Excellent ceviche selection, nice presentation, laid-back vibe, friendly staff. The menu also includes traditional, Mexican food, and a nice brunch menu.. read more

Franco's Latin Table - Ceviche Mixto and Classico - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Looking back on it now, it's kind of funny how I was somewhat hesitant to try Franco's Latin Table the first time my buddy suggested meeting up here. However, in my defense, he only referred to this place as "that Peruvian joint in West Portal" and I was still under the impression this was still Fresca's, which I had been underwhelmed by. However, once I realized they weren't one in the same, I definitely felt a bit more excited, especially given his strong recommendation. Although, it should be said that Franco's actually isn't all that different, though, it's definitely better! Inside, a lot about this place looks the same as when it was Fresca's - both good and bad. While the restaurant's decor and feel is still just as relaxed and cozy, it's also rather dated and worn, as evidenced by the strips of tape holding the booth cushions together. As for the menu, it's pretty similar as well, though, not as exclusively Peruvian, which isn't a bad thing. While the bulk of it is still made up of classic Peruvian dishes, like ceviches, empanadas, lomo saltado, and causas, it also has items like tostadas, pupusas, and birria tacos that originate from other Latin cuisines. Regardless of where they're from, though, there's no shortage of enticing options to choose from! -- EMPANADAS DE VEGETALES - Portobello Mushrooms, Chocio, Quinoa, Onions, and Bell Peppers Stewed in Aji Amarillo Cream Sauce...$12 I only tried a bit of this one, but it was really good. The empanada was golden brown and not at all doughy while the filling was so flavorful. I really like how there was a fair amount of mushrooms in it and the rest of the veggies weren't overcooked/mealy. -- YUCA FRITA with Aji Verde...$8 Funny enough, eating this reminded me that I should really get this more often! The batter was thin yet crispy and I liked how they tasted slightly earthy (in a good way). Plus, despite being a bit dense, they also had a nice sort of creaminess. -- BIRRIA TACOS - Slowly Stewed Beef with Dried Chiles and Spices, Melted Cheese, Cilantro, and a side of Consomme...$22 Not that I expected it to be bad, but it was a lot tastier than I thought it was going to be. Each taco was crispy, loaded with with tender chunks of beef, and had so much gooey cheese in them. Plus, while it wasn't even needed, the consomme was rich, tangy, and smoky - so good! -- TOTOPOS CON CHILE - Homemade Tortilla Chips Tossed in a Chile de Arbol Salsa Topped With Cojita Cheese, Crema, and Lime...$9 This essentially felt like eating the chips and salsa in a chilaquiles, but better. The chile de arbol salsa was super flavorful and I loved how crunchy the chips were, even towards the bottom. I just wish this had a bit more crema and cojita cheese in it. -- CHICHARON DE POLLO - Crispy Fried Chicken, Aji Amarillo, Salsa Criolla, and Five Spice Mayo...$12 I was cautiously optimistic for this dish, but, thankfully, it turned out great! The batter on the chicken wasn't too heavy and the meat itself was moist (not juicy, but moist). Plus, I lreally liked the pickled onions and the mayo dipping sauce, too. -- PESCADO & PAPAS - "Fish & Chips" Hand dipped in "Cuzquena" Beer Batter, Coleslaw, Handcut French Fries, and Huacatay Tartar Sauce...$24 I've had this twice and while it was great the first time, it was closer to "okay" the second. Both times, the fries were fine (a bit potato-y) and the fish itself was good, but this last time, while the batter was crispy on the outside, it was rather wet and soggy on the inside. -- ARROZ CON MARISCOS - Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, Calamari, Scallops, and Fish with Aji Panca Rice, Cilantro, Green Peas, Peppers, and Salsa Criolla...$32 They may not have paella like how Fresca did, but no matter - this is actually better. The rice was really soft and I love how it soaked up all of the seafood flavors in the dish. The chunks of salmon, mussels, and scallops were probably my favorites, but all of the seafood was fresh. Beyond the food, the service here has been mostly fine, other than one minor hiccup. Every time, the workers have all been friendly and I appreciate how they have been more than happy to answer any of the questions we've had. However, there was one time where one of the servers tried to take away our Totopos Con Chile even though we still had a few pieces left of it. Also, there was a stretch during our meal where it felt like we had been forgotten about, but, to be fair, I imagine it was more due to them trying to sort out what the large party next to us had ordered than anything else. Even though my more recent experience with their Pescado & Papas may not have gone nearly as well as the first, it doesn't change the fact that the vast majority of everything else I've tried has been more than solid. Given that as well as how I'm curious to try their brunch menu and some of their other offerings, it's more than a safe bet that I'll be coming back to Franco's again sooner rather than later! read more

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Stopped in for happy hour. It wasn't bad but there's definitely better options in SF. read more

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I will preface this with the fact that I got back from Peru one month ago and the food was just to die for amazing. Eating at Francos was lackluster and somewhat of a let down. The flavors did not sing or pop like they should have and the ingredients did not seem homemade or fresh. The 2 dishes we loved out of 5 were the mushroom Saltado and the veggie empanadas! Everything else was meh especially the fish tacos! We told them we didn't like them but they didn't take them off the bill. Ambiance was pretty good I liked it for the most part. Only 3/5 dished are photographed. read more

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Franco's is one of my favorite places to go for brunch these days. I've been several times now, each time bringing more and more family and friends to check out the menu. Sometimes our group goes for the breakfast meals, the Nicaraguan Style Egg breakfast with Gallo Pinto, Plantains or Huevos Rancheros. I prefer the savory items for brunch and order the Salmon Tiradito, the Ceviche Platter, the Crab Sandwich, Empanadas and the Chicken Tinga tacos. Everything I have had has been great and have been back to re-order. The crab sandwich is HUGE and delicious, I typically split that with someone else. The flavors here are so rich and savory, sweet or spicy. Above all, the service is always friendly and accommodating. Great place to bring the family or friends for a low key but delicious brunch, lunch or dinner. read more

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I came here on a friend's recommendation and really enjoyed the food for brunch. We ordered delicious drinks like the Inka Mimosa Cava and the homemade Chicha Morada. For food, I ordered the Ceviche Chino (ahi tuna, ponzu, wonton chips) and my husband got the huevos rancheros. Both were very tasty. The service wasn't the most attentive. We were the only ones in the restaurant, and the staff stuck to the bar most of the time. The place has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and is good for groups. read more

I think this place used to be Fresca years ago. I had reservations for two on a Friday night at 7pm. We were seated right away but there were a few open spots available. We were seated in the little corner at the front by the window. I really wanted to try a little bit of everything! We also started off with cocktails. My friend had a margarita and I had a Blue Hawaiian. We had: - Ceviche Mixto (shellfish, halibut, calamari) - $21 Note: we were asked if we wanted it with plantain chips but didn't realize that they were an additional cost ($7). Not a huge deal, but we didn't know what it came with. - Causa Pollo $18 - Causa is a Peruvian layered potato dish. This is served cold. The chicken is a chicken salad. It tasted like an elevated chicken salad and potato salad married, but much more exciting. - Salmon Risotto $32 - delicious. No other words. - Portobello Saltado $25 - This was a yummy and filling vegetarian dish with portobello, onion, and French fries sautéed savory sauce. Served with rice. The service was good. Staff were friendly. We were checked on regularly. It wasn't too noisy. It was mostly the sound of delightful chatter combined with the excitement of good food. read more

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Eating here was really a treat. I started off with the plantain chips and the plantains. Both were cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. Then I had the chicken stew dish with rice and that was also amazing and so hearty that I could only eat half of it. The service was fantastic, and the restaurant was a fun place to eat at. read more

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This neighborhood restaurant is a real gem. They are very accommodating to large parties like the 17 people in my group, including wheelchair access for one of our family members. Despite the cozy interior, our family easily fit into the tables. As for their stellar service, they are attentive and friendly. They are also thoughtful -- upon arrival we see a couple of graduation balloons at our table. We order several appetizers for the tables and the hits are the birria tacos, adobe sliders, and the grilled octopus. Don't miss out on their sangria, their serving is very generous! Our party orders several plates and the ones I love best are the Aji de Gallina, which is something I've never had before but I thoroughly enjoyed; and one of my sisters ordered the Bistek, which I liked better than the Lomo Saltado, which was also good. Two other family members loved the fish tacos. As for dessert -- if you have room after all the plantain chips, appetizers, food and drinks -- get the donuts and maybe the mango cheesecake if they have it available. Everyone in our party had a great time. Book your next big group party here, and enjoy the food and hospitality! read more

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Money well spent! Staff was nice and food was beyond good! Liked the paintings on the walls and the slight spooky feel for Halloween and the skeleton at the bar. Food was incredibly good. I came for my birthday and oh boy did they provide such delicious food. A great take on mango cheesecake and the lemon zest in arroz con leche was such a fun taste. Loved it and so did my friends! read more

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Came here on a Sunday night and honestly was pretty disappointed with the service. The restaurant was not very busy there were 2 other tables besides us and at least 4 waiters. We were seated right away but the booth had a lot of tortilla crumbs. We ordered the passion fruit Fresca, lamb, fish and chips, salmon risotto , and Portola mushroom stir fry. We also got the calamari and grilled squid as appetizers. The appetizers came out fairly quickly and were pretty delicious. Small portions for the price though. The main courses were honestly a bit disappointing. I asked for my lamb to be cooked medium rare but it was overcooked and not juicy. The salmon risotto was pretty good, however the fish and chips were pretty bland and tasted unseasoned. The fish also had a lot of batter. The main issue was definitely the service. Workers were not attentive at all , and I had to wave them down several times before they came over. On top of that, I finished my glass of water for a while and no one came by to refill it and I had to waive down one of the four waiters to do so. It just seemed like they did NOT care about the service and did not care to check on the guests. Overall I would not come back, as the service really ruined my experience. read more

Franco's Latin Table - Salmon Risotto Dinner - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here for lunch with a large party. Sangria was nice. We order some fried plantains, dessert plaintains with some whipped cream. Very delicious. This time I ordered the fish stew. It came with rice. It has a coconut flavor and the sauce was beige in color. It was delicious. All the fish, mussels and clams were cooked perfectly. I even enjoyed the leftovers at home! read more

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Came on a Tuesday night- the service was slow. There was also a bug in the lettuce in my nephews burger which we noticed after we paid which was unfortunate and a good thing my nephew picked out the lettuce. The space is cute but just wasn't the worth the wait of the food.. read more

We did not feel like cooking the other day so we ordered delivery from Franco's. I had one of the most delicious steaks in my life. Cooked perfectly medium rare and full of flavor. read more

We've had take-out from Franco's and dined in once Most recently we had Mariscada (stew) and Pescado Sudado The food is amazing, and the service is very good. We look forward to our next visit to Franco's! read more

Delicious, delicious, delicious food. Friendly staff. Lots of variety on the menu, and I love lamb. They had a good beer selection from El Salvador when I was there (seasonal). I'll go there again and again. Have taken small groups several times. read more

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Ambiance is casual. Service staff is friendly. The food was delightful and the portions are large enough that it can be shared. All the dishes had great flavors and taste The menu had many options. A definite must visit! read more

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We've been coming here back when it was Fresca. It's nice to see they kept the menu and flavors pretty much the same. My dad loves the Arroz Con Mariscos, he never gets anything different. Other favorites we have ordered: Mariscada (Salvadorean Seafood Stew), very tasty if you like coconut milk, Pescado a la Macho (another seafood stew), Lomo Saltado (sauteed tenderloin strips and veggies), Costillos de Cordero (lamb chops), Pollo a la Brasa (rotisserie style chicken), and of course, the Ceviches. They used to give you chips and salsa when you sat down but the last two times we came, it was very inconsistent, not sure if they changed this perk. Checking in, even with a reservation, can be a bit of a wait, that's the only drawback. read more

I've been going to this location for some time when it used to be Fresca. Under new ownership, the menu is just as enticing as it was before. Our favorites are the Loma Soldado and Mariscada, the latter being a seafood stew that's absolutely divine. Their birria tacos it's also excellent. There's really very little on the menu that isn't good. Every time I return, I try to force myself to try something new, but more often than not, I ordered the mariscada. The service is always good and attentive. They're always open to suggesting recommendations, especially for those who have a more adventurous pallet. read more

So delicious and for a good price. Lots of yummy vegetarian options for brunch - we were very pleased! We went on a Saturday morning right when they opened and it wasn't super crowded - the food was definitely freshly made for us! Will 100% be coming back read more

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Our go-to for Peruvian cuisine. Good location in West Portal with parking within walking distance; metered along the street and timed a few blocks away. Good decor, but only a few tables inside; it does feel tight if it's crowded and tables are occupied. Great menu, which makes it difficult to decide what to order. Love their ceviche dishes. Service is solid, although a couple of times we had long waits for our order, but other times, it was terrific. read more

Never been even tho I've been a neighborhood person for years... it was wonderful! We got in very fast on a Friday, and honestly we had 2 apps and a ceviche and that was a meal. Salmon ceviche was plump and flavorful. The octopus!!! Was charred just perfectly. I loved every bite. The mustard based sauce had a kick so someone weak to spicy (like me) needed water breaks. I will come by myself again just for the octopus! read more

Franco's Latin Table - Octopus was grilled to perfection. - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

chicharron was yummy, lamb was presented beautifully but the rest was okay. plantain (sweet) with sour cream was a weird combination. good happy hour deal though, half sangria bottle was yumm read more

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Very nice restaurant that you feel cozy and homey, staff is really friendly,food is great too, highly recommended :) read more

Franco's Latin Table - Franco's Special &breakfast taco, sangria - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is terrible! I ordered a steak sandwich and fries. The steak sandwich was just OK and the fries or lukewarm and kind of soggy. Ordered the house salad which this spinach was not fresh and kind of wilted. The service was super slow and when I ordered a coffee, it came out some type of pod machine. The place is overpriced and I would never go back again. read more

Fantastic chef! They create wonderful dishes, meat, vegetarian, wonderful spices, sauces, fish dishes. Friendly and kind staff! read more

Franco's Latin Table - Chicken dish! - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

We celebrated our daughter's birthday here at Franco's and it did not disappoint! She had a serious craving for Birria tacos and theirs was excellent! We were seated by the window for our table of 3 and immediately felt special. Everything we ordered was delicious. We of course had the Birria tacos and ordered the crab sandwich, fish tacos, chicken empanadas, and the adobo sliders. We must return again! read more

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In a neighborhood where there are so many good restaurants, this is definitely one you should not overlook. I had the adobo de chancho -- the pork was incredibly tender and delicious, paired nicely with a Peruvian lager. Service was very friendly, and the place feels quite intimate and homey. There's plenty of seating indoors, as well as outdoors in a parklet. I would definitely come here again! read more

Franco's Latin Table - Adobo de chancho - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Every now and then a person needs a lomo saltado, that's all. And this place serves an excellent one. We wandered across the street when the Indian restaurant had a 30 minute wait and had the coziest meal. I ordered the plantain chips as an appetizer and they came halfway through our entrees. It was not a problem at all as the green sauce the plantains come with was well worth the wait. read more

Love this place always consistent never disappoints, service is always welcoming and fast read more

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Decent Peruvian food with great drinks in a warm setting. My friends and I were looking for a dinner spot in West Portal, and Franco's looked like a good option, so I made a reservation a couple days ahead for Friday dinner at 7 pm. It wasn't that crowded, so we probably didn't need one, but since we had 5 people, I figured better safe than sorry. Parking was a bit annoying but not terrible. All of the spots on the main street were full, but we found a spot on a cross residential street. I had a margarita ($10) to start, and one friend ordered a Michelada ($7). Both drinks were absolutely fantastic. In fact, I'd say this was the best margarita I've had at a restaurant in a while. For food, I split the pollo a la brasa ($21) with a friend as neither of us were super hungry. I'm glad we shared, as it was a massive portion (essentially half a roast chicken). We were both stuffed by the end and couldn't finish the last couple bites. The dark meat parts of the chicken were flavorful and not too dry. However, once I started eating the breast, I had to take small bites and chew because it was both bland and dry. I started dipping the breast meat in the complimentary salsa provided, as it had zero flavor when I tried it by itself. It was a nice place to get together and have a nice meal and drinks with friends without feeling rushed, but don't expect the food to be amazing. read more

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Overall my experience was good except the shrimp was overcooked. The indoor seating area was small although outdoor area looked pretty inviting. read more

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Great food that won't tear a hole through your pockets. Aside from not having a table ready even with a reservation, service was on point and the servers always checked in with us. Space is a little too tight inside. read more

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Was here again recently, my only complaint is that I find it so hard to choose between my three favorite dishes. Fish and chips, the seafood stew or the lomo saltado! Food is just so tasty! read more

Came here on a sunday for "brunch" but we mainly ordered from their lunch menu. It was fairly empty so there's no need to worry about making reservations. Also parking was fairly easy to find a block away on the side streets/residential area. Aji de Gallina: great amazing. I've never had Peruvian food before so this opened an entire new door for me. But it's like TOO MUCH CHICKEN. i definitely can't finish this dish for one meal. It's a lot. The rice to chicken ratio is wack, as in there needs to be more rice if one was to eat this in one sitting but it was fine. It's just too much of one thing. My tastebuds gets bored easily but the first ten - twenty bites was phenomenal. I will definitely be coming back to try out more dishes! read more

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West Portal is full of great eateries - and Franco's is my favorite. Honestly, there's two places with great lomo saltado - Franco's up here in SF and Limon down in the Peninsula. Parking can look plentiful but actually be hard to find - one trick is to go residential and walk over. Honestly it's a lot faster than hunting for parking :) Service was good - at the time, I think they were short-staffed so no problem there. And yes, the lomo saltado! Love the flavor - almost has Filipino base that has that golden soy sauce flavor with french fries to boot. The beef was tender and delicious - just a lovely dish :) In the past, I've gotten other entrees to switch things up - and they've also been really good! I just really like lomo saltado, so now I just stick with this. As a table, we got the fried plantains as well - a little expensive for what it is but if you want it, you either have to make it or bite the bullet right? Still delicious, not too sweet, reminds me of turon :) All in all, Franco's is my go-to dinner place in West Portal. Brunch or dinner - honestly it might be the best place on the street! read more

Stopped by for dinner & got seated quickly. Our server brought us some complimentary chips & salsa. We ordered the chicken chicharrón which I highly recommend, it was crispy & paired perfectly with the dipping sauce that came with it. The ceviche mixto was disappointing, it needed some kind of seasoning, a bit of salt would've been great. Safe to say I will not be ordering that again. On to the main dishes, the lomo saltado & arroz con mariscos were both a 5/5 so yummy, flavorful & filling. Unfortunately the Halibut was just okay, lacked seasoning, specially the mash that came with it, that definitely needed some salt. I'm deducting a star because even though we got seated quickly, the service was slow. The place was pretty empty & twice we had to call the server over, once to order & again to get the check. Secondly, I asked for some hot sauce, spicy salsa, anything with spice in it & the server offered me some habanero which I gladly took. I was just disappointed to see that they charged me $2 for what looked to be 1 blended habanero. This additional cost should have been mentioned. Overall, this place was great & I highly recommend if you're in the area read more

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Love this place. The waitress is always nice and always smiling and provides great service. We were able to come here 45mins before closing time and were still able to order our food. The employees were great and we never felt rushed when it finally did close. The food is always on point. I frequent here for their birria tacos which are super delicious but tonight we had steak and chicken. Both dishes were excellent and flavorful. Can't go wrong with either dishes and recommend them to anyone who likes steak or chicken. This place is great for large gatherings and small parties. The amenities are nice and very cozy. The staff are friendly and always inviting. I recommend this place if you like great tasting food. read more

Came on a Friday night around 6:30pm for a party of 2. There was no wait and we were seated right away. The restaurant is casual yet social. I enjoyed the lomo saltado entree, the flavoring was spot on. We also got the halibut ceviche and grilled octopus as appetizers. Flavors were light, I did not feel the seafood was the most fresh. read more

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Great Peruvian food. Very fresh and tasty. Nice presentation. Friendly service. Great location with a nice sidewalk seating area if you want to dine al fresco. read more