Stopped by here when I couldn't decide where to get Mexican. Originally I wanted tacos but...people have the right to change their mind right. Bueno estas señoras son muy amable. The ladies here are real nice. Reminds me of being home getting dinner at my Tia's. So the camarones a la diabla used to be my favorite but I hadn't had it in a long time. I appreciate this place and would come back to try something else. Give it a second shot. But the sauce was more sweet than spicy how i prefer it. Aaaand they were skimp with the shrimp. I did however really enjoy having freshly cooked handmade tortillas. Surely did. Fucked it up! 4 stars for now. Cuz they the Tias now. read more

Las Palmeras Restaurant - Camarones a la diabla - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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It looks very rundown. The outside, I couldn't tell if it was a restaurant or not it doesn't really stand out. The inside is small and very dark. The service was okay, it took a bit to get some attention for us be able to order our food. My sister liked her food, but mine, on the inside had bits or burnt meat and no cheese inside. I thought a Chile Relleno of meat would have both meat and cheese but I guess I was wrong. read more

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Great restaurant clean meat good food yes go here. From start to finish everything was so beautiful I appreciate all of the great food

One of my favorite genuine salvadoreña restaurant. It feel like being in el salvador surrounded by natives. I get my platanitos con casamiento ( cooked w/ chicken broth) y crema, greasy but delicious n huevos picadors w/ fresh bell peppers, tomatoes n onion, the best!!! Reminds me of grandma! read more

accidentally removed review from dec 2011. Here it is: Some of the waitresses here tend to favor their Latino customers - better, faster, priority. After supporting this place for over 10 years, I'm sorry to say that I'm tired of dealing with it. I decided that my visit here this afternoon was my last. I see from more recent reviews, that I suspect the ugly issue persists. read more

Love this place, I come here for the chicken tamales! I come here cuz its banana leaf wrapped, its what I prefer. The corn husk wrap just doesn't taste good for me. read more

Las Palmeras Restaurant - Chicken tamales - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Bad service.. our hot plates of food is here but not tortillas yet..! Waited more then 10 minutes for tortillas??? And it's not even hand made tortillas... wow.. My hot head Mexican so so mad..!! Isn't busy in here. Finally flag down one of the waitresses.. The steaks is already cold damn.. not coming here again ..!!! Not worth to even try ..!! read more

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Note: Cash only. Trying a Mission fixture since 1988. Salvadoran and Mexican. They have an interesting breakfast menu too. I'm ordering cheese pupusas (haven't had one since 2012) and cheese enchiladas because I'm leery that the other Salvadoran stuff that intrigues me might be too spicy (had a bad experience at Velvet Cantina last week where I couldn't eat the food). Cheese enchiladas were super cheesy. I liked the rice a lot. Cheese pupusa was a bit greasy due to the cheese but tasty. I look forward to coming back. read more

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Pupusas are the best out ! No lie been coming from Oakland for years . Super authentic & juicy . Stuffed with love & flavor. A must for a pupusa lover read more

Las Palmeras Restaurant - Pupusas, chicharro & quesso. Pork / cheese - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I like their pupusas and their beef soup. Their fish soup is pretty good too. I know they buy their meat fresh every day from the meat market in front of them, which is another of my favorite places in the mission. read more

Las Palmeras Restaurant - Front food - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent Excellent , The service was good as it was busy for lunch. The food was also excellent. I had the fried fish very delish. I will be back soon read more

Las Palmeras has a large open patio in the back. I went yesterday for the first time ordering food to go. Staff were super friendly and open. A friend had brought me a loroco Pupusa the day before and it was amazingly fresh and delicious. I ordered another loroco pupusa, as well as a chicken tamale. The tamale was the BEST I've ever had in my life, and I have a long history of eating tamales. The masa was so soft and full of flavor it was incredible. I'm thinking it must be the wrap in banana leaves that makes it so moist. Do yourself a favor and try some of their food. It's delicious. I won't be getting tamales from anywhere else for a while. GREAT FOOD. read more

Was looking for a sit down restaurant on the Mission for out of town guests, who have been to honduras, guatemala, nicaragua, and El Salvador, but other than that, usually eat plain old southern food.. LP sounded just right, and it was Waiter was part of the family that's run the restaurant for 25 years, and perfect host. We ordered lots of foods, from enchiladas to pupusas. Jamaica was really perfectly sweet and tart. soda choice was great- try the cola champagne, like a melon cream soda. I had lengua, in a tomatoey sauce which was really tender and textural. Wife had the rellenos which were also filled with cheese to overbrimming. We had just a great time read more

This spot is DISGUSTING! I don't know what happened but I've been here many time this was my family's to go spot. I went in yesterday to order some pupusas cause they use to be the bomb. But when I got home to surprise my family and it was so gross! They were so thick with barely any meat in them. My mom had one bite and said that it was horrible. She then opened them up and saw how little meat there was. There is no taste or flavor it's absolutely disgusting. I went in again today to show them that the pupusas were not good and the cook does not know how to do it. That we've been here for years and never been so disappointed. The owner explained that she hires a new girl and has gotten complaints about the same issue. I asked for a refund mins you the prices are 3.75 per pupusa and I ordered 15 + tax & the SF surcharge. She gave me a new batch and there absolutely the same thing. It sucks that the food is gross here. Do not come here! Go to Panchitas a few blocks away there way better. Will not be coming back here. read more

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I've been going to this restaurant since I was a kid. One of the best places to get pupusas and yuca frita. I always do take out as service while dining in is to be desired. They do have outdoor seating available for those that want to dine in. read more

Overpriced and did not give me the pupusa how I asked. They added cheese when I said no cheese! They just made up the total price as I asked for a side of yuca which was over $8 and it was small anyway. Never going back read more

This place sucks man, they got dumb people working at the kitchen, we got here at 4:35 they took our order 5 mins later, then a family of 5 came by then 4 people more to different tables and they order pupusas just like us it's 5:10pm and they already even finished they're food and the waitresses are walking by like nothing we had to go ask for our order and they're explanation was oh we made a mistake on the kitchen, WTH? read more

This was my favorite restaurant in the mission but since they severely lack customer service I will not be able to patron this place any more! I went in and asked to purchase some salsa and was given an attitude....we don't do that?! So I asked why as I eat here at least once a week and I get salsa to go....the response we don't do that....!! Ok well you have lost a customer, she could have asked me to purchase something else or explained but due to the lack of communication I will spend my hard earned monies elsewhere and I will tell everyone I know to do the same. read more

I have to give this place 4 stars for the beans and sour cream alone! You don't even understand, beans and sour cream is some serious comfort food from my youth. While neither of these two things are strangers at any Latin flavored food establishment you rarely see them purposefully paired together as they are here. My mom would always add a dab of sour cream to the beans on the plate...and of course I would then sneak a giant glob of it because I didn't think it was enough. Beans and sour cream would accompany our eggs in the morning, the mac n cheese for lunch, even when we had spaghetti for dinner. The lady friend has been talking up the pupusas from this place for the longest time, but she apparently held out the info regarding the beans and sour cream. Thankfully when we got here she suggested we get the maduros, which come with a healthy serving of beans and our cream! I had visions of *the other* Whitesnake video... *IS THIS LOVE THAT I'M FEELING IS THIS THE LOVE THAT I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR...* only my lady friend is hotter than that stringy haired bean pole looking hoe Tawny Kitaen... Of course to go along with our beans and sour cream...and maduros...we had the pupusas. I had a plain cheese one and the combo with has pork, beans, and cheese. Both were fabulous. I especially loved the extra bits of crunchy cheese spillover along the edges of the pupusas. Crunchy burnt cheese! mmmmm... *of course we also ordered an extra side of beans and sour cream because we ran out before finishing our pupusas... From reading other reviews I am definitely going to have to come back to try the chile rellenos. I've been looking all over for a place that stuffs meat in their chile rellenos with no luck. My mom would occasionally make them stuffed with ground beef and cheese. I can't even tell you how good those things tasted! I hope Las Palmeras delivers when I go back read more

Tips for Dealing with an Unseasonably Cold San Francisco Winter Day: 1) Complain. 2) Curse. 3) Whine. 4) Repeat steps 1-3. 5) Go to Las Palmeras and order their huge bowl of Chicken Soup chock full of veggies swimming in a flavorful broth. 6) Order some of their addictive pupusas. 7) Waddle home with a big smile on your face. read more

Racist establishment. Doesn't want black people in there resturant. Went when they opened, I was the only person in the resturant. The waitress chatted behind the counter with another employee for 15 minutes and did not take my order. I left because I didnt want racist people cooking and possibly spitting in my food. read more

I like pupusas. I like tres leches. I can make both pupusas and tres leches; however nothing I create can hold a candle to what I've eaten at Las Palmeras. That's really ok by me. You know how they say if I could _______ my own______ I'd never leave the house? Well if I could make my own pupusas/tres leches like Las Palemeras, I may never leave the house. I'm picturing a scene ala "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" where a woman of considerable girth has to be removed from her house via crane. Minus one star for not accepting debit cards. read more

Despite lackluster reviews from other fine Yelpers, I thought this place was pretty good. My homie Hectorious recently got laid off and so to lift his young spirits and indulge in one my most favorite Salvadorian delights, I asked him to grab dinner at Las Palmeras last night, my second choice, to be real, as Zocalo on Mission has apparently, and sadly, closed. The place was not too busy on a Monday and chips and salsa were brought out shortly after we sat down. Our waiter was nice, but pretty inattentive overall. I got one Queso only pupusa and one combo with beans, Chicharon, and cheese, Hector got the same plus one more. The food took a pretty long time to get out to us, I would say around 15 or 20 minutes, but since they're making them fresh, they get a pass for this one. The curtido was decent, but a bit plain with only cabbage, no carrots, but still packed a good vinegar punch. I mean, I'd go back there most likely, it wasn't the best I've ever had but it's cheap and good. read more

Ok, do not go here if you want 5 star ambiance and English speaking servers. Do go here if you like food from Central America and a casual dining experience without the loud drunken sports bar crowd. The place is always consistent, my boyfriend and I love to go here for dinner. We never have to wait for a table, the servers are all very nice, and the food is always served up hot and delicious. I usually get the chile relleno plate which is just the right amount of food and very well done. I have also tried the pupusas which are great and the fried plantains. My bf always gets the ground beef enchiladas, and he loves them. He is particular about a ground beef enchilada too. But the best thing to finish off a really good meal is a great dessert. Now I am a picky dessert eater, I don't usually order it or will try a bite of someone else's to see if I want to order one for myself... I digress. The Tres Leches cake they serve is amazing here. We have been known to get it to-go and bring it home too, even on a scooter ride to Nob Hill from the Mission. It's the perfect blend of sweet, rich, and dense ... yummy. Thank you Las Palmeras for serving us delicious food! (I am interested in trying the breakfast here too.) read more

How this place has 3.5 stars, I have no idea. I went in here super stoked to get a carne asada burrito and it tasted like dog food in a tortilla. Not that I eat a lot of dog food but I do eat a ton of Mexican food and to put this place in the same category is an insult not just to Mexican food but to food in general everywhere. You're in the Mission, there are a thousand other Mexican places near you, try any other place than this one. Seriously. read more

Cheap Mexican/Salvadorean food at bargain basement prices in a neighborhood filled with Hispanics? I'm in (well of course, I'm from San Diego after all). A little bit more kept up than your average hole in the wall Mexican place, Las Palmeras still serves great food for bargain prices. The pupusas are excellent and the tacos (while seemingly expensive at $3) is fat and stuffed. I haven't tried their burritos, but being that this IS the mission (home of the mission burrito) it'll be good. Can't wait to come again the next time I'm in the city. read more

YUmmY! This place looks a little shady/doesn't have the nicest decor so that might deter some people, but the food is really good! They serve a variety of latin dishes - I haven't had the mexican dishes here but I have seen them and they look good. My favorite thing here are the pupusas revueltas con arroz y frijoles. I also really like the Sopa de Pollo, they even asked us what kind of chicken we wanted - thigh, breast, etc. Their salsa is excellent and tastes fresh. read more

First time for El Salvadorian food, tried the papusas, and they were pretty good! Atmosphere's kinda tacky, but the salsa was pretty good; a slightly smokey chipotle taste that you don't find as often. I went to the restaurant with a large group of people, so it's not as easy to measure the service. When we got there there was almost nobody, but we still gave it a try because the place we were going was packed! They got the food to the table semi quickly for how many there were of us. Most of us ordered papusas, so I don't know if that made it easier. I got the beef and everything papusa, and it was pretty good. I haven't had El Salvadorian food before, or papusas, but I have to say, I was expecting it to taste a lot better, but it may not have simply because they just don't. I'll have to try other places. Like I said, atmosphere's not too good. If you like hole in the wall type places for the sake of them, you'll enjoy it. My friend got the Tres Leches cake for her birthday and I had a bite; it was pretty good. It sure looked good as we left, and made me want a piece. read more

Is horrible too strong of a word to describe what we just ate here? Perhaps. My husband was ravenous and we ventured away from 24th street for Latin American food- which may have been our first mistake. Second mistake, my super gringo looking husband asked the waitress what she recommended. She looked at him and suggested chicken enchiladas. I must say that she was very very sweet- she would get lots of stars if yelp was about the waitress, but it's not. So, back to dinner. Enchiladas didn't really sound very, well... Salvadorean, so we asked what her favorite dish from the Salvadorean menu was. She smiled and said "Oh, I love everything". She eventually recommended something with veggies, pollo asado, carne asada, and camarones. I was skeptical about the Salvadorean nature of the dish, but my husband was starving so he nodded and said yes. In the mean time, or Jamaicas came. The Jamaica was truly delicious and obviously made from dried hibiscus and not from that crappy powder like at some places. Chips and salsa were quite good too. Now for the BAD news. We almost died when we saw a sizzling plate of fajitas come out. Yep, fajitas. Craving some down home Salvadorean goodness and we get a sizzling plate o' Chevy's. Not only that- it's burnt to a crisp and covered in BBQ sauce. Truly gross. Nothing redeeming about this dish at all. One star for a nice waitress one star for good Jamaica. read more

On a mission in the Mission to find some food at 9 o'clock on a Sunday night. Spent six hours prior at a party where I mostly drank; needed something to fill me up and was craving Mexican food. Stumbled upon this place, which was practically empty and not too inviting, visually. Insides were clean and the one lady working was extra friendly and smiled and nodded a lot. Had my heart set on tacos or a burrito but was happy to see they had papusas! Had one bean and one cheese - both were excellent with crispy-brown outsides, hot and oozy insides. Four stars! read more

Las Palmeras has a nice homey feel to it - you pass by locals engrossed in their conversations and large plates of food, and are greeted by the friendly wait staff. I can't speak to the authenticity of the food, but for my gringo tastes, the portions are huge and the food solid. I definitely would recommend getting the pupusas - you get a big, cheesy one accompanied by a nice vinegary cole slaw. I preferred the cheese and lorroco pupusa over the cheese and pork one. The pupusas here are greasy, and as others have mentioned, great late-night hangover food... or with more beer! The tamales were pretty bland and disappointing, and the same can be said about the rice. I also tried the chile relleno con carne... I got a huge pepper stuffed with ground beef, but once again, nothing too special. The horchata here had a strange aftertaste... not offensive, but just... strange. In retrospect, I would've been happy just ordering a bunch of pupusas and beers. =) read more

They make some of the best pupusas I've ever had. Sure, it isn't 5-star dining or set in a lavish ambience. Las Palmeras is about good food that you can enjoy with your family and friends in a relaxed environment. The prices are wonderfully affordable. I would suggest trying their empanadas. For breakfast I love to eat their platanos con frijoles y crema. The pupusas de maiz con loroco y queso are my favorite. read more

This was the first time I tried pupusas, got the combination option with beans/cheese/pork, and it was pretty good. Definitely fresh and very filling for only $2.40 each. The prices here are super low for a restaurant. With these prices I expected to order and pick up at the counter, but they actually had severs who brought out chips and salsa and took our order. The chips were pretty stale and not very good, but the salsa was tasty. I would probably return here for a quick meal or takeout because it is super casual. Also, they do a good job at keeping this place clean even though its an old shop. Saw them sweeping and wiping down surfaces frequently, thats a good sign! read more

Las Palmeras Restaurant - Pupusa with everything - salsa is pretty good! - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'll just go out and say it: the pupusas here suck. I've been to many a pupuseria, and I've never had one as greasy, or as generally gross, as this place. Now mind you, I don't mind grease - but I do mind gross - and this place does both. The pupusas were about what I'd expect if an overgreased American-style Mexican restaurant (think enchiladas drenched in melted cheddar cheese and sour cream) tried to do Salvadoran food. Besides the pupusas themselves, the cabbage was not pickled (more like a peppered cole-slaw, really), and my server looked at me like I was an alien when I asked for the traditional pupusa tomato sauce. Also, my fried plantains were really undercooked, and generally unappetizing (and I usually LOVE fried plantains). The rice and beans were typical Mexican-style rice and beans - certainly nothing to write home about. I give this place two stars mostly for the nice atmosphere - I love seeing familes go out to eat together. Otherwise, this place just doesn't cut it. You have many choices for good Latin-American food in San Francisco - stay away from this one. read more

After living in this city for so many years, today was my first time eating at Las Palmeras. I ordered their Camaron Empanizado and it was a hit! The breading was perfectly coated and the shrimp was fresh that the meat was still tender. It also came with rice, refried beans, small salad and tortillas - a great price for approx $11! The waitress was friendly, which was also a bonus to my dining experience. I loved how the food wasn't too heavy compared to other restaurants nearby. Looking for an alternative? Are you searching for Mexican restaurants other than Chevys and taquerias? Here's your place to go! I would definitely go back. =) read more

Came here after church when I was visiting SF because it was close and we had 3 kids within the group and didn't want to deal with the hassle of parking and car seats. I ordered two pupusas (mixed & one with just pork) for my daughter and I to share. I really liked the mixed one because it has a nice crisp to it and good flavor. I ate half the pork and didn't finish because the pork wasn't very flavorful...But I liked that they gave a generous amount of the El Salvadorian "coleslaw" to put on top of the pupusas. I also ordered a breakfast dish of eggs with beans and fried plantains. We couldn't finish it as it was hearty and filling but very delicious! My friends were more adventurous and got a lengua dish and also tried another dish that came with either "organ sauce" or fried pork (chiccarones). They liked both but ordered the fried pork which they said was good. Can't speak about the Mexican items on the menu as we opted for all the dishes from El Salvador. read more

The chips and tortillas were alright at best. The chicken soup was more like seasoned water with HUGE chunks of vegetables and a giant piece of chicken in the middle. Not really my style for soup, but it didn't taste bad. The chicken was a tad dry. read more

The Salvadorian tamale is absolutely delicious. Service is quick and waiter is quick to refill your beverage. Another favorite is the cheese and pork pupusa. read more

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Delicious soups (who knew tomatos, eggs and shrimp would be soooo yummy together?), big nap-inducing portions, and reasonable prices. The pupusas are crispy on the outside, but still moist in the center, and the spicy salsa and pickled cabbage add just the right amount of tangyness. The service is a bit slow (tropical island time) so it can be a bit torturous to go in starving, but the food's worth the wait. Great place for Sunday brunch, and usually less crowded than the standard breakfast places. read more

Not an expert on El Salvadorean food. This was my first experience. I had a pork and a veggie pupusa. Really did not like the veggie pupusa, way too much cheese and the zucchini was fried beyond taste. My conclusion is that Salvadorean food is really greasy. Dish came with a big bowl of delicious salsa which was the highlight of the meal. Huge portions for the price. But for the amount of grease you're ingesting, should really be better. Friendly service. 2 stars seems harsh. But I felt very Meh about it. So there it is. read more