Fun spot. We were super hungry so ordered a bunch of things: potatoes, plantain chips, mushroom, arroz con pollo, shrimp, bread and salad. The sauce with the shrimp was sooo very good and went well dipping bread or the plantains in it. Service was friendly, quick and attentive. We enjoyed our lunch with a half pitcher of sangria which was tasty. I'll be back! read more

See all

I have been going to Cha Cha Cha, a Haight Street institution, for many years now. They are my favourite tapas restaurant, serving up intensely flavourful dishes of Caribbean and Cajun fare. PROS: 1. Awesome environment - Depending on the natural light coming through the windows, the interior can appear dimly lit, but vibrantly ornamented. Enjoy your meal to some lively reggae music beneath a glittering Santeria altar. This place is usually pretty jumpin'. 2. Reasonable prices - Good eats at great prices. 3. Delicious food - Check out some favourites below: BLACK BEAN SOUP (Discontinued) - Not sure why they took this yummy soup off of their menu, it was one of the best versions around. WARM SPINACH SALAD - My favourite spinach salad. The bacon adds another level of texture and flavour to this delicious plate of greens. Love the Dijon mustard & sherry wine cream dressing. This is big enough to share or for one to enjoy as an entrée salad. CAJUN SHRIMP - ¡Que rico! This is their House Signature dish and an absolute must! CHICKEN PAILLARD - Creamy goodness. ROPA VIEJA - A generous serving of harmoniously tasty flavours. Definitely entrée size. Unfortunately, you can't customize this dish to omit the green olives, but they are easy to find and dig out. LECHON ASADO - My dad enjoyed very much this spicy dish of roasted leg of pork. CHA3 JERK CHICKEN - Another generous Tapa. DJ's go-to main dish despite being a vegetarian. ARROZ con POLLO - Entrée size and yummy. Every bite is like a party in your mouth. Can't customize, though, to omit the olives, but you can easily find and dig them out if you don't like them like me. PLATANOS MADUROS- Another must! Don't skip this! CONS: 1. No private parking lot 2. No reservations accepted, waits can be long 3. Limited ability to customize dishes Trust me, the PROS outweigh by far the CONS. Cha Cha Cha is a winner of restaurants. read more

See all

This place is amazing! I love the food and cocktails as well! Our waiter was very attentive but the atmosphere was amazing. I felt like I was in an authentic Mexican food cantina. read more

Cha Cha Cha - Roof lights - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

We had a late lunch on a weekend & it was quite packed at around 3PM. We were seated right away & the service was speedy. Food came out fast as we were starving. The dishes were Cuban, but with a unique take of Spanish cuisines. Must get their Chicken Paillard & Platanos Maduros , WONDERFULLY DELICIOUS !! Portions were generous too, we could eat them for lunch & dinner. read more

Located in Haight Ashbury, across the park & wholefoods. I went during happy hour but didn't get their happy hour food. I was looking forward to trying their jerk chicken ($16) & plaintains ($10). The jerk chicken is 2 chicken thighs with rice & sauce on top. I never had these spicy curry sauce & it was delicious. It was a lot of food for me so I took some home. The plantain were delicious & so was their sangria. I want to come back to try their Cajun soup & paella. Also I like the interior of Latin influence, a couple tables & a big bar. read more

See all

My friend and I came here for dinner last night (Friday). We were hungry after spending the day walking and enjoying the botanical gardens, the Japanese gardens and the De Young Museum. This restaurant is located on the main road in Haight Ashbury. The dining room is decorated with fun and colorful Latin American and Mexican decor. The food is a great price for San Francisco - really good value for the quality and portion sizes. All of the servers and staff were friendly and efficient. David ordered the ropa vieja which included rice and beans. We also ordered the chips and salsa and jalapeño margaritas. I ordered the curry chicken empanada served with mixed greens and mashed black beans. All of the food was delicious! We recommend this place! read more

See all

Old school spot with great atmosphere! Tacos are huge and can be easily shared. Chips and salsa were good but nothing special. No frijoles negro just refried and salsas are nicely spicy. Calamari with blend of tentacles and rings was very fresh and enjoyable. Biggest disappointment was the margaritas which are made with a mix and no agave! Stick with beer..:') Servers were great and make sure to check out the specific art all over especially in the bar. read more

The ceviche and fried calamari appetizers were good. For the main course, we got the lechón asado, but instead of it being roasted, it seemed to be boiled, and it lacked flavor. It came with yuca, and it tasted old and reheated. We also ordered the ropa vieja, and it was overcooked. Service overall wasn't the best, as they didn't clear the table prior to bringing out the main dishes. When we mentioned to the server that the dishes weren't the best, they provided no response or solution. read more

4.5 STARS I have found memories of Cha Cha Cha as one of THE places in the city to leave drunk, happy, full...AND with leftovers. And, without going broque. I also have fond memories of that sangria... I'm surprised more people didn't leave with their draws over the head! In times of shrinkflation, I'm trying to revisit old haunts that won't break the wallet. Plus, my original review from years ago disappeared into the cloud so here's another one. Cha Cha Cha is a SF institution (opened in 1984) serving Cuban and Caribbean Tapas. They're sister resto to Parada 22 and Papito. They're open for takeout, delivery, indoor, and outdoor dining (dog-friendly). Great side patio set-up that's separated by curtains for privacy and shields you from the wind. And, there's overhead heaters to keep you warm. No rezzies, walk-in only. Not recommended for large groups unless everyone arrives early and on-time. M E N U Cuban and Caribbean Tapas. Paellas aside, all dishes are under $17. Full bar but they're best known for their sangria. Beware, it's a creeper. F O O D * Calamari Fritto: Fried Calamari w/ chipotle & garlic aioli ($15): https://tinyurl.com/ys7cb4bx Hot and crunchy rings + tentacles with delicious accompanying aiolis. Good for the drunchies. * Steamed Mussels w/ garlic, tomatoes, fresh herbs & house made fish-saffron broth ($16): https://tinyurl.com/4f9sevyw Fresh, meaty, and plump mussels in a comforting broth. * Chicken Paillard: Grilled Chicken Breast w/ dijon mustard cream sauce ($14): https://tinyurl.com/mpscxk4u I'm usually not a fan of breast meat but the marinated chicken breast (3 pc) is tender and moist, soaking up all that creamy and tangy sauce. * Cajun Shrimp Sautéed in Spicy Cream Sauce ($15): https://tinyurl.com/ys7cb4bx One of my fav dishes at Cha Cha Cha...it's all about THAT decadent sauce and using the complimentary crusty sourdough bread to sop up every last drop. BUT, as others have stated, the sauce doesn't taste the same as back in the day. I ordered it twice in a month just to make sure it wasn't an off day. The spices and heat have def been dialed down. Still addictive tho...I just doctor it up with their housemade habanero sauce. * Cha3 Jerk Chicken: Marinated chicken thigh w/ habanero peppers, raisins, garlic & tomatoes served over white rice ($14): https://tinyurl.com/2r8ftehh My second fav Cha Cha Cha dish - two fork tender bone-in thighs smothered in savory and earthy jerk sauce, served alongside white rice. It's hearty and hits the spot...but the sauce is not as flavorful and spicy as I remember it being. Still a must order for me tho. * Fried New Potatoes w/ chili pasilla aioli: https://tinyurl.com/2r8ftehh Solid staple - hot and crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside. The chili pasilla sauce is creamy with smoky, earthy, and fruity flavors. TIP: Bring home the leftover sauces from the chicken pillard or cajun shrimp to turn into another meal with whatever protein and veggies you have in the fridge. S E R V I C E Hit or miss depending on who you get. Julie and Gazi are awesome AND deliver great hospitality. Being the only ones sitting outside, we never felt neglected. However, on my most recent visit, our server took our order and we never saw him again (it wasn't busy). I had to go inside to place an additional order and to pay the bill. Julie jumped right in and took care of us. But, all is forgotten because the food comes out fast! Always appreciate that. A M B I A N C E Lively and festive. Can be cramped when busy. Avoid Friday and Saturday nights if you want a quieter meal. P A R K I N G Terrible street parking on the weekends...thank goodness for rideshares now. After all these years, Cha Cha Cha is still churning out delicious and wallet-friendly eats. The sauces aren't as robust and richly spiced now but easily solved with their housemade habanero sauce. When I can leave full with leftovers...and without breaking the wallet, I'm cool with that. read more

See all

Came here to meet up with some friends for a drink. We weren't planning on eating, but they had already ordered food so we started snacking on their leftovers. After a few bites of some bread dipped in the cajun shrimp sauce, that quickly changed and we place our order! Between the snacking and our order we tried the cajun shrimp, chicken Paillard, sautéed mushrooms, potatoes, and Arroz Con Pollo. Stars of the show were the cajun shrimp and chicken Paillard. Both were in sauces that were absolutely delicious and so full of flavor. The only item I feel like we really could've gone without was the Arroz Con Pollo, and that's not because it was bad, everything else was just better. To drink I ordered a mojito and the rest of the group a pitcher of sangria. I liked the sip of sangria that I tried but the mojito was definitely the move. Service was attentive and friendly and food came out quick. Excited to come back here and eat some more of the food fresh from the kitchen, instead of as our friend's leftovers. read more

See all

Had a nice lunch out for 3 people but pitcher of sangria for $54.00 a little bit too much. Luckily we asked for no fruits in .

Got the Cajun. sauce was fantastic but they don't clean their shrimp. Poop all in every one of them. Complained but they didn't care. read more

Cha Cha Cha - Poopy shrimp - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Delicious hearty Sunday lunch in the Haight!! We had a handful of shareables as per waiter recommendation plus a small sangria pitcher, including plantains, chips and fresh guac, chicken wings, jerk chicken, and quesadilla with BBQ pork. Food did not disappoint and was very very flavorful!! Great casual ambiance and excellent friendly service - they even have a little sangria garden outside. read more

See all

Most disgusting drink I've ever been served, ceviche was bland af with stale chips, and absolutely abysmal service. DO NOT GO HERE!

The atmosphere was one thing but the food was a whole other thing! My friends and I went there to catch up and see how each other were doing, we were seated right away and the waiter was really fast and efficient! I had the sautéed Scallops and it was super delicious! And we also ordered the bread pudding which I loved as it had a hint of cherries in there which was unexpected but pleasant!! read more

Not sure why this was my first-time dining here, because I've been missing out on these delicious Latin influences' dishes! I guess it's never too late. Lol. Had the privilege to dine here with my girlies, while they're in the city. ;) We got seated immediately, a great start to our dining experience. The restaurant settings and decor were perfect for the vibe. Great music and good company. (Btw, us four girls ordered with our eyes...lol) Let's get into what we ordered! * 64 oz Sangria (So so so delicious!) * Chicken Wings (Oops, forgot to take pics) * Ceviche * Cajun Shrimp * Cha3 Jerk Chicken * Platanos Maduros Overall 10/10 recommend Bon Appetite :) read more

See all

Located right at the end of Haight across from kezar stadium is this small joint that serves some delicious tapas. Even though the place is small it's such a great spot to go with a group. Not only for the vibes but also so you can try more things on the menu. What I especially enjoy is not only is the food top tier but prices aren't outrageous that you can order multiple plates without breaking the bank. And of course the staff is super friendly and helpful especially when you have any questions about the menu or need help clearing out those empty plates. Definitely a spot that's worth coming back to over and over. read more

The food is so flavorful and delicious. It's consistently excellent. The service is always great whether we order over the phone, done in,or pick up. One of my favorite restaurants in SF. MUST TRY: Jerk chicken Plantanos (always sweet and soft) Wings read more

See all

Had a friend visiting from outta town, wanted to check out the Haight st area, so decided to go back to an old favorite. While the prices how slowly snuck up over the years, there's a couple dishes that I can't come and not get. It's the Cajun shrimp and the chicken Paillard. Both have unique sauces that you have to dip the bread in. It's so good, I can eat a whole loaf of a bread and just eat it with the sauce. The chicken was a little dry and honestly could've used some lemon or more seasoning. The Cajun shrimp was delicious but you don't get a lotta shrimp. The potatoes are good, with the dipping sauce and a great shareable. The mushrooms were alright, don't know if I'd order again. The sangria is classic and never a bad option for sharing. The 32oz is perfect to share with a couple of people and great adult beverage option. Weekday Lunch isn't as busy, so if you are in the area and want a nice sit down meal, this is a solid place to check out. read more

See all

Yay for Caribbean/Cuban food in the bay as there are not very many restaurants that offer this cuisine outside of Fruitlandia (Mission) and Sol Food (San Rafael). Our favorite dish/what we felt had the most flavor was definite the guava chipotle chile glaze that came out PIPING hot (as did the rest of our items!). The chicken had great flavor, a little crunch and was drenched in sauce. Everything else we ordered (below) lacked salt and we used a lot of the habanero salsa that we grabbed from the back. Arroz con pollo had classic flavors and the gandules had a good bite as did the rice. Chicken was not dry. Lechón asado was soft and had nice fatty bits and the yucca was a great accompaniment. Maduros were great which was a relief because you really can't mess these up! Sangria wasn't anything to write home about - tasted like red wine with a little bit of fruit juice and wasn't cold. Overall would come to try different dishes! read more

See all

We went here expecting the same service I received 3 years ago with DIFFERENT ownership. Yeah, no. We ordered the lechon asado and as soon as the plate was set down, the yucca con mojo was literally swimming in itself. It wasn't hot, it tasted like it was pulled out of a microwave so not fresh at all. Needless to say we were just disappointed and the flavor was bland. We definitely thought it wouldn't be a problem to swap to a different dish item, however the staff told us there was nothing they could do. No sending food back or swapping plates, and us not liking the food is not their problem. Weird as I've never had that type of experience before, even MYSELF WORKING IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY. Don't bother to waste your time or money coming here, the restaurant was dead anyway. Plenty of better food in sf read more

Fun place to hang out with friends. We went here after hiking the Lands End Trail. If you are lucky, you may be able to get street parking nearby. But that's expected. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived. But it was full when we left. The service was good. We were a group of 6 and ordered a lot of options from the menu. The serving size was surprisingly big. I had platanos maduros, cheese quesadillas and sautéed mushrooms. Mushrooms were ok. I liked the plantain and quesadillas. My friends also had the cajun shrimp and were a fan of it. read more

Love the Cajun shrimp! The food is really fresh and tasty. One of my go to places whenever I go to the City. The service is fast and the staff are really nice. read more

I have been loving this Cha Cha Cha for 20+ years and tonight's visit did not disappoint! The sangria is unmatched and with the warm spinach salad and Cajun shrimp, we were satisfied! The only ding on the stars is they no longer have the same bread they used to. We can't wait for our next visit. read more

The portions here a generous and the flavors are great too! It's a nice spot to visit with a lively atmosphere. The ropa vieja that I ordered was particularly flavorful with the meat being so tender as well. Definitely recommend going! read more

Happy, cheerful, great energy restaurant with super food, solid friendly service and absolutely superb house made bread and Sangria. Totally recommend! The Sangria is damn good! read more

Food- phenomenal. We got the jerk chicken, and the chicken fell off the bone. It had the perfect amount of sauce that was so good to eat with the rice. The flavors were hitting the spot!!! We also got the chicken paillard, but we asked to get it with the sauce that comes with Cajun shrimp instead, and it was amazing. The bread came with it. And we put butter on the bread, and then dipped it in the sauce and it was to die for. Drinks- they got the job done. The margarita was made well and well balanced! The spicy mezcal old fashioned was a little too spicy for me, but it's so close. I feel like just a couple of tweaks and it would be a great drink. Service- amazing. They were so nice from the moment they seated us, and everything came out in a timely manner. We sat at the bar, and had a good time! read more

See all

One of my favorites on Haight st. Recently got the lechon, ceviche, and mixed paella. It's not too busy on a week nights and have gotten seated right away. We loved the lechon, ceviche, and paella. The shrimp is also a fav and the sauce is great for the bread to sop up. The lechon was so tender and juicy and yucca on the side was nice. The paella had a good amount of protein and rice balance with good flavor. Also recommend the ceviche as there's actually a good amount of fish and not filling of other veggies. The inside is nothing fancy but it's clean and doesn't feel super cramped sitting inside. read more

Cha Cha Cha - Lechon Asado - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I tried jerk chicken for the first time here, and it was absolutely delicious! We also ordered the paella mixta and a side of plantains, along with their famous sangria. Everything we ate was great, but I personally didn't find the sangria to be anything special--though I'm sure others might enjoy it more. The service was alright, but I really liked the atmosphere of the restaurant. I would definitely come back, especially for the jerk chicken! read more

Cha Cha Cha - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Cha Cha Cha was yum yum yum!! Great quality food, fun, colorful ambiance, and great service! I highly recommend getting the sangria. Definitely worth stopping if you're in Haight-Ashbury. read more

Cha Cha Cha - Vaca Frita, Chips and Guac, Sangria - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food was delicious, service was quick and friendly. Location was also great right at the end of Haight street. read more

Cha Cha Cha - Burger - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Cha Cha Cha is one of my favorite spots, like ever! The food is always great. The ONLY disappointment I had was that the Cajun Shrimp was lacking flavor this time around and is normally a lot better. I'm not saying it was bad, it's just normally better! Everything else we had knocked it out of the park! I just have to give a shout out to Diego...we were having a late night and my friend asked for coffee. We didn't realize they didn't offer coffee but Diego made it work for us and gave us coffee that they had in the back for employees. Then they didn't even charge us for it. It's the little things in life, great service, fun atmosphere and good food! It doesn't get much better than that :-) read more

See all

Same good flavor for years. Even the chefs are the same for years. My favorite spot in the city. read more

See all

cajun shrimp in that spicy cream sauce is good and had a couple beers. place was busy but our waiter was cool. worth the wait.

Had some drinks during happy hour. They were strong and delicious. I had a chicken caesar salad which was perfect after traveling on the plane all day. My spouse had the ceviche which had lots of flavor. Id most definitely come back next time I'm in LA. read more

Just ordered the yucca and lechón asado and I was very disappointed on both. The yuccas were swimming in water and the taste was very disappointing, basically they cooked yucca that was no good to eat or expired and the lechón was tasteless they attempted to to put some green onions on top which doesn't go with the original recipe. Very disgusting result. I had to trash it !!! Never again will I be ordering anything from chachachá. The name is the only Cuban thing from that restaurant. read more

Cha Cha Cha - Lechon Asado and yucca Dinner - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

We ordered take out and it was my first time trying this restaurant. I LOVED it. Both dishes were to my liking. The fried calamari was crispy and chewy inside and out, and the portion is great. The chicken was amazing. The part that the sauce mixed with rice, was my favorite part. I was full half way but still wanted to finish it. That was how good they were. I will definitely come back and dine in to experience the vibe and service. read more

Cha Cha Cha - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Cha Cha Cha! Visited for a friend's birthday! There's a lot of options,mostly tapas. So bring a group to share! A little pricey, but the portions are big! Will definitely be back. I got the Ropa Vieja. They don't have too many filling vegetarian options, but Super good even though I don't typically eat meat. Calamari was great too! Would go back! Service could be a little better. Wished they'd check in more and refilled drinks/water, but it was good overall. read more

See all

This place is so good. The ambiance is fun, with great music playing. Drinks were tasty. The food was good, though the lechon asado was missing some flavor. Hot sauce helped but was a little surprised by that. The jerk chicken was delicious though. And the portions are excellent. Service was friendly and I'd recommend this place to anyone! read more

Cha Cha Cha - Cha3 Jerk Chicken & Lechon Asado - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

This may just have been the best delivery dinner I've ever received! The jerk chicken was flavorful & tender. I could eat those plantains everyday, they're SO good! I can't wait to try this place in person. The portions were astounding and lasted more than one meal forsure. 10/10!! read more

Cha Cha Cha - Chae Jerk Chicken Dinner - Caribbean Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all