I passed this place on the way to another restaurant that turned out to be closed, so I'm glad I had noted the menu was interesting and came back because damn this was good! I had to order the signature poc-chuc but I wasn't hungry enough for a full entry so I got a poc-chuc taco and also a chicken thigh taco. Each taco was LOADED so this was more than enough of a meal for me at such a cheap price. The poc-chuc pork meat was an insane flavor - while the citrus marinade wasn't super obvious like it didn't taste citrus-y, it tasted like no other pork I've had before and so flavorful and moist. The meat came on a freshly made tortilla as well - it was piping hot! And the tortilla was like no other corn or flour tortilla Ive had before. It was obviously very fresh and a little fluffy, though not to the level of naan or arepas. It just really complimented the meat. The chicken was fine but paled in comparison to the pork, so I shoulda got two of the signature. There was also free chips and salsa at the table. The salsa was also freshly made, but watch out the yellow/orange one has a strong kick to it! Logistics: - Indoor and outdoor seating - Limited street parking nearby but along the 22 and 55 bus lines read more

Poc-Chuc - Poc Chuc taco, chicken thigh taco, fresh salsa - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Small hole in the wall serving up stellar Yucatecan cuisine at a reasonable price! We ordered the namesake poc chuc plate and three panuchos to share, trying salpicon (my favorite), poc-chuc (my bfs favorite), and asada (our least favorite, but not bad). Portions of all were pretty large, we left super full and struggled to finish everything. The food was so damn good, writing this review is making me want to go back already! Chips were thick and crispy, they came with two salsas, one of which was way too spicy for me, but loved the other. The ambiance and service are what you'd expect from an older more traditional spot in The Mission. Would absolutely come back here and recommend it to anyone that truly loves food and experiencing other cultures and cuisines. read more

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SF Taco Tour '25 We've been to a few taco places for our tour, but Poc-Chuc takes the cake. Unique tacos you won't find anywhere else done with a level of quality you pray for when entering such a taco place. The staff was great, the fish taco was to die for, the habanero sauce was so hot and delicious I couldnt stop myself from eating it despite my screaming tongue. A beautiful experience at a beautiful restaurant. Will be recommending to friends- thanks poc-chuc! read more

Poc-Chuc - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Poc-Chuc has all the makings of a hidden gem, but it simply did not deliver on its promises during my meal. Disheartening because I was so excited to try Mayan cuisine. Showing up just after the lunch rush, the restaurant was kind of a mess--tables remained dirty and unbussed the entire time. There was food stuck to my menu, and no napkins to wipe it off. The lady constantly had something on her face (sour cream maybe?) and masa caked on her arms. It's kind of dark and dingy inside and the vibe wasn't warm and welcoming. The service was really prompt though. The food is the absolute star here. Their namesake, the Poc-Chuc is simple yet flavorful, and the portions are large! The platanos? Sweet and charred. My partner loved his Mayan Platter, a veritable feast of goods (panucho, salbute, empanado and tostada)! They did bring a flan (that we didn't order but they did put on our tab anyway). If you can look past the rest, the food really is that good. I'd probably order again if I got it to-go, but I'm not in a hurry to come back. read more

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A wonderful gem in the north Mission. We arrived at Poc Chuc at around 7:40 on a Saturday to order some food to go. When we arrived the place was pretty empty, and the server was eager to help us. We put in our order to go and waited. But it does not end there, since we were waiting in the restaurant, the server brought us not only chips and salsa, but a few welcome drinks as well which were delicious. It was so kind of her to do that even if we were ordering to go. The food was also absolutely incredible. The tacos are $6 which originally shocked me, but once I got the taco I understood. They were very large, filled to the brim with rice and protein. I could barely get through one and a half. The tortilla is homemade and you can taste the quality. I got the Mole and Chicken Salsa and they were both so juicy, flavorful, and well seasoned. My other friends got the Poc Chuc (a classic pork dish) which got rave reviews. So excited to come back here and try more of the menu. read more

Was craving tacos and moles so came to the hole in the wall retired that I always walk by and was slightly surprised by the huge portion sized with great value. The service and the vibes of the restaurant was kinda whatever but as long as the food is good that's all that matters sometimes The chicken mole was rich and flavorful, came with a bed of rice so it was super filling. Tortilla were fluffy, poc choc tacos were good but just wished they were seasoned more to my liking. read more

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Finally made it out to Poc-Chuc after many years of having it on my list. Our party of 2 arrived around 7:30pm on a weekday, and there was only one other party there during our entire meal. It's pretty dimly lit and definitely has hole in the wall vibes - slightly sticky table and menus included - which is fine if the food makes it worth it. We got the Poc-Chuc, two tacos, and the Pollo en Mole, which came with many tortillas. The star of the show was the Poc-Chuc, and while the portions were large and tasty, we were charged an extra $20 for unknown reasons, which along with the interior and slow service dropped Poc-Chuc from a 4 star to a 3 star. I'd probably consider getting take out in the future, but likely wont come for a sit down meal again. read more

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I'm Baaaaaacccckkkk with another Fabolous review on a local gem in the Mission district!!!! I've walked & driven by this hole in the hole Yucatan/Mayan restaurant for like 8yrs now and never been inside. Well that just changed because I've now had the pleasure of tasting their delicious cuisine. The food was so flavorful with an authentic taste. The auntie (tia) who served us was amazing and such a sweetheart! Unfortunately and I have no idea why but this little spot was completely empty:( Hella sad That should definitely not be the case because even tho the restaurant is small it's a perfect inexpensive date nite spot with a local vibe. So come check them out and remember to stop by those lil local spots you've always wanted to try but never have... They may surprise you!!! read more

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* date visited: 08.18.2024 * ordered: mezze sampler and poc chuc one of the reasons i love sf and the mission is because i get to explore so many new cuisines first time trying mayan food and i loved it. items on the mezze sampler were a little heavy since most things were fried but the poc chuc was amazing. tender, flavorful pork and the salsa, onions, lettuce, and lime balanced it so well. building a little bite with the fresh tortillas and mole sauce was so good. also the chips and salsa were complimentary but such a great starter. the chips were sooo thick and crunchy and both salsas were good but the green one changed things for me. service is good but it was very loud with a live dj when we visited so keep that in mind if you're hoping to talk LOL read more

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Mislabeled as Spanish and Mexican on yelp and Google. Mayan is not synonymous with and is distinct from both Spanish and Mexican cultures and languages. While Mayan cuisine can be included in Latin America, the more accurate description would be Mesoamerican. It is wonderful to have Mayan cuisine represented. However, I am being generous by giving a two star rating. The proteins were quite good overall. It is fun to get flavors that are unique such as poc chuc and pollo pibil. I enjoyed the mild salsa, though it wasn't very flavorful. I also enjoyed the fried plantains. The chips were over fried. We asked for refills of the small bowls which were served few and far between with observable disdain from the server. The service was poor. There was one person in the kitchen and one person serving the front which resulted in waiting quite a long time for our food. The customer service was offensive to say the least. Also, the website no longer functions and the receipts were unhelpful. We came here because of its proximity and the higher reviews relative to other restaurants nearby. The reviews within our party were mixed. read more

Poc-Chuc - Receipt - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've been a huge fan of Poc-Chuc for years. They make absolutely stellar Yucatecan food. Some of my favourite dishes include the panucho, salbute, and their tacos of cochinita pibil, escabeche, carnitas, poc chuc, and pollo pibil. In case it's not clear, I think I've listed half the menu as favorites. And this is without even mentioning the delicious hand-made tortillas or the amazing salsa. If you want to explore and enjoy some beautiful regional Mexican food, this place is outstanding. read more

Definitely a hole in the wall kind of spot. Fairly empty when I came by on a Saturday evening. My friend got the tacos de poc chuc and tacos de salpicon, and said one was definitely better than the other (but unfortunately we didn't know which one was which). I ended up deciding to order another taco for myself, and took a bet on the tacos de salpicon, but turns out the better one was the tacos de poc chuc. The salpicon taco I agree was meh. I also got a cochinita pibil, which I liked more. Unfortunately, I generally don't love their homemade tortilla (I prefer thinner ones), and I also didn't love the type of chips they had (super thick and crunchy). Based on my limited sampling, not one of my favorite Mexican spots in the city, but nice to try something a bit different. read more

I believe this was my first time trying authentic Mayan cuisine and I am so glad I tried. This place was excellent and a great hole in the wall. It was also priced very reasonably, which is always a plus in this city. When we came, there was nobody else dining here which was so shocking!! The staff was attentive and nice. Pollo en Mole 10/10: WOW! The chicken was so tender and the mole itself was incredible. It was rich and paired great with the fresh tortillas the restaurant provided. I'll be dreaming of this dish and craving it until we come back. Platillo maya platter 7/10: this is a great dish to order if you're having trouble deciding between what to get. I really enjoyed everything this platter had, there just wasn't one standout item. Tostada de Ceviche 9/10: I love me a good ceviche and this one was so tasty! It was perfectly balanced with the seafood and citrus flavor. read more

Poc-Chuc - Tostada con Ceviche - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Went back after more than a decade there and the food continues to be top notch. Great tacos. And their mole...muahhh... Can get a bit loud with karaoke and dj, bit I loved it. Servers were nice and very prompt! Will go back again read more

Discovered this gem as another nearby lunch spot close to my new job. WOW. I have a new lunch spot. Poc-Chuc is Mayan cuisine. Think Yucatan peninsula, or for the unintiated SouthEast Mexico (Cancun). The Mayan influence is apparent in every dish. I had the Cochinita Pibil, which is a Mayan / Yucatan standard dish. I am not a total expert in what good Pibil is but this was pretty near perfect to me. Served in a nice big bowl, the shredded pork shoulder was in a perfect broth that was neither too spicy nor too boring. I scooped in the accompanying chopped onions and scooped both into piping hot tortillas. On a cold day in November it doesn't get much better than this. I ordered a Watermelon agua fresca and it was perfect. One of the best I have had anywhere; not too sweet, refreshing and just spot on. The place itself is kind of 'no frills' but the prices are great, the lady working is super friendly and the food is divine. I anticipate I will be a regular. read more

Poc-Chuc - Conchinita Pibil. Heavenly. - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Incredible food, the handmade tortillas are some of the best i have ever had, piping hot. Mole was phenomenal, the chicken fell right off the bone, the poc chuc was very well seasoned, authentic home style cooking. Great service. Good ambiance. Saturdays sundays mondays and wednesdays are karaoke. read more

Poc-Chuc is a SF Carnavalesca fave. On Carnaval Sunday, dancers from various comparsas duck into this mom and pop after the parade and before our dance performances at the festival. They serve hearty Mayan breakfast all day and that's exactly what's needed after performing on MIssion. Recently, my daughter was famished after a grueling dance practice(getting ready for Carnaval is a year-round commitment) and we were in the neighborhood. It was one of few places still open late on a weeknight. We treated ourselves to breakfast for dinner. While you wait, you're treated to thick salty chips and spicy salsa. The meal comes with wonderful handmade tortillas. We enjoyed the retro Europop they were playing. My teen even looked up one of the songs to add to her playlist. The card reader was giving the owner technical difficulties but we were able to resolve them after a few minutes. The owners are sweet people who try their best to treat their customers well. In regards to the reviewers complaining about the upkeep of the restaurant, I have not experienced any insects or uncleanliness in all the times I have been here. The building is careworn and the furniture is no-frills. Saying that this place is hood shows more about you. Definitely a family fave. read more

This place is completely unsuspecting not talked about! Family owned and run by a husband/wife duo. Their tacos are packed with filling and the tortilla is handmade. The next time I come back I would like to try their mole dishes. I'm not very familiar with Mayan cuisine but this place definitely makes me want to explore it more! I know tortillas chips are usually more of an after thought, but man are they good - you can tell they fry the chips fresh from their handmade tortillas. read more

Poc-Chuc - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

I hadn't been to Poc-Chuc for a few years. Their food is still excellent. Very tasty with large portions. The waitress was friendly and delivery was quick. I had the poc chuc which is thinly sliced grilled pork which is perfectly seasoned and delicious. Side dishes include a small salad, rice and the best home made tortillas in the mission. The waitress treated us to a nice flan free of charge. The ambience is a little hole in the wall, but definitely worth checking it out. The food is Mayan so don't try to order a burrito dumb a--. read more

Excellent. We were nearby for a wedding and stopped here afterwards for a late lunch since we had heard good things. Chips and salsa to start were great. Thick cut and not too salty. I loved my watermelon agua fresca and my SO liked his horchata as well. My tacos de poc-chuc were outstanding. Really flavorful and crisp-tender with delicious, soft, homemade tortillas. The habanero salsa was a great compliment to everything as well. Plenty of spice but not too hot (for the likes of me anyway) and extremely flavorful. I tried a bite of my SO's cochinita pibil taco and that was also fantastic... as were the little empanadas and kotzito. The rest we took home and they reheated well in the toaster oven for breakfast the next day. Loved it all and service was exceptional and friendly. Cash only, so be prepared. You won't be disappointed. read more

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This place has such amazing food! Love their chips and salsa to start. You can't go wrong with any of the two mole dishes they have. They have a black Mayan mole with turkey or chicken and a chicken mole that has a sweeter taste. I love both! The rice is also very good. I've also tried their poc chuc and cocinita pibil pork stew. These are all so flavorful and hearty. Very comforting to eat. You'll enjoy the citrus of the poc chuc, the softness of the meats and the perfect seasonings of the broths. You have to try their foods! Be sure to start with a panucho and salmbute. You'll enjoy these crispy and delightful appetizers. read more

Poc-Chuc - Panucho and salbute - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a hidden gem. Living right around the corner I think I'll miss this place the most. Their pollo pibil is sooo good. And their homemade salsa is on of my favs around the mission read more

Poc-Chuc - Pollo Pibil - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

This little joint is not only my favorite Mexican restaurant, but arguably my favorite restaurant overall in the Bay. Some of my favorite items to get here are: 1. Pollo en Mole: my favorite item to get here, period. The mole sauce has more of a sweet chocolatey flavor, therefore it gives an amazing balance when eaten with the slightly savory chicken stock-flavored rice that it's served on. 2. Chimole de Pavo: a much more savory and soupier mole dish. This jet black dish reminds me of squid ink used in Italian cuisine. Eat it with their chicken rice and I guarantee you will devour this dish in less than 5 minute. We had it with turkey meat but it would also go great with chicken. 3. Chips. These are the most amazing homemade corn chips I've had in my life. Seriously, I would eat this over many entrees at other restaurants. Some of the other amazing dishes we've tried: poc chuc, cochinita pibil, ponucho & salbute. read more

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When I'm in San Francisco this is a must restaurant I visit. One of the best authentic mole dishes I have ever tasted. The homemade tortillas are good and the agua frescas are also good. Been visiting for over 10 years. The place is small and the neighborhood it's in not the fanciest or anything like that. But this place is always busy and packed. read more

Came to Poc- Chuc for dinner on a Monday night and boy was this a treat! We ordered the pollo pibel and the Poc-Chuc. The food was flavorful and delicious and the salsa/handmade tortilla are some of the best I've had. Also really decent prices for SF. Must stop by if you're around the mission! FYI- Monday is Karaoke night, it is very loud in there. If that isn't your vibe then recommend going another day. read more

Poc-Chuc - Poc Chuc and Pollo Pibil - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Uno de los mejores restaurantes en comida mexicana. El servicio es muy cálido y la comida tiene un sabor increíble. Definitivamente recomiendo este lugar con un ambiente agradable y de casa. read more

A very unassuming restaurant but the food is made with a lot of love and care. They had fresh pressed tortillas and we got the poc chuc and the pollo con mole. Both were fantastic, the rice was especially tasty! The tortillas tied everything together and I couldn't have asked for more food (they really pile on the dishes). Come hungry, leave happy! read more

Poc-Chuc - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Hits every. single. time. The meat is always tender and delicious. Amazing flavors with the salsa on the side. Authentic food! I can't recommend this place enough, you gotta try it for yourself!!! read more

Poc-Chuc - Fajitas de Carne Asada / Steak Fajitas - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here on a Monday when they had karaoke night indoors, so we sat outside since the restaurant was very loud. Service was very slow since the waitstaff very rarely checked on the outdoors tables. Food was good, except the fried fish entree was raw on the inside... due to the slow service we opted to just have that dish cancelled, but we didn't receive any comp other than having it removed from our bill. Overall the other food was good but I wouldn't recommend this place over the many other restaurants in the Mission read more

Poc-Chuc - pescado frito - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Summary: Flavorful, affordable, Mayan hole-in-the-wall Details: I'd actually been to Poc-Chuc almost a decade ago, but forgot the experience entirely, and never went back until recently, as one of the few interesting late-night options at the time. And, well, I'm a little disappointed I'd been missing out on all these flavors all these years! While I can't comment on the more typical Mexican fare, many of their Mayan dishes are standouts: their pibils, namesake poc chuc, and Maya platter, though the latter is best eaten fresh as it gets too soggy as takeout. The fresh tortillas they provide are of the thicker variety, and the salsa that comes with their dishes is also fantastic (though inconsistently spicy, ranging from quite spicy to melt-your-face spicy). So far, the only dish we've not particularly enjoyed is their mole, which we found too sweet for our tastes. The space itself can get unbearably loud on DJ nights, but there's outdoor seating and takeout options: for the latter, you can call in your orders if you know what's on the menu (Yelp photos are old but fairly accurate). Accessibility: Outdoor seating is spacious and accessible, while the interior is a bit smaller and crowded so seating without being a fire hazard can be a little tricky. read more

Spectacular conchinita pibil with depth in flavour. The rice was delicious too. Their home made salsas are also smoky and flavourful. Service was fast and this is your typical homie ambiance mexican restaurant you can find in the Mission. The mole is more on the sweet side vs smoky (my favorite are usually a bit deeper in flavour and smokier than this one). Overall solid place to try out read more

Poc-Chuc - Cochinita Pibil - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Kind of funky garish exterior did not inspire confidence but food was lovely and a cut above. I like the homey lack of pretension too. Perfect place before going to a nearby performance. read more

Found a nice spot in a parklet and some casual hospitality from the lady of the house who greeted us with authority and comfort. Super high quality ingredients won the day. Delicious flavors and complex profiles... the roast chicken before the mole made the difference in that dish. Homemade corn tortillas... no need to feel sad you have a hypothetical, socially-induced gluten intolerance like me. Indulge in the plantano frito before dinner to induce your hunger even if you regrettably ate a late lunch elsewhere. My dad suggested picking one of the agua frescas, but I could spare an inch of stomach capacity. I look forward to more Mayan dishes the next time... thanks so much for a memorable meal. read more

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Owner is super rude. She was completely wasted off her ass. We ordered a $30 Michelada. Scammer owner tried to charge us $63 for it saying we ordered 6 individuals rather than a pitcher??? She was super rude, and her own staff was arguing with her that she wrong. I'll never be coming back here. read more

Absolutely legendary authentic Mexican food. What a delightful small, family run business. Great vibes and STELLAR food. Everything I tried was incredible--great mole, great salpicón, and the titular Poc Chuk was to die for. My friends who took me call it their favorite restaurant in the bay and it is very easy to see why. A MUST MUST MUST visit!! read more

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I am always searching for authentic Mayan cuisine this restaurant does not disappoint. I ordered the Mayan platter and a chochinita burrito. You could task how fresh the handmade tortillas are. The meats are so juicy!! Only thing I would recommend is adding more ambiance to the establishment. Everything looks a little old and out dated. read more

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I've walked past this mom n pop shop and wondered about it many times. After finally trying it, I see why they've been able to hold it down in a rapidly changing neighborhood. Spoiler: it's because their food is delicious! I had the veggie trio ($12), which was essentially an empanada, a tostada, and a sope (they called the sope-like component something else) filled and topped with delicious veggies. Don't be offput by how few veggie options there are, this one is plenty! The sope-like portion of the dish was my favorite, but the whole meal was positively nourishing and delicious. The tab for four gals to have dinner and drinks (with one not drinking) was about $80 after tax and tip. Which is crazy reasonable for San Francisco. Service was a little slow but I didn't mind one bit. When I say this place is a mom and pop, I literally mean it. There's one man and one woman who take your order, cook your meal, bus your table, etc. It's amazing what the two of them are able to do together by way of quality food. When people ask me where to go in the Mission, 100% this is where I will now recommend! read more

Poc-Chuc - Veggie trio - delicious and lots of food for $12 - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Been here a few times. It's consistently pretty epic. I his time we got the platillo Maya appetizer sampler in our mission food tour: excellente! For me the salbute was the winner but my son loves the panucho, and the empanada was better than solid. Habanero salsa is my favorite face burning salsa in SF. I wouldn't hesitate to try anything at this authentic off the beaten path spot. It's high on my 'Mission food tour list for out of town guests! read more

Poc-Chuc - Habanero salsa and platillo maya - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here the other day with a group of 5 (plus a child). This place was so great. The location is perfect for those who have to drive (IE, families), because it's just far enough from BART to have parking but also close enough to BART to be a nice walk. I was one of the first folks to come in - walking in, I saw a table of 2 latinos and was immediately feeling like this would be a legit place. Though, during our dining a more diverse mix of folks came in - including a few families. Love that this is a kid-friendly place. My friends and I have never had "mayan" food specifically, and had an assortment of foods. Ended up getting both pibils. I was a little concerned because I thought it was the same ingredients. But somehow, the pork and chicken pibil tasted a little different - both in great ways. So good. Had the poc chok, which was the clear winner of the whole table. Appetizer platter was good, but it's basically one of each app on the menu. Which was good - but sharing was hard. We had to make the tough decision to not share as it would have been a mess. Plantains are always good. So the food is solid (we were soo stuffed after), the location is great. What makes this a 5 for me? The family vibe. I watched a young man wearing a school uniform (on a Saturday!?) walk in and directly to the staff person that was there. He immediately kissed her cheek and hugged her, then got behind the counter to help out. O.M.G. DUDE. FAMILY LOVE. The 5 is to encourage YOU, who's reading this, to GO AND TRY THE FOOD. And please support this wonderful family business. read more

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Delicious food in a no-frills atmosphere, which I can appreciate. I ordered the signature dish -- poc-chuc, and my buddy got the chicken mole. We also split the tostada trio appetizer. Poc-chuc was juicy and tender -- not sure why earlier reviews are saying it was dry -- and the chicken mole was absurdly good, chicken falling off the bone covered in a thick, rich mole sauce. Sides were also tasty - black beans and unexpectedly fluffy / airy tortillas. Highly recommend. read more