectly but the chicken was a little tough for me. Overall, a bit pricey for what you get. -Carne Asada ($13.95) comes with rice and fried plantain. This is a decent meal for its price. The steak is cooked very well and the fried plantains were really good. -Costillas Asados ($16.95) also comes with rice and tomato. A lil pricey for few cuts of beef ribs. A decent meal but nothing special. Service: A -The hostess got us a table within 10 minutes even though it was busy. -The food also came out fast My last visit was a year ago and their serving size was enormous but now they downgraded and the quality of food is lesser. read more

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You have to start off with the tostada sampler cuz it's just a must :) we ordered the whole fried fish which was full of flavor & the chicken soup which was delicious. At the end we ordered arroz con leche & that alone gets a 5 out of 5. The only reason I knocked it down a star is because this is a Guatemalan restaurant & they don't sell tamales which is a huge staple and I was a bit bummed about, they also don't sell chile rellenos which is a very common dish as well. Aside from that, the service was great & I wouldn't mind stopping by again when I'm in the area. read more

After a year and half since my last sojourn, I was persuaded to try the revamped "El Lucerito" by my friend. And I have to admit that there has been a marked change (for the better) since then. The kitchen seems to have been better ventilated with the dining area being less stuffy than I last remembered it (though it still is, a wee bit). My Camarones Rancheros had a generous portion of plumpy juicy shrimps (probably a 30 count) cooked in a tomatoey sauce with slivered onions and bell peppers. There was a huge serving of herbed rice in the center and a good sized serving of a simple salad with shredded lettuce and slices of tomatoes topped with chunks of lime. It also came with a half-cup of black beans and a smaller side of salsa. Finally, there was a basket of freshly cooked house-made soft and pillowy Guatemalan tortillas. The shrimp was done just right and the accompanying sauce with it's acidity from the tomatoes and the sweetness and heat from the onions and peppers complimented it very well. The Guatemalan herb rice was delicious and had a great texture; I'd take it over Spanish/Mexican rice any day. The black beans appeared similar to, but tasted different from, and better than the usual ones you get at the taquerias. I just wished they served bigger portions of the salsa but in hindsight I'm sure I could have just asked for more. It was fantastic with the fresh hot soft tortillas! I enjoyed tearing out morsels of the warm soft tortillas and dip them in the salsa as I quickly devoured them. I had to stop myself after the second one as I wanted to stop myself from overindulging, which I am prone to do. The portion size and the quality of the dish more than justified the $14.95 price tag. This was from the "dinner menu" and the dishes on the "lunch menu" side were at least a couple of dollars (or more) cheaper. I was told the Carne Asada was delicious, and at $12.95 had a sizeable amount of meat. I'm now pretty sure I'll be visiting more often. read more

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Wonderful place for lunch or dinner. This place is Guatemalan & its authentic. The handmade totillas were filling and delicious. We ordered the Garanachos which were unique and tasty. We also ordered a shrimp dish that came with rice, black beans, & tortillas. The other main was a flank steak that also included rice and beans. As if that were not enough, my mom had to have a side order of Papusas that were amazing! Good call mom. I would get these again if I return. The food was very fresh and well prepared. The waiter spoke about the soups and I would love to come back for a nice big bowl. Portions were large. This place is perfect for families and groups. Garanachos & Papusas were my favorites. Festive and warm atmosphere. The place was clean and well run. read more

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Food has change so much at this place, I was there a couple of years ago and you could truly smell the seasonings of the food back home, but my last visit there a couple of weeks ago it was not the same. I ordered "pepian de pollo" and it didn't taste like it, my friend ordered "tostadas" first of all they were so small!! We also ordered "garnachas" to take home, we could definitely taste the low quality meat flavor that they are using. Besides that prides have gone up way to much! Very disappointed, I wouldn't recommend this place and I will definitely not visiting again. read more

This is my "Go to " restaurant every time I'm in Marin county, delicious food always made with fresh ingredients . The restaurant is always clean and the service is outstanding,after COVID-19 they added a big Parklet in the street to make their outside setting bigger and better .Also the beat Michelada in town . read more

El Lucerito - Mar Y Tierra (plate) with plátanos instead of shrimp - Latin American Near Me - San Rafael, California

Food is not good. The meat is always overly cooked and it tastes and looks cheap!! If you think this is a high quality restaurant, well it isn't, you have not been to a good one. It's pricey and popular for no reason. Some servers are rude just for asking them for cutlery that THEY didn't provide. Don't go here if you don't like wasting your time and money, also they'll add their tip, and still ask for more. read more

They Don't answer the phone don't waste your time waiting Sorry someone recommended this restaurant but if they don't answer the phone I can't recommend Good luck read more

Very nice place. food is amazing rellenitos are the best. Best restaurant in town. Very recommended

That's the first time I was trying Guatemala food is very delicious fresh and very tradicional will be back

If I could give this restaurant 10 stars I would. On DIOSITO. This is my favorite spot when I'm in Marin, not to mention my best friends family owns it and they're always so nice and accommodating. If I was on death row and they asked what I wanted for my last meal, I'd say the carne asada plate with extra crema and platanos on the side. Honorable mention to the Garnachas too. If you're thinking about eating here, que esperas??! The service is like family and they never leave my water empty. Any low reviews on here are fake lmao. #Haterz But seriously, the food is amazing. 10/10 always recommend!! read more

El Lucerito - Carne asada plate yuuMMMMM! *insert pregnant lady emoji and Purple Heart* - Latin American Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I was craving Guatemalan food, so we decided to give El Lucerito a try. They have a good selection of dishes...I of course being a meat eater wanted the super churrasco and my wife the carne adobada...both were good, we also tried the agua de nance, garnachas and rellenitos. We were very pleased with the flavors To top it all off, the prices are decent and the staff was very attentive even when the place was packed. I will definetely stop by again when we visit the neighborhood... read more

El lucerito is a must every time in the mood for real good Guatemalan food. It's definitely worth the drive. read more

El Lucerito - Delicious Garnachas. Finely chopped beef with the toppings and dilled Canché salad. - Latin American Near Me - San Rafael, California

El Lucerito seems to be a hidden gem in San Rafael. Just a few blocks from the buzz of downtown, it's in a nondescript building in the beginnings of an industrial neighborhood. There's mostly street parking and a small lot which may only be accessible after business hours as it's meant for the business next door. Food: Incredible! Not to be missed are the Garnachas - caramelized minced beef sweetened with diced carrot and cauliflower and topped with minced onion, then layered onto a petite tortilla. These little gems are sweet and savory, salty and sharp, and served with a side of curtido, a spicy-sour cabbage slaw. The Estofado - a slow-braised beef, was fork-tender with an accompanying rich and delicious gravy. The Pollo Rostizado (fried chicken) hits the spot when you're after that sort of thing, served with rice and a 'Russian Salad', a mix of carrots, peas, potato in a light mayo dressing. AND, fresh, homemade Guatelmalan tortillas. Service: Attentive. Waters get refilled quickly, the food comes out in good time, and they'll check in on you to see how you're doing. Cost: About $50 after tax for two entrees, 6 Garnachas, two drinks (non-alcoholic). Overall: A must try in San Rafael. Skip the line and wait for Sol Food and have some Garnachas! read more

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So far so good. I thought Guatemalan food was going to be good but it's great. The Tuesday special soup was outstanding. The portions were generous enough that I took leftovers which is a rarity since I eat plenty each sitting. Takeaways here are: good inexpensive and plentiful. read more

El Lucerito - This one is loaded with tons of broth and veggies. Oh and some beef. - Latin American Near Me - San Rafael, California

Thank god I found this spot. I am so impressed with the quality of food, delicious flavors, friendly staff, and cleanliness of restaurant. It is very clear the owner really cares about their product here. We are obsessed with the pupusas, platanos, black beans, and horchata. We can't wait to try more, but it's hard to let go of our other favorites. Took me over 15 years of living here to find this gem!! Better late than never. read more

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My favorite place Garnachas and breakfast can't skip. Number one in Marin Guatemala food

This Restaurant is awesome, the food is delicious, I had Garnachas, Carne Adobada, Tostadas, Chile relleno, authentic Guatemalan Food, so good that I will make trip just to eat there again..(I live in Chino, CA). Aguas Frescas very refreshing, you have to try the Nance or Hibiscus...! Try then all..., Micheladas with Famosa Beer (The Gallo Beer in the USA) my favorite...! The service is Great, every single one of them very attentive..! My suggestion..., please open one in LA Area. Manny D.C. read more

Excellent! We were recommended this hidden gem by a local resident from Guatemala. Never knew it was there. I went with my mother, two sisters and niece. The favorites were the massive fish stew (was not on the menu), tortillas, corn tamales and the fried plantains. We definitely ordered to much food because the quantities were more healthy than we thought. No fear. Our waiter gave us huge 64 oz to go buckets for the soup. The atmosphere is family friendly and fun! If I could guess I would say most of the customers were Guatemalan. read more

El Lucerito - Latin American Near Me - San Rafael, California

Definitely coming here again great food and good prices everytime I walk out of here I'm happy and with a full belly

Delicious Food! Amazing servers! We were attended right away! Very authentic food! Beautiful decor! Clean! I will come back! They have outside seating ! The Garnachas were great! read more

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Great food but overpriced. They charge gratuity for four people EVEN THOUGH the menu says only after 6 people. The service wasn't all that great either so them to charge you gratuity. read more

Good Guatemalan authentic food but way overpriced. It's not really worth it if you ask me. Be careful when paying. They charge tip on the bill with out your consent and also don't tell you they did which is shady. I know some Places due that when you have a big party but they do it to everyone so be careful. read more