I've been here before, but didn't remember and I didn't write a review. I just got back from Spain (including Valencia, the birthplace of paella) and was jonesing for some tapas and paella. We had a couple of dishes, including Iberico jamón and the great seafood paella with squid ink. It was pretty good and I'd come back next time I need my fix of Spanish food! read more

Food -5/5 love their spicy Potato bravas , olives and sauted mushroom dishes. Their sangria is really refreshing with the addition of fruit bits in the drink. Ambiance- nice Spanish decor but can get a little noisy even on a week night. Service 5/5 excellent! They went out of the way to accomodate our needs to split the bills three way since it was a work+personal related expenses. And produced personalized bill sand receipts which is rare to find these days. Thank you read more

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A fav in the mission! Food: 4.5/5 If coming with a small group, order a few plates and try them all! Very affordable Spanish tapas Recommendations: Pulpo (octopus), gambas (shrimp), fried anchovies, jamon serrano or iberico, lobster tail, croquetas de pollo, paella de mariscos, patatas bravas, garlic shrimp, paella (veggie options too! -- takes awhile to come out) Sangria original (red) is a must esp with a pitcher costing less than $20... Location: 3.5/5 Love that its right across from the Roxie and situated across and between many fun bars. Hate that parking sucks in the mission Service: 3/5 Even with a recommendation at Picaro for 4 on Friday, we ended up waiting for another 30 minutes. Good thing was food came out relatively quickly, except for the paella read more

Picaro - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had my birthday here and was amazing, the food was fresh and delicious, the ambience a little too laud but I enjoyed my dinner , service was friendly and attentive we will be back for sure .Thank you for the hospitality and the good food read more

We just hosted a graduation meal in their back patio and we had a wonderful time! Our server Mel was so attentive and the food was delicious. The price is also very affordable. I would 100% recommend hosting a meal at Picaro! read more

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While the food was good here, I think the atmosphere of the restaurant brings it down a peg. We came in on a Saturday night, and it was bustling for sure. When we walked in, it wasn't clear who or where we were supposed to check in with. We kind of awkwardly waited around for a long time until someone noticed us and asked for our name. For food, we ordered the jamon iberico, jamon serrano, seafood paella, patatas bravas, spanish tortilla, calamari frito, croquetas, and a pitcher of sangria. The sangria was really sweet and refreshing. The jamon was good, kind of what you'd expect. Nothing exciting to report for the calamari. The paella was good, but needed a little more saffron and spices in my opinion; the seafood was really small though, and I did have one dead inedible mussel in my portion. Spanish tortilla was pretty good. The croquetas were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, no complaints. My issue with the patatas bravas was that you have to choose between the garlic aioli and the bravas sauce; in most restaurants it's served with both. Since it was missing the aioli, the bravas sauce just tasted of heat, and was missing the cooling component. The service was just okay. When they brought us the waters, one of the glasses was really dirty, and you could clearly see a lipstick stain on it still. The restaurant itself was incredibly stuffy and hot, even on a Saturday night in SF. They had a live musician playing right behind us, so we literally couldn't hear anything. He then went table to table, not sure if he was asking for song requests or a tip, but that was a bit of a turn off. Even after he stopped playing, the restaurant was so loud that the server would have to lean in just to hear us order. I'm sorry, but if your server can't hear you, the restaurant is too loud. While the food was good, the restaurant's atmosphere and lack of cleanliness really turned me off. read more

Picaro - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The tapas were delicious and offered a variety of many, different taste experiences - like dim sum! The Spanish tapas were muy delicioso! We could not decide on a favorite! The chili peppers were good, so were the meatballs, shrimp, cheese, pupusa I think it was, iberico, etc! Sangria was dangerously gone too! I would try it all! In this shared, family style setting, we got full off of the tapas. The family style decor was very nice and felt very welcoming too - cozy. read more

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Service A1, food was delicious, and I enjoyed how attentive they are here. If you are in the area please do yourself a favor and come get some food here! read more

I used to live on the same street as this place back in 2023 and would always walk past it, intrigued by the large paellas. When my boyfriend said he was in the mood for a paella, I quickly remembered the place that I used to walk by so frequently. We took the bart into the city and walked over from 16th and Mission. We ordered the Paella de Mariscos, a rabbit stew on the side, and a glass of sangria for the sake of happy hour. The rabbit stew came out first, and it was interesting. I don't believe I'd ever had rabbit meat prior to eating this dish, but it wasn't my favorite. My boyfriend said it just tasted like thyme since there was too much of it, but a piece of the meat that I ate near the bone was actually cold like it hadn't been cooked through so that was definitely concerning. The sangria was fine, not anything that I would usually get but it was easy to drink. The Paella de Mariscos was quite underwhelming though. I first introduced my boyfriend to paella in San Diego and the one we were served here paled significantly in comparison. Even in the photos, the shrimp on top appear completely unseasoned and not charred at all and the rice is hardly crispy only on the bottom. The bell peppers were limp and I ended up picking them out. My boyfriend was especially unimpressed by the peas, but at this point we were not about to let the meal ruin the rest of our Friday night. Our server was friendly and I'll admit that we downplayed our true feelings about the dishes when he came over to check in. Looking at photos from other reviewers I would hesitate to say much good about the Paella de Mariscos since all the shrimp and rice look the same as what we were served. I'm inclined to believe there are some better dishes on the menu here, just wouldn't return to have the rabbit stew or seafood paella again. read more

The food is so delicious and the gambas al ajiljo are iconic! Tonight we added two new editions to our regular which were the croquettas de pollo (chicken croquettes) and the Jamon Serrano al pan con tomate (cured ham with tomato bread). Returning. Favorites we had tonight were the Gambas Al Ajijo, Saiteado de Carne Asada, Patatas Bravas and of course the Red Sangria pitcher.... Don't tred lightly with it I am currently writing this still a little tipsy from my bed! :) read more

Picaro - Patatas Bravas, Croquetas de Pollo, Gambas al Ajillo, Salteado De Carne Asada and a cleared plate of Jamon Serrano en Pan con Tomate. - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here with a friend for the first time a couple of weeks ago & was delighted to see how much value we got for what we paid! We love that because each dish wasn't priced so high, we were able to try plenty of different foods, with a good mix of protein, greens, vegetables, and carbs. My favorite dish was the pulpo (octopus). It was super filling & for around $11-12, that is a steal in this city!! I love to dine out on my own as well, and I'd strongly consider coming back here to order a few dishes for myself. The non-pretentious & calm environment also makes it a perfectly good place to enjoy a slow night to yourself or enjoy a few hours chit chatting with a friend as I did! Also, with so many affordable options on the menu, it was great to bring my pescatarian-curious (mostly vegetarian) friend here - something on the menu for all of us! read more

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One of my absolute favorite tapas restaurants in SF. They literally have the best Brava sauce on the planet and the best Sangria. The way the infuse the flavor of garlic on their dishes is so satisfying yet not overwhelming. The chicken and rice is so comforting. The cabbage , the perfectly fried calamari, the prawns in garlic butter sauce it is truly a great dining experience. The service is always friendly and attentive. The atmospheric the daytime is a lot more tame than at night. At night it comes to life with Mariachis and singing and dancing! read more

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Picaro is the traditional, no-frills Spanish restaurant that San Francisco needs. The service is spectacular, the environment references Spanish artists, and the food is spectacular. I could've celebrated my most recent birthday at numerous more "name brand" restaurants - Kokkari, Gary Danko, Che Fico - but Picaro was the perfect fit because of its quality and simplicity. Sensational. read more

Finally, a gem in the Mission that doesn't nickle-and-dime you to death! Picaro is exactly what I've been searching for: authentic Spanish tapas, generous portions, reasonable prices, and a fun, unpretentious vibe. The atmosphere immediately transports you to Spain - warm, relaxed, and buzzing with energy from a crowd that's there for good food and good times, not to be seen. What we ordered: The Pulpo Al Ajillo (Garlic Octopus) at $13 was absolutely delicious - perfectly tender octopus served with scallop potatoes that soaked up all that garlicky goodness. We meant to order the Rabbit Stew but our server brought the Rabo de Toro (Oxtail Stew) instead at $13.43. Happy accident! The oxtail was incredibly flavorful and fall-off-the-bone tender. The Grilled Trout ($19.24) with stewed zucchini and salad was a solid choice. The fish was tender though slightly bland, but the sides were tasty. For dessert, the Flan ($7.28) was phenomenal - creamy, perfectly caramelized, and the ideal ending to our meal. We also shared a Sangria Pitcher ($16.84) that hit the spot. Service: Friendly and attentive, even with the mix-up on our order. No pretension, just genuine hospitality. They charge 4% more for credit cards versus cash, but here's the thing - in a city where nearly every restaurant slaps you with a 4-7% "SF Mandate" fee, Picaro doesn't do that. The prices you see are honest prices for honest food. In an era where SF restaurants are finding every excuse to pad the bill, Picaro is a refreshing throwback to what dining out should be: delicious food, fair prices, and a great time. Definitely recommended! read more

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I can't say enough about our first visit to Picaro! We celebrated my brother's birthday with a huge group,about 30 of us, and from start to finish, it was a spectacular experience. We kicked things off at the bar with their incredible sangria, which was a perfect start. Then, we were seated at this long table, and it was like a parade of flavors. The garlic dip that came with the bread was unreal, I put it on everything! For tapas, we had the potatoes (so garlicky), sausage, asparagus, and broccoli, all fantastic. And then, the paella! We got four different kinds: a meat paella, a fish paella, a mixed paella, and a veggie paella. Each one was a knockout, I'm not usually a paella fan, but now I am! The staff were amazing, so attentive, constantly refilling waters and sauce when we asked. I just need to know what was in that garlic sauce,it was a game changer! I highly recommend Picaro for any special occasion or just a fantastic meal, I'll definitely be back! read more

Picaro - Paella - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Couple of weeks ago when one of my friends came to visit, I took her on a Waymo from her Union Square hotel to Picaro in the Mission. Not too many people in the restaurant that day, but I think there was a birthday party in the back of the restaurant. The service was great. Our waitress was very friendly. My friend was surprised at how tasty the food was (tapas) and how affordable everything was. We had a great time catching up. We especially enjoyed the yummy garlic shrimp. Ambiance is casual friendly vibes. Located on 16th St & Valencia. read more

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The food was really good I ordered calamari, Carnitas lobster tail mushrooms, and two crafts of sangria. Everything went off great however I noticed the first order of calamari. I didn't receive and thinking that it would come. I got the calamari, and then, for some reason, it never came of the food started arriving, drank the whole craft of sangria, which was amazing and my friends and I had a wonderful time. Decided to stay a little longer and order another craft of sangria finish that off left had a wonderful experience. The following week I noticed that I never received the calamari which was the first thing I ordered and in doing so I thought I would go back in. Let the Resturant now and get my $10 back a point entering I spoke to the entry person who called over manager and spoke to the manager and told him of the situation he questioned me why didn't say anything before I said I realize at the beginning, but I figured it would come out after finishing up one craft the sangria and the great conversation I had and finishing out the second one. I totally forgot until I looked at my bill. Unfortunately, I was made to feel like I was trying to get over on an appetizer, but I just wanted to pay for what I received and then the manager whoever he was said to me, you know next time just make make sure you look over your receipt no apology just made me laugh feeling some kind of way about returning read more

Came here after the Argentina VS Spain game let me tell you . The ambiance was amazing considering Espana won Chris was such a good person and attentive as well as Fabian we had a big party and they made sure to always check on us loved it here will come again read more

I finally had the opportunity to try Picaro after hearing high praises from a friend. Picaro offers delicious Spanish food at a reasonable price for San Francisco. The restaurant itself is very spacious and is suitable for small to large parties. Staff are welcoming, accommodating, attentive, and service is excellent. We started the meal with complimentary bread and bravas sauce. The sauce is addictive and can be eaten with everything and anything. The garlic octopus (pulpo al ajillo) and shrimp (gambas a la plancha) were tender and well-seasoned. The seafood paella was flavorful and topped with a generous portion of fresh calamari, shrimp, clams, and mussels. Picaro offers a plethora of dishes suitable for meat eaters, vegetarians, and pescatarians. Dishes are easily shareable for the table. Overall, I had a great first experience dining at Picaro and am excited to return and to continue exploring their menu. read more

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I came here with two other people and we ordered the seafood paella to share. Unfortunately, like other reviewers mentioned, it really lacked seasoning. The dish looked nice but the flavor just wasn't there :( it tasted pretty bland overall. Pictures look better than it taste. read more

Decent place for tapas and Paella but nothing out of this world. I enjoyed the tortilla de patata and glad I tried it over the usual patatas bravado. Paella was a bit on the dry side as well as the pork skewers. I wouldn't order that or the octopus again as I was underwhelmed. The food came out pretty quick because we were there for an early dinner, once it started getting busy around 6:30PM, the waiters didn't really come by anymore and it was extremely loud in the restaurant. One thing that bothered me was how stuffy and hot the restaurant was. We even sat by the window with it open but I was still very uncomfortable. It made my clothes very very smelly when I left. Definitely not my go to place, but I feel like there aren't too many great options in the city, especially ones that aren't over the top and over priced. read more

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My favorite Spanish restaurant in the city and one of my top places to eat in SF. I just needed a quick bite and a glass of sangria, and found out they have a new drink menu. I will try a cocktail next time. As always, Patatas Bravas were well cooked and crispy, aioli and sauce were perfect. read more

Picaro - Red sangria, Patatas Alioli Patatas Alioli - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great food, homey atmosphere, and very affordable. 4-5 small plates is great for 2 people. Try the patatas bravas!

Some of the best prices in the City - don't believe the AI hype. It's a super friendly, very good family restaurant. The tables are a little worn, but it's from love, community, and a lot of excellent sangria! read more

service very nice people very friendly and welcoming food also very good deserves the price ambiance very very pleasant love the sauce for bread!!! read more

Picaro - bread with sauce - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Always great food and staff and ambiance! I've gone there since they opened many years ago. My neighborhood go to.

Came here to try out a new place with my friend! We got the fried anchovies, tortilla de patata, garlic octopus, and saffron rice to share, which was more than enough for two people- felt really full afterwards. Ambiance is nice, and I really liked the decorations! Service was also good as the server provided us with several food suggestions/recommendations! Food summary: Tortilla de Patata 10/10 Omelette with onion and potato. Very good, and I'd definitely get it again! Was unsure about it at first, but everything works well together and was cooked very well. Definitely my favorite dish from here that I've tried so far. Garlic octopus 9/10 I liked that there were also potatoes included in this. The octopus was a little bit salty, but overall was still very good and had a nice garlicky flavor! Saffron rice (side) 7/10 This was still good, but I did not enjoy it as much as the other dishes. It had a good taste and the rice as well-cooked! Fried anchovies 9/10 Was seasoned and fried well! Reminded me of a different Chinese dish I've had before, so I enjoyed it. Extra: Bread 9/10 Loved the dip that the bread came with. Was a little spicy, but packed with flavor :) read more

Picaro - Fried Anchovies - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Overall: 4.5/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Cleanliness: 3/5 The food is fantastic! I ordered the Seafood Paella which was really good. I also ordered the Fried Calamari which was delicious! The house garlic sauce is outta here!! The restrooms needed attention though. Not sure how often they clean the restrooms but it's important because it can be indication of the level of cleanliness the staff has. Overall, had a great experience and the food was great! read more

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Just an update: Still, the best food, the best staff, the best ambiance! But let me break it down: Free basket of bread? Who wouldn't want a free bread or food? Lol. Calamares Fritos was good but the dip should be more flavorful. But one of my fave. Pescado Rebozado con Aioli was amazing too. Add on to my fave! As per my boyfriend, Boquerones en Vinagre was okay. He tried the same food in Barcelona, Spain and he said that it's not as sour. Ropa Vieja is great! One of my fave too. Recommendation: For the sauce/ Aioli of Pescado Rebozado and Calamares Fritos - a little more garlic, a hint of Paprika and a hint of Black Pepper would be great(Trust me). For Pescado Rebozado - just want to recommend for the staff to double check on removing the fish bone entirely. I don't mind the fish bone as I grew up with it, but I just want to suggest it as some customer or people out there are too sensitive and complains too much on certain things. Btw, I've been here several times. Overall, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

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The service was fantastic--fast and efficient! We ordered eight different tapas along with paella, and everything was delicious. I'm not usually a big fan of octopus, but this was one of the best octopus dishes I've ever had. We also tried the Spanish sparkling wine, and it was fantastic! The restaurant is a bit old and a little extra cleaning would be helpful. Chairs were sticky Bonus: If you're lucky, you might get to enjoy live music--it was absolutely beautiful! read more

$10 lobster tails are you kidding me?? My fav go to for best priced tapas in the city. The vibes are always high and the service matches. 10/10 would recommend read more

Food was tasty. Service excellent. No waiting. Super authentic tapas. Solid sangria. read more

Picaro - Paella de Mariscos - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food is delicious and their sangria is awesome‍! I always get the seafood paella and order a few Tapas (appetizers) while we wait for the paella. They have many vegetarian options as well. Service is average, but they are also very busy, or at least have been every time I've dined there. Some tables can be a bit cramped, but again, they are usually packed and trying to sit as many people as possible. There's outdoor dining in the front and back of the restaurant. Personally, I do not like sitting in the outdoor areas because servers tend to forget about you. There are two (single) unisex bathrooms, so sometimes there can be a long wait for the restroom. I want to give this place four stars because the food is delicious. Unfortunately, due to the layout and service I'm giving them three stars. I'm trying to be fair and give a well rounded review. If they created a better layout, maybe less tables, and improved their reservation process, things would go much smoother and they'd get that fourth star. read more

What a throwback. I remember vividly just a few years ago when I first moved to SF and Yelp was not even an app installed on my phone, I dined in at this Tapas place with a great romesco sauce. As a non yelper then, I failed to "document" the food, not even the name of the place. Fast forward to 2024, my date took me to Picaro for some tapas and drinks. My heart skipped a beat because I instantly recognized it as we entered the door. My joy was short-lived though as the basket of bread came with romesco sauce no more but rather with a salsa brava. I might be mistaken but I know it just isn't the same sauce they used to serve. It was good (and spicy) however wasn't the one I've been dreaming of going back to for years. We ordered a bunch, 6 tapas to be exact and a couple of white sangrias - Tapas : Patatas Bravas - perfectly fried potatoes with crispy edges while still soft on the center. These paired well with the spicy sauce. Pulpo Al Ajillo - octopus is difficult to cook and yet it came out soft and flavorful. Some parts were slimy though, I am not sure if that was intentional. Boquerones Fritos - fried anchovies were meaty and tender Miyagi oysters - small oysters with zero to mild brininess Champiñones Al Ajillo - meaty fungi with a hint of garlic Mejillones ala Vinaigrette - steamed mussels with diced tomatoes and vinegar base sauce We did not order paella this time. We somehow ended up getting a bunch of tapas which we later realized was too much for a group of 2. Service is great. Staff is very attentive. They always check on you and refill your glass of water and take empty plates. Overall, a pretty solid time at Picaro. A nice nightcap to kickoff the weekend. read more

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Mostly a tapas place with regulars but they do have a few main courses if you want to eat. Across the street from the Roxie Theater, this is a good to go before or after a show. The tapas is 5 star although a bit pricey. The hardware is old & "lived in" and I actually found is charming. Its a place where regulars sit & chat which is lovely. read more

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such good paella for an affordable price, me and my friends came here and the service was quick and lovely, we got one big paella and we all left super full. will be coming back read more

Picaro - Paella de Carne y Mariscos - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm surprised that Picaro has so many 5-star reviews. I thought the paella was just okay. We got the vegetarian paella, carne and the seafood. Protein portions are generous but the rice just was not that flavorful and could have been more spicier imo. The complimentary bread and salsa was divine and service was great, as mentioned on the menu, we had to wait ~30 minutes for the paellas to be ready. Parking can be difficult and we had to do some rounds for street parking. read more

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Oh, Picaro. How I dream of that salsa brava... I mean, I really do. That red sauce is one of my top five sauces of all time, in the world. It's kind of upsetting, really. If you love garlic, you'll love their salsa brava. I also love their tapas. I highly recommend: - broccoli (!!) - asparagus (!) - artichoke (!!) - patatas bravas (!) - green beans - tortilla espanola - sangriaaaa, red or white(!) - crema catalana (!!) The paella takes 30min to come out, and as a vegetarian, I didn't really think their veggie one was worth it. I'd much rather nibble on a variety of other plates, rather than fill up on paella. The QR codes at the tables are for menus only, so you'll still have to figure out a way to split the check upon payment. The service is generally pretty good, but you might have to flag down a waiter to get more water/etc. Picaro deserves all the love and hype it gets. I regularly take out-of-towners here, and celebrate birthdays here, and really I'll take any excuse to eat an unholy amount of that red sauce. I'd exercise caution if you are prone to heartburn though. read more

Food was sooo good, my girlfriend and I ate here just yesterday, and we don't usually do reviews, but honestly the food and the service were so good, I just had to! Our waiter was so friendly and we had an altogether lovely experience. read more

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Overall: A good selection of tapas to choose from. Would I come back: It's my go to for tapas in the city. The extended review... Food: 4/5 - Got a mixture of things and all of them were all very tasty. The good thing is you can order many things to taste. Of them I always get the Spanish Tortilla which is an egg and potato dish. Service: 4/5 - Friendly and attentive service. Ambiance: 3.5/5 - There are times when a band will come in and walk throughout the restaurant playing loud music. That's one thing I can do without. read more

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