It's a very lively restaurant, so think twice before coming here for a romantic date or an intimate night out. They have an extensive menu and are done family-style, so come prepared to share a bunch of dishes. We ordered a variety of tapas and seafood paella. The standout from the tapas we ordered was the oysters, which surprised me. They were incredibly fresh, sweet, and creamy. However, the other tapas, grilled papers, artichokes, spicy potatoes, beet salad, and calamari were okay. They were definitely not anything to write home about. The seafood paella was just okay, too. The serving size for 6 was absolutely massive. However, the flavor was a bit bland compared to other paellas. It's not good, but it's not bad, either. Overall, if you're looking for a place to have a big party or catch up with friends over finger foods and tapas, this place might be worth considering. But as mentioned, don't expect to be blown away by the food. read more

Came for a second visit, hoping for as good as the first time, and instead it was even better. I ordered the paella again but asked for a crispier bottom, and they delivered. They knew exactly what I was talking about. It wasn't perfect (some bits were over charred and some of the seafood was a little drier), but nearly so. For those that expect or prefer soccarat/crispy rice with their paella, they can do that. Again, flavor was spot on. Again, couldn't finish my food despite not spending much. The wine was so smooth and one of the best I've had (so much so that I wrote down the name so I can get a bottle for home) and yet so affordable. This place continues to be a gem. read more

Came here for a birthday dinner for my cousins! The place was booming and had a really lively energy. The service was great and fast as well! I lovedddd the oysters! The only downside is the surrounding area outside felt a bit unsafe. Parking was super hard as well, but I guess that's anywhere in the city! read more

Picaro - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Every time we go to this place, it's hands down a great experience. The food!!! The service!!! Would highly recommend this place!! read more

Excellent paella! Many variations. Seafood,meat, vegetarian. Many choices of Tapas also.

Went here on a Thursday around 620pm. Was able to get a table for 2 without a reservation. They had a lot of seats available inside and outside, but it started to get busy around 730. I've eaten here before, but this review will be about my experience on that day. We ordered the Parrillada, which a meat platter over potatoes. Overall, the dish was super meat heavy! It said it's good for 2-3 people but I believe it's good for 4-5 people. It was huge! My favorite parts of the dish was the sausage and potatoes. It was seasoned perfectly and sooo good. The rest was okay and the chicken was dry. Honestly I wouldn't order this again. Too much meat. We had a lot to take home. We also had the red sangria pitcher which was perfect for 2. Sweet and fruity tasting! I would recommend ordering the tapas and paella instead of a big meat platter. But my friends favorite was the Parrillada, so to each their own! 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

When coming here, you must always have a reservation just because the space is fairly small and people usually go with a party. And just like as we came for my sister's birthday and we were a fairly small party, but yeah, we were all squeezed onto a table . We don't mind , because the food and drinks are amazing here. This is definitely a San Francisco staple for Latin America style paella, which we love, and we love that they have different variations and styles of a paella for all types of food, restrictions, or people who are picky eaters read more

Great food and vibes, would highly recommend for Spanish tapas in the city! Been here many times and the food always delivers. Some of my favorites are the chorizo, chicken croquettes, garlic shrimp, and fried calamari. All of the food is so well seasoned, I've had very few dishes I didn't like. I also really like the sharing nature of tapas so you can try more things and makes it a great place for groups. They give complimentary bread with patatas bravas sauce which is so good. Picaro is pretty reasonably priced per dish considering the quality of the food + decent portions. They also have happy hour from 4-7pm, which includes their Sangria which is also pretty tasty. Overall, one of my favorite Spanish places in the city, would recommend. read more

Picaro - Chorizo Fried calamari Garlic shrimp Chicken croquettes Free bread with patatas bravas sauce - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

The grilled calamari is my favorite. I've ordered it many times. Yesterday, I got a promo on a combination meal through DoorDash. I had to get the grilled calamari. I chose potatoes and cabbage as sides. Thanks for the savings. read more

Picaro - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Picaro is such a lovely and inviting spot for group dinners! The paella doesn't miss and it fills the table up easily. The service is always kind, though food can be a bit of a wait (~20min) especially if you order paella. read more

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

We were in spain last year this time for three weeks , and I have been telling people that we never had a bad meal. Well the food we had last night was every bit as good as every bit of food we had in spain, We had potatos with Aoli , asperagus, fried artichokes, squid a la plancha and octopus the same, and every bit was delicious. And the good news is ,there are more sea food and vegetable items on the menu. We drove in from Marin, but was worth it. It is my new touchstone restaurant. Get in there. Also read Irene X's review. read more

We've been there with family gathering a few times as well with my partner for the past 8 yrs. Great seafood paella. Super flavorful, small plates for are nice add ons.Conscientious wait-persons through out our meal. read more

Amazing paella! This is comfort food at its best! Very family oriented place to eat. Nothing fancy, just amazing authentic flavors. The servings are very large. For a family of 5, ordering 2 paellas, 1 seafood platter and calamari, we were able to take home and have another complete meal. The service is very good! Everyone is very friendly. They have a great menu that will please everyone! Kid approved! read more

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OMG - LOVE this place! We were waiting for a film showing at the Roxie and sat outside Picaro watching the Roxie's previous showing exiting the theater and was able to jump in line once the line started forming. For that, awesome location. Food is also surprisingly solid too. The setting really reminds me of sitting at an outdoor cafe in Spain or Portugal eating tapas and sipping wine. read more

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We came here before the New year and it was awesome. Good atmosphere, great service. They cleated us even though we had no reservation. Food was absolutely amazing! I loved the sauce that comes with bread! Paella with seafood is a must try!!! read more

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I cannot WAIT to go back! Everything was quality quality! Rich flavors, good portions and don't forget the desserts! The atmosphere vibrant and relaxing simultaneously. The server was on point and the wait staff very attentive. This is a must go to place. Interesting enough, even neighboring tables were friendly. After all, you want to know what they have so you can try next time! Food looks so scrumptious! There was even a table of a triple date! Ah! L'amor! Love in the air! Compersion for everyone's great experiences! read more

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I wouldn't say this is your upscale Spanish tapas place but for the price you pay, it is worth enduring the fruit flies for it. - basket of bread with sauce: that sauce was gorgeous. - sangria: I actually like the white ones more than the red. - garlic sauté mushrooms: star of the show. Very very flavourful and garlicky. Had to order 2 of it. - garlic shrimp: very good and very fresh. However, the back of the shrimp strip was not removed, which I didn't mind, but just in case you do. - lobster: very juicy and not overcooked. Definitely a highlight. - oxtail stew: meat was fell-off-the-bone tender. - papaya: rice was very flavourful and well cooked. A bit salty so make sure you share with others and eat smaller portions of it. Some other items to note: - green beans: It was good. Healthy - potato brava: it was ok. Sauce was good - tortilla: a bit bland. Eggs and potatoes are well cooked tho Everything came out very fast. read more

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The food is yummy and the prices are great! Our little group goes out a lot for food and drinks and this place is right up top read more

Food (4/5): Food was overall delicious. We enjoyed the paella, oysters, prosciutto, sausages, and so on. The oysters were a bit small and had a grimy feel but everything else was solid. The Paella had good flavor and fresh seafood. Service (5/5): Helpful and friendly service with the server being flexible and informative. Ambiance (4/5): At first I was a bit hesitant because the surrounding area seemed sketchy. However, the ambiance of the restaurant itself ended up being great. It felt like an authentic place with solid food. read more

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I dined in with my girlfriend an hour before closing, 9pm. Was seated, poured water and given bread with sauce, promptly. The spread was delicious!! Red beet salad, potatoes with garlic mayonnaise, sautéed spanish sausage, fried calamari, and a few other items. So delicious!! I enjoyed the interior decor too. Really unique and tasteful decorations! The food was served within about 10-15 minutes of ordering. I enjoyed my visit to Picaro. read more

Picaro - Dinner! - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

TL:DR; If you're a group of 6, a 4 person paella is enough if you are ordering other tapas! $19 pitcher for sangria! My boyfriend and I have been here a few times and loved every experience. Food is great, service is quick, and we always welcome the mariachi singers for a song or two-- it really adds to the Mexican ambience. It does not have the most beautiful tables, decor, interior, etc like a lot of new and hot restaurants but to be honest, that's how you know the food will be good :) read more

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

We went to Spain last May and wanted to find a good spot in the city for tapas and sangria and stumbled on Picaro. We came here on a Friday evening. It was lively with loud music and busy! Food came out quickly and all the tapas dishes were delicious! Highlights: the clams, the croquetas, and the lobster tail! Sangria pitcher was solid. Would come back here again! read more

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Came here on a Sunday evening with my boyfriend and we ordered the sangria, paella, potatos and calamari. I thought everything tasted delicious especially with the added house made orange sauce. You can add the extra sauce to anything and it'll make it that much more delicious. The paella came with shrimp, clams, peas, scallops, and mussels. I thought it lacked flavor but with the orange spicy, creamy sauce it elevated the dish. Definitely great for 2 people. Anything more would have been too much. We even had some leftovers to go. The calamari was standard. Wish it was a little bit more salty and crispy but all in all good. The potatoes were yummy. A little mushy but I would give it another try and order it again. read more

Picaro - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Picaro is a staple in The Mission food scene that has been able to maintain its festive atmosphere, great service and delicious food.

Food was good, Saturday night took us an hour to get our table ready, Stuff working fast and efficient. Good place to enjoy food drinks and good times with your friends Surrounding is a little old but it has its own charm read more

Picaro is a great place for a casual night out and for a great and fulfilling meal. The seafood paella is flavorful and the tapas are plentiful. Some of the tapas we ordered include patatas bravas and the pan con tomate dip. There wasn't a specific standout, but service was fantastic and we had a band play for our table for a friend's birthday which was a nice touch but slightly weird that they charged us for it. read more

Service was very nice and ambiance is intimate. I've been here a few times and sometimes they have live music playing which is cool. Wait was quick on a Wednesday night - almost no one but I've been here on a Saturday night and I remember waiting only about 15 minutes for a table. This place definitely has 1st or second date vibes We started with the calamari and it wasn't anything to write home about but the tartar sauce kinda bussin . Oh, I also forgot the have free bread w the spicy sauce they put on top of the patatas bravas. FREE BREAD! Paella was yummy - made to order and comes out hot hot. It has shrimp, peas, calamari, and clams! I can't really describe the flavor but it took me to flavortown trust. Squid ink was funny too because it kept getting stuck on our lips. One small order fed 2 people and we had plenty of leftovers for another meal. read more

City prices will prepare for just about anything. This foodie city will make you go broque and leave you with an international food baby to show for it! But, I was not prepared for this... At Picaro, seven dishes...three of them being seafood including lobster...enough food to feed three people (maybe four if you load up on their free bread)... FOR ONLY $60 (pre-tax and tip) - HELLA CHEAP!!!! You can barely get a sandwich for $20 at some places. With that being said, I think you get what you pay for at Picaro so you need to choose your dishes wisely to have a good experience. After dranks at ABV, I was looking for something close and affordable, and Picaro fit the bill. Picaro is open for takeout, delivery, indoor dining, and outdoor dining. Dog-friendly. We came early enough that we were seated without rezzies but def make them during primetime dinner time and on the weekends. This place was poppin' on a weeknight. M E N U Extensive selection of Spanish tapas - Sausages, cheeses, soup, veggies, seafood, meat, paellas, combo plates, and desserts. Beer, wine, and sangria only. No full bar. HH Special - $14 Sangria Pitchers on Sunday-Thursday: 4 PM - 7 PM and Friday-Saturday: 1 PM - 6 PM F O O D ***Food spread: https://tinyurl.com/bdhbf66f * Complimentary Bread w/ brava sauce The sliced french bread was light and airy with a chewy crust. Served with a mildly spicy, tangy, and creamy dipping sauce. * Champinones: Mushrooms sauteed w/ garlic and olive oil ($7.25) Best item of the night! The sauteed button mushrooms were earthy, meaty, and garlicky. * Rabo de Toro: Ox-tail stew ($10.75) The oxtail was soft and tender but bland. * Calamares Fritos: Fried calamari ($8.25) Dry and rubbery. * Gambas Plancha: Grilled jumbo shrimp ($8.50) You can tell the shrimp wasn't fresh and was previously frozen. It needed a seasoning/sauce to mask the staleness. * Langosta: Grilled lobster tail ($9.50): https://tinyurl.com/4v84rdfc Again, just like the shrimp, you can tell the lobster wasn't fresh. I wanted to dunk it into a phantom pool of garlic butter. * Morcilla: Sauteed Spanish blood sausage ($7.25) I usually love blood sausage (esp Soondae, the Korean version) but this one was no bueno. They deep fry the morcilla before sautéing it, and it seems they left it too long in the fryer because the morcilla was dried out. * Chorizo: Sauteed Spanish paprika sausage ($7.75) Not sure what regional chorizo they use but it was sour. =/ S E R V I C E Cordial but bare minimum (I don't mind when prices are this low and so this has no bearing on my rating). Our order was taken, food delivered, and we had to flag someone down for the bill. Food service took awhile then everything came all at once. Wished they coursed out some of the tapas. A M B I A N C E Very low-key, lively, and festive. Lots of large groups were dining indoors. Front patio tables and tables in the partially covered parklet were separated by curtains for privacy. The line for the restoom (only two toilets) reminds me of the club days; just not enough for the volume of customers. P A R K I N G Very difficult street parking. Best to Uber/Lyft it here on the weekends. Overall, I can see why Picaro has been a Mission staple for yeaaaarssss (since 1982). With inflation hitting hard, they've managed to keep their prices low. For tapas, I prefer Cha Cha Cha (cuban) but wouldn't be opposed to returning to Picaro for budget tapas and their outdoor seating. Again, you get what you pay for so next time, I would skip the seafood and stick with veggies, carbs, and non-sausage meat dishes. read more

Picaro - Champinones ($7.25), Chorizo Salteado ($7.75), Morcilla ($7.75), Gambas ($8.50), Calamares Fritos ($8.25), Rabo de Toro ($10.75) - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here with a friend with a Yelp reservation which was super convenient! Good: - Fast service - Fan of their patata brava - the potatoes were so crispy and the sauces it came with were great - The paella seafood was huge! Lots of flavor and I liked the overall composition and quantity of it. It did end up being too much so I had to take some home Bad: - Their bread was sort of meh - classic sourdough and it was also kind of cold when we got it - Casual place Overall solid paella and it is somewhere I could see going again if I'm in the area. Not the best I've had. read more

Picaro - Papas Patatas Bravas - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Since it was just my first visit I can only share a bit of it although I will start it by saying it out loud "Picaro is a must try" eats! I like this type of place that offers a variety of grilled food so my wife and I ordered the grilled asparagus which was really tasty and pork kebabs which I wasn't impressed very much. I was hoping for a marinated one not just seasoned w rub so it was just ok for me. The sauted clams w garlic parsley and olive oil was my favorite really tasty and cooked perfectly. My wife who ordered a combination plate had carne asada which I tried a lil bit and this one is better than the pork. I will definitely come back here again try out some of those in the menus and come back for their fresh oysters and sangria which really gave me a good buzz read more

Good place to go with a group - easy to get a reservation. We got a bunch of appetizers and the seafood paella -- it was solid, though by no means the best paella I've had. We also got a pitcher of sangria, which was tasty. Easy place to swing by in the Mission, right off Valencia. Atmosphere was cozy. read more

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

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An authentic Spanish restaurant in the heart of Mission with great food. The restaurant is beautiful and it makes you feel like you are in a cute cafe in Spain. I visited Picaro on Saturday for a date night with my husband just before 6 pm and I am so glad I made a reservation in advance because the place was packed. This restaurant is good for a romantic date, as well as an outing with your family and friends. Our server was very knowledgeable and informative, she kept checking on us and even made some good recommendations. Both of us got the red wine sangria and it was delicious. For the food we ordered the following- Croquetas de Pollo- These chicken croquettes were flavourful and I loved having every bite of them specially when that burst of cheese hits your mouth. One of my favourite dishes of the night. Chorizo Cantimpalitos- I have always been a fan of sausages and these sausages were absolutely delectable. This dish had the perfect balance of flavours. Oysters- My husband had these and he told me these are some of the most fresh and delicious oysters he has had. Patatas Aioli- I love the potatoes but I didn't like the Aioli sauce much. Will stick to the spicy sauce next time. Free Bread with sauce- Omg they serve the best sauce with the bread. It's so addictive and mouthwatering. Overall we had a great time here. When we were about to leave a few men started playing beautiful Spanish music which lit up the ambience even more. Would highly recommend this hidden gem for a great Spanish meal. I will definitely going to come back to try their Paella and have more Sangria. read more

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They always say everything happens for a reason. ¡Hasta la vista! to things that no longer matter and hello to rekindling friendships. Happy Birthday to my dear friend as we celebrated over good times, sangria, and delicious food. .:: Food ::. Gambas al Ajillo $8.50: Garlic shrimp. WOW. SOOOOOOO good. I dont know what they did with it, but it was addicting Paella de Carne y Mariscos $35: chicken, meats, and seafood paella for 2 people. Pretty good as well. So tasty with the mix of seafood and meats. A super well rounded dish. And the size was PERFECT since we were sharing so many other dishes. Patatas Bravas $7: fried potatoes with homemade spicy sauce. Crispy potatoes with a good kick from their spicy sauce. Tortilla de Patata $7.50: potato and onion omelet. very unique experience. Its like a THICCCCCCC potato omelet which paired greatly with the sauce. Croquetas de Pollo $7.50: chicken croquettes. gives me cheese stick vibes. Fresh Oysters $10.80 (6): my friends enjoyed this. Alcachofas a la Plancha $7.50: grilled artichokes. my friends also like this. Salteado de Carne Asada $9.50: Grilled Arrachera steak with green onions and mushrooms. OOOF, good mesh of flavors for the steak. moist and cooked to perfection Sangria Pitcher $19 (-$5 during happy hour, 7pm-5pm Sun-Thu): we went with Picaro's Original Red Sangria. Pretty good balance of sweetness. .:: Service / Ambiance / Parking ::. Service was good! Friendly waiters. We made reservations so we were seated immediately. Food all came at the same time in a timely manner, paella came a little later. The ambiance gave me tapas vibes with unique little paintings/ sculptures/ decor. A good noise level, not too loud at all to where we have to scream to hear each other. Parking seemed like a nightmare, so we uber'ed *Can I just note? I was expecting a $200-$250+++ meal... but the total was $154 WHAT??? Maybe I have gone super jaded by the SF inflation but this was so worth read more

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My partner and I have been craving jamón and overall Spanish food ever since we returned from Spain. I thought Picaro was a great place to satisfy said cravings. They started the meal with complimentary bread and brava sauce (rich and slightly tangy sauce consisting of tomatoes, garlic, chili peppers, vinegar, and other spices) - brava sauce was soooo good! We got a sangria pitcher, a jamón appetizer, paella de arroz negro, and stir fried calamari shared between two people. Would definitely return for the same dishes. We also got garlic aioli sauce on the side and additional brava sauce to mix in with our paella, and they gave us so much sauce (at least a decent bowl sized amount each). The restaurant is a bit noisy with a lot of seating and tables, so I'd recommend sitting in the back if possible if you'd like to get a quieter spot. read more

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This is a great place to do a group dinner! The sangria is delicious and the small plates were all decent servings and pretty good. We got the Paella de Carne y Mariscos serving for 6 and had more than enough. They definitely give you more seafood than meat if you lean either way. Our waiter was quick to check in on us and made some great small plate recommendations. I'll be back for their sangria for sure! read more

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

To be honest I'm not a big seafood person nor do I have much experience with paella, but I thought the seafood paella was pretty good! I came with a big group and the staff were very accommodating. We sat in the back outdoor area which had heaters. We split the medium sized paella recommended for 4 people amongst 5 girls, and we had leftovers, while a table of 5 guys we came with split a 6 person paella and could still eat more, so honestly it just depends on how much the people you come with can eat . There was complimentary bread that comes with this garlicky spicy sauce which was really delicious as well, and the menu says they charge for extra baskets, but the wait staff told us as long as the number of bread baskets is not unreasonable, then they don't charge you extra, which is nice! Good vibes and a good meal all around! read more

Picaro - seafood paella - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mr & my girls LOVE IT HERE!!! The food is ALWAYS BANGING & it smells amazing walking thru the door. We always get pretty fast service even when it's busy & the staff is always so friendly! It gets pretty loud in here so be prepared to have to yell a little bit or sit closer to your party to hear. Overall, my go to dinner spot with the girls, get the pitcher of sangria & thank me later. read more

Really good tapas in the Mission. I've been going here for years and love the variety of options on the menu. We did notice prices recently increased, which is somewhat expected due to prices increasing almost everywhere, but were also disappointed since they seemed to have gone up quite a bit in just a couple of months. Also, they've recently updated their menu to include a price per item when paying via cash vs. credit card. I understand businesses need to pay a fee for credit card usage, however everyone uses credit cards these days so I hate to see this expense passed on to the customer. All in all the food and service is really good with one note - the garlic shrimp were the tiniest shrimp we've ever received here (see picture for shrimp size compared to spoon/lemon wedge); if/when prices are raised I expect to receive the same quantity of food as before. Lastly, the restaurant is very spacious and we've never had to wait to be seated. It also seems to be good for larger groups as they have an area with large tables/seating. read more

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Food and Service was very good. Enjoy different dishes, sangria is algo good great service all the staff was really nice read more