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    Chao Pescao

    4.3 (367 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

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    CHAO PESCAO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Chao Pescao

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    Menu
    Annabelle R.

    What a lovely spot for latin american cuisine! Made a dinner reservation here on Friday evening, before attending a musical at the Orpheum Theatre just around the corner. My friend and I were greeted with prompt and cordial service at arrival. Found parking diectly in front of the entrance too (meter is free after 6pm). [[HIGHLIGHT]]The quirky decor inside the restaurant added character to the place, with each wall panel in the main dining room showcasing a unique theme of 3D artwork, like instruments, phones, and mirrors.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There was also high top seating available near the bar, toward the front of the eatery.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered quite a few items from the menu and ended up with leftovers. The classic mojito and mango tango cocktail, the latter which came in a cute tiki glass, were both refreshing and delicious. For food, we had the arepa rellena de bistec without habanero salsa, which was stuffed with flavorful skirt steak, a bit chewy but tasty nonetheless. Got it with regular fries on the side which were surprisingly really good and quite addicting. Added an arepa with cheese and this was so buttery and cheesy. Loved it! The cubano was served with thick pieces of ham and pork, and the dijon sauce came on the side. As recommended by staff, we opted for yucca fries to go with this dish, which were thick and dense, not bad, but we liked the regular fries better. The soup special, ajiaco, was a unique concoction of chicken, corn, potatoes, and veggies, topped off with crema. It was enjoyable as well. All in all, we had a positive experience. And Chao Pescao is a convenient option for grabbing a meal if catching a show at the Orpheum nearby. After dinner, we continued our awesome evening with a tale as old as time.

    Ceviche de la Casa
    Michelle P.

    Service was little spotty, seemed well staffed but had to keep catching different servers to get to go boxes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was lively for happy hour.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Brussels were nice and crispy and the zero proof colada was delicious! Others were mediocre. Good choice for a bite before the symphony or a show at bill graham

    Very tart
    Jack R.

    Restaurant Week 2026 This is what my coworker and I chose to explore Restaurant Week....so here we are. I had the beef empanada, pork salad (Havana salad), and rice pudding. Wow, the most underwhelming tasteless (as in no flavor) empanada and salsa I've ever had. My coworker said the same thing about her empanada. This was supposed to be shredded flask steak and it was like some tasteless thing I would expect from a tin can from camping minus the views and fresh air. The salad was actually decent. Notice I said salad and NOT the shredded pork on top of it. What is with the meat here? Don't get me started on the rice pudding dessert that looks like oatmeal that you'd get at a prison somewhere. Both of us disliked it. It tasted like mushy cinnamon with raisins. HARD skip on this. The normal price for their rice pudding dessert is $12 which is laughable. You'd have to pay me $12 to eat this, and I still wouldn't do it! Cubano sandwich that my coworker had was a "meh and oh" of surprise. She said it was basically unevenly seasoned where the bites of pork that were seasoned were good, but the bites that didn't had no flavor. See a pattern here? No flavor. She liked the bread and shoestring fries though. The lemonade and Arnold palmer that we both had were very tart and not worth the $8. Service was one waiter who didn't refill out water, and who was running from table to table. It started of empty but then he had like 5 tables to attend to, which included ours. For the price, quality, and taste of the food it's a hard NO for me. I couldn't imagine paying regular price for this. I felt robbed paying the restaurant week prices let alone regular prices LOL

    Fried brussels sprouts were great!
    Aaron Z.

    I came here for a work lunch and it was decent overall with a festive vibe, but the service was a littl euneven that day. I normally cut a lot of slack when a restaurant is serving a group, but it seemed like there were problems with the kitchen. That said, the server/manager-type guy was very warm and welcoming; he checked in a few times apologizing for the delays. We received our food a bit more than 45 minutes later, so had to rush through the eating part. I got the Tajin Fried Chicken which was nicely cooked. The plantains were excellent and everything was very fresh. It was good chicken, but honestly I didn't notice Tajin in the chicken or the sauce. I almost wondered if they forgot it? The fried brussels sprouts were awesome though and I'd definitely get it again. In conclusion, I think they just had an off day, but it has all the right pieces to be a good restaurant.

    Happy Hour menu
    Kim S.

    Cute restaurant. Great Happy Hour. Plenty of choices for drinks. We shared the empanadas. Tried steak, chicken, pork and veggie. All were good, chicken was my fave. Service was slow even though there was sufficient staff.

    Empanadas (3)
    Mike P.

    Ate here before watching a show at Orpheum Theater nearby. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place has a cool Latin-Caribbean vibe and lively atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Capacity was almost full but the staff was always attentive.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was very good even though I only had appetizers. Will come back again for the full meal experience.

    Steak Sandwich
    Christian R.

    Came to Chao Pescao for a team lunch of eight people. We had a reservation, so we were seated pretty fast! Let's start with the food: I got the Pan con Bistec, a nice steak sandwich with thin cut fries ($22). The sandwich was pretty good! The steak was nice and tender, and the sauce on the sandwich was super tasty. I appreciated the fresh veggies and the crispy bread. I wish there was a bit more steak on the sandwich, but overall it was good. The fries were crispy and well salted. We also got brussels sprouts for the table. I'm not too sure what the sauce was, but it was delicious, and the sprouts themselves were very crisp. These were the best thing we ate. The service is really the only downside to this restaurant. Sure, we had eight people at the table, but it took so. long. to get our food--about 45 minutes to an hour. Many at our table were talking about the long wait. At one point a waitress spilt a bit of water on our table and did not try to clean it, or even give us anything to clean the spill. It wasn't a big deal, but just not the best experience overall. So, yeah, I think you can come here for pretty good food but this may not be your best option if you're planning on a quick bite for a lunch break.

    Yuca Frita
    Vivian L.

    Came here for a team lunch. We made reservations for 8 people and had to wait a few minutes for the table to be set up when we got there. We enjoyed the appetizers more than the actual meal itself. We ordered the Colombian style chicharron, empanadas, yuca frita, and Maduros. They were all so delicious but I think my favorite was the chicharron with the sauce that they had. Majority of us got the sandwich and did not enjoy it too much, it was a bit dry and plain, and smaller than we thought. I got the pan con bistec (ribeye) sandwich and it was plain & dry. All of us ordered drinks and they were very strong (which is good LOL). I got the mango tango drink. Service was fine, a little bit on the slower side (and restaurant was empty). The restaurant has two restrooms and only street parking. They also have parking validation for $5 too.

    Tarta de Queso sin Azucar
    Teri K.

    Great spot for dinner before a show! Copa Havana cocktail= smoky pineapple sweetness, Empadanas... All good but the pork one was the best, the fried chicken = crispy goodness with super flavorful rice& beans. And surprisingly delicious low sugar cheesecake was the perfect way to end the meal. Would definitely come back! Extra perk is $5 validated parking!

    Delicious Caesar salad!
    Sondra H.

    Came here before a show at the Orpheum Theater. Shared the pork empanadas and a Caesar salad with shrimp. The pork empanadas were especially tasty and came with a hot sauce that was equally tasty, but I have to say I enjoyed the empanadas by themselves. The Caesar salad was delicious and I was disappointed that it was such a small portion. I would definitely go back and try other dishes that I saw on other tables!

    Tostones with pistachio salsa verde: 4 stars Wish
    Eve K.

    Latin with Cuban and Colombian influences with a fun happy hour. 3.5 stars Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 3 Cost to worth it rating: 4.5 for HH Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: sure for hh Highlights: - Happy hour: good amount of food and drink on the menu plus discounted drinks on standard menu. Appreciate timing going til 6pm - Cocolatl Maize cocktail: excellent cinnamony rich version of an old fashioned. 5 stars - Empanadas: tried one of each pork, beef, chicken, and veggie. All were great with a crispy exterior that was gluten free too. Beef and pork were the faves if we had to choose. 4 stars - Pork arepa: lots of shredded pork in between nice masa patties. 4 stars - Tostones: thicker version than the typical flat but loved the green salsa with pistachio. 4 stars - Close to war memorial or Davies for shows - Staff: super nice and helpful - Gluten free: most items which is great for us where that's friendlier to our stomachs Midlights: - Happy hour: in bar area only but didn't note that on the website - [[HIGHLIGHT]]Bar area kind of dark: hard to read the menu[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] - [[HIGHLIGHT]]Atmosphere: was pretty dead on a Thursday night[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Lowlights: - Steak arepa: bit hard to eat even though steak was thin was hard to bite into. 3 stars - Pao de bono: usually love there but flavor was lacking and a bit tough too. 3 stars [[HIGHLIGHT]]Wish the vibe was more energetic but food and drinks were fine and had a good time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Thu N.

    Solid spot for Latin Caribbean cuisine in the Civic Center area, especially when it comes to happy hour deals between 3-6PM! recs: empanadas price: ~$30/person We came by for happy hour on a Friday and didn't have a problem walking in, although the space filled up super quickly closer to 6PM. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Chao Pescao is located conveniently near all the bustle of Market St but has a beautiful view of the community garden and City Hall that you should totally check out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] - Chicharron: For $15 at happy hour, this was unanimously agreed upon as a shockingly large portion. Paired well with the pickled veggies and red onion that came with it, but personally I thought it was a tad dry. - Tostones: Fried plantains that were sweet and savory and taken to the next level with the avocado-pistachio salsa that came with it. - Empanadas: Both the beef and vegetable empanadas were spectacular and each one came with their own sauce. The crust was perfectly thin and crispy, and the filling was plentiful and piping hot. Seriously considered getting more of these. - Pan de Bono: Got this just to try -- it was surprisingly bouncy and savory, like a dinner roll but 10x better. Service was decent despite the busy dinner crowd! So glad we got to try this spot!

    Yuca Fries
    Andres N.

    Had a delicious lunch here with great service. This place definitely makes it feel like an escape. It doesn't feel like you're in Civic Center or let alone SF in general. I had been intrigued by this place after learning about them having Colombian food. We tried an empanada, a steak sandwich and a side of yuca fries. Our server was very kind and pleasant and overall this was a fun escape and place to be with delicious Caribbean/Colombian bites and a well crafted cocktail menu. I enjoyed being here and looking forward to coming back to try more items! They also have a happly hour during the weekdays that I wanma try.

    Southbeach

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    Ask the Community - Chao Pescao

    When is happy hour and is there a menu published anywhere? I don't see it in the website...

    They are all on their website.

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    Irving Subs

    Irving Subs

    4.3
    (567 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    This is probably the only place where the sandwiches don't taste like the store's essence…read more I mean, don't get me wrong, a store's essence from any given deli/liquor store definitely adds unique character to the sandwich and sometimes I want that in a sandwich. But when you want a sandwich that only tastes like its ingredients, Irving Subs is the spot. Their Dutch crunch is famous for being fresh and actually crunchy. Their lettuce is shredded but fresh and crispy. The salt content is just enough to bring out the flavors. And the overall composition of their sandwiches are very well proportioned. You're not getting skimped, but you're also not biting into a mouthful of a packet of deli meat. They definitely know what they are doing. Service is good and ambiance is a small humble shop on the corner of 12th Ave.

    Ordered the Nearly Reuben on sliced sourdough, toasted, with house garlicky mayo and brown mustard…read moreon DoorDash. Double pastrami, horseradish, havarti, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, and pepperoncini. A lot going on, and it all came together. The horseradish and havarti gave it enough personality to stand apart from a standard pastrami sandwich, and the garlicky mayo tied everything together. The one casualty of DoorDash was sogginess by the time it arrived. That's not a knock on the sandwich, it's just the reality of ordering something like this for delivery. At $14.50 it's a hearty sandwich at a fair price. I'd recommend it, but eat in.

    Photos
    The   Turkey Bacon  Avocado  Lettuce Tomato    Pure awesome
    The Turkey Bacon Avocado Lettuce Tomato Pure awesome
    Turkey, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato on Gluten free bread. Yummy.
    Turkey, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato on Gluten free bread. Yummy.
    Giant's Sub (left) 
 Fratellino (right)
 with Potato Salad
 Yum :)

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    Giant's Sub (left) Fratellino (right) with Potato Salad Yum :)
    Dolores Deluxe

    Dolores Deluxe

    4.6
    (95 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    I came here for the first time a few months ago closer to when it first opened not expecting much…read moreand was very pleasantly surprised by how delicious and juicy the sandwiches are. This is a cute corner shop in sunny Mission, and it's very clean and organized inside. I was the only person there when I went early Saturday morning (although I imagine it might be busier now) and I ordered the lady Gianna, which took around 10 minutes to make. The result was a delicious juicy eggplant Parm like sandwich with a nice kick as well. The fresh basil really came through. The Portobello sandwich was also a standout. Overall, the focaccia bread has a perfect fluffiness and crunch on outside and the ingredients feel fresh. Would love to come back and keep supporting this little shop!

    Ordered takeout sandwiches on Pride weekend with friends, and immediately they got points for a…read morequick make and pickup of 6+ sandwiches! Most of us got the "Call Me Serge" which included roasted turkey, bacon, cheddar + Gouda, arugula, and a Calabrian chili orange jam, rosemary ranch, and creamy avocado-lime vinaigrette spread. It was warm and delicious! I think I would've left the arugula off next time as it tasted strong with the jam (but that's me with a sensitivity to arugula). I will definitely return to try something different to bring to my next Dolores picnic!

    Photos
    Market
    Market
    Deluxe breakfast sando
    Deluxe breakfast sando
    Ode to Barber (rotisserie chicken breast, homemade toum, lebanese pickles, crispy potatoes, parsley + sumac on acme green onion slab)

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    Ode to Barber (rotisserie chicken breast, homemade toum, lebanese pickles, crispy potatoes, parsley + sumac on acme green onion slab)

    Chao Pescao - caribbean - Updated August 2026

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