Awesome spot, friendly service and good food! Not a fan of the lighting as pictured. Would recommend using the chili crisp on the table - it enhanced every dish and wasn't spicy at all but added flavor. - ahi tostaditas: delicious poke style ahi atop crispy tostada. The aoili sauces on it were great, brings me back to cdmx tuna tostadas - carne asada tacos: the meat was super tender, nice crispy potato bits on top, could have used a little more seasoning on the meat - short rib mole: meat was soo tender and perfectly done. Came with tortillas to wrap with. The red mole was more mild in flavor - chicken enchiladas: chicken was a little dry but with the beans it helped! Special note that the tamarind pineapple mocktail was wonderful! read more

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The Oaxacan cuisine is delicious, I liked the Chicken Tinga Enchiladas with black mole, rice and black beans. I was going to order the Pozole Rojo bowl but I wanted to try the black mole. Someone at my table tried it and recommends it. And he also ordered the Ribs Mole Coloradito which had a spicier mole than the sweet black mole on the enchiladas. He did take his mole dish to go because he was full from eating a big bowl of pozole. The sangria was refreshing and good. read more

Donaji - Chicken Tinga Enchiladas with black mole, rice and black beans. And a sangria. - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ambiance is BEAUTIFUL. Interesting artwork, great music playing. Service is really good. In terms of the food: I guess I expected more sabor. The food was...fine. The tlayuda con vegetales was stuffed with vegetables which I appreciated, but it was not composed very well. The avocado was smashed against the copious serving of cheese, and eating mush on mush isn't the most appetizing. The vegetables didn't have much flavor or heat. The good aspects of the meal included the side of beans, steak tacos, and Mexican hot chocolate. The churro donut is good but is a little too soft and eggy on the inside. read more

Oaxacan restaurants like Donaji will still need more love than ever. After all, nothing can go wrong with friendly and approachable staff who made their authentic drinks and dishes with love and care. The moment I'm greeted, I get to choose a table that's near the bamboo hut type of wall on the right side. This evening is filled with indoor neon dim lighting that makes candlelit dinner a laid back tiki bar instead of dining outdoor. Vibrant colors in the atmosphere make an amazing night to remember. For my favorite appetizer, a big plate of tortilla chips on the side of chapulines (fried grasshoppers), a baby coconut filled guacamole, and a sweet mild sauce. Love the salty crunchy exoskeleton drizzled with a piece of lime juice. To add a better touch, a waitress recommends that I use the garlic chili oil, and it's smokey good with a spicy aftertaste. For main course, a pair of Potato Soyrizo Enchiladas drenched in Mole Negro with refried beans and rice! With one spoonful bite, mm-mm-mm, sweet and savory! After few more bites, this plant based spicy big guns is oh so filling, which means there's no more room for any dessert. I might come back if my sweet tooth is acting up. Great background party style songs, even if nothing to watch on the flat screen TV, makes me feel like a welcome guest. With little or no customers, walk-ins are welcome (no reservations during that time). Donaji is desperate for more customers to keep the business running. That's the reason why I come to make their day, to keep their oaxacan spirits alive. read more

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Visited last Friday ~5pm and we were immediately sat. They have both indoor & outdoor seating, since it was a little cooler out we opted to sit inside which had a really cozy vibe with low lighting & cute decor. As mezcal lovers we were really excited about their mezcal club program / to try their variety. Our server Pedro was so knowledgeable & nice, he explained the differences & we really enjoyed the two we tried. Their cocktails & food were also great, everything was fresh & the flavors were really well balanced. My favorites were the tlayuda Oaxaca, mole enchiladas, & la dona cocktail. We will absolutely be coming back! read more

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A GREAT SURPIRISE !!! I went to one of my favorite restaurant but They were closed . So I decided to walk an looking around . Suddenly this place had the vibe that got my attention. The type of crowd its always a good sign .... and very important for me if a restaurant has outdoor seatting because Its me and my sweet dog always.... The exprecince was SENSATIONAL Great food gourmet Mexico city style Remided me like if I was at Polanco or Pedregal or Bosque de Las Lomas area. What was very unique it was the decoration very clasical Mexican style in an area that I wouldn't expect fine dining touch . The drinks were fabulous. I had 2 margaritas and no headache the next morning (good sign) $ 60 prefixed dinner and absolutely delicious. The waiters and the owner very attentive and well educated NO attitude and that is always a plus. Lu my sweet dog and I We had a Fabulous dinner We will be back soo !!! read more

Donaji - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love this place! So cute and reminiscent of my time in Oaxaca. They have a great hh from 5-7. If you like mezcal they have a mezcal bingo card and you can put your name on the wall if you complete it. I know it's legit because they have chapulines. We tried the guacamole and chips and M&M (mezcal and beer) for hh. Will be back to complete my bingo card. For October 2025 they have pop ups every Wednesday show casing different LatinX cuisines until the 15th. read more

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I've been looking forward to visiting the Mission because of so many great food options, and Donaji did not disappoint! Having lived in Arizona, I'm a big tequila and mezcal fan, but I've had a hard time finding many good tequila cocktail options at restaurants in the Bay Area. This definitely satisfied my craving! I ordered a passionfruit mezcal cocktail (can't remember the menu name) and it was perfectly to my liking -- fruity and tart with a slight kick, and it was a little pulpy / viscous. For food, my boyfriend and I ordered elote as an appetizer, he ordered the beef enchiladas with rice and beans, I ordered the beef birria tacos, and we shared the churro for dessert. Although the elote is actually a side dish, it was the perfect appetizer side for two, though it lacked salt, pepper or chili powder. We both really enjoyed the beef on our entrees; it was juicy, flavorful, and they were decent servings! I liked that my birria tacos were flavorful and cheesy, but not overly greasy as some can be. However, the rice and beans also lacked salt or much other flavor. As for the ambiance, I felt like I was on vacation at a Mexican restaurant with the colorful decor and even the split bamboo wall on one side. The restaurant was dimly lit in the evening which felt like a more intimate date night spot, but it was still casual and laid back. The staff was also very friendly, and they were nice about letting us take our time to order and just hang out for a bit. Would love to come back if I'm in the area! read more

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I visited Donaji Friday evening for dinner, and this place was pretty good. I heard this place serves great authentic Oaxacan food and wanted to check it out. We started with the Quesofundido, which, in my opinion, was the best dish of the night. I would come back again just for this. For entrees, we ordered the short rib in mole and the Tlayuda Oaxaca. The short rib was great; however, I wasn't the biggest fan of the tlayuda. We also ordered some cocktails, which were not the best in my opinion (you can get better drinks for less elsewhere). At the end, we also ordered the churro s'mores donut, which I also thought was okay. I personally wouldn't recommend it. The customer service was exceptional, some of the best customer service I've received at any restaurant. Overall, I'd return to try some new items on the menu and definitely get another round of that quesofundido read more

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Went here on a Friday night and it was busy!!! About a 30-45 minute wait for group of 4 at 7:45pm. Although infatuation was having their chase preferred special quality here so not sure if that had any impact. It's a medium sized restaurant with some outdoor seating. Wouldn't recommend it for larger groups. They don't do reservations so will have to walk in. Suave but homey ambiance. Their drinks are focused around mezcal and tequila- their margaritas are delicious and my friend enjoyed her non alc mocktail. The corn and ahi crudo were okay. Nothing special. The ahi crudo reminded me more of poke/asian flavors rather than citrusy ceviche. The mains were all amazing The chicken enchiladas paired so well with the mole! We wanted to lick the plate clean (but didn't- just used our spoons to scoop everything up). The short rib was fall off the bone tender and my favorite dish. The mushrooms tacos were the sleeper order- everyone loved those and wish we got more (and I wish I took a photo). If you love sautéd mushrooms would highly recommend those. Also- a HUGE shoutout to our server (I think his name was Pedro) - he was definitely juggling a ton of tables but his hospitality skills are top notch. He was attentive but also apologetic if things were moving slower, great conversationalist, and we could tell he really cares about not only his job but his coworkers and the restaurant itself. read more

Donaji - Side corn and Ahi Crudo - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My friend visited all the way from Japan and was craving Mexican food, so we decided to stroll around the Mission District and pick a restaurant to dine in. We stumbled upon Donaji, and my friend chose this spot because she had never tried Oaxacan cuisine before. We did not have a reservation, and the inside was full, but we were able to be seated outside with no wait. The staff kindly turned on the heater for us as well, since it was a little chilly. We ordered Chips & Guacamole to share, Enchiladas de Mole Negro for my friend, and Beef Birria Tacos for myself, but we shared bites of each other's dishes. It was our first time trying mole, and it was quite the experience! When we first tasted the sauce on its own, I was worried my friend might not like it because the flavor was very unique and complex. However, once paired with the enchiladas, everything came together beautifully and balanced, which surprised us. While we really enjoyed the food and our experience, we felt that the prices were pretty steep for small-portioned dishes, which is understandable because of their commitment to using high-quality, local ingredients. I am definitely open to coming back, but probably for a special occasion with a reservation next time! read more

Donaji - Enchiladas de Mole Negro (back) and Beef Birria Tacos (front) - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This was a really fun place to try, but it was a bit pricey for the portion sizes. The cocktails were pretty interesting. read more

Donaji - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Only came here for dessert so can't speak to anything else! Staff was so lovely and attentive throughout the experience, even though we were just there to eat some sweets. We sat at the bar and ordered an Oaxacan hot chocolate and a churro donut. The hot chocolate was wonderfully spiced and so warming on a typical, windy and foggy day in SF. The churro donut was a tad too dense and undercooked on the inside, but the chocolate dipping sauce covered it up well. Not the best churro I've had, but did the job for our sweet tooth. Would definitely be open to coming back and trying out their vegan enchiladas and mole! read more

Donaji - Oaxacan hot chocolate and churro donut - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

I wanted to try this place for so long and I finally did it on Saturday night. We were lucky to find a table without reservation. We went around 5:45/6pm and we ordered: enchiladas with chicken for me (they're famous for mole and I know why now...it was very good), I don't remember what my husband got but it was something recommend by the waiter and he said it was good, birria tacos for our daughter that it came with rice, beans and avocado (a very nice and good plate). I really recommend the restaurant because I like the food but also the service. read more

Donaji - Enchiladas de Mole - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

We went on a thursday night and got a table immediately! We ordered: Ahi tuna aguachile, chips and guacamole and salsa, braised short rib, birria tacos, tlayuda. I could skip the tlayuda next time and the standout was the short rib! The only thing I didn't love was the red lighting in the restaurant bc I couldn't really see what I was eating very well haha. read more

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Made a trip to the mission to try some Oaxacan cuisine. Donaji is a stylish restaurant with a full bar. Menu does rotate frequently but the service is exceptional! We ordered the chalupas, mole enchiladas, verde pozole, and the tuna crudo got done in and every dish we got was presented beautifully. Mole on enchilada was really well balanced. Not too sweet, but still nice and chocolaty. A nice little kick and not too bitter. The tuna crudo was one of the best bites of marinated fish we had in a while. Comes with homemade tortilla chips that were extremely crunchy. We came for the tamales, unfortunately they did not have it on the menus but had some premade ones that we can purchase to take home. The masa was exceptional. Nice and fluffy texture with a great umami. read more

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I had a good dinner here with my girlfriends! Reservations made on Open Table about a month in advance for a Wednesday night at 6:30pm for 6 people. It was busy but not crazy; we maybe could have walked in and been fine. A few of us took the MUNI, the ones who drove found parking around the corner on Folsom. Cost was only $47.97 for 3 cocktails, 2 mocktails, 2 starters, and 3 entrees. Plenty of food shared between 5 of us. * Coco margarita - 4 stars. Surprisingly tart, not too sweet, nicely balanced. *Papas fritas - 3.5 stars. Soft potato pieces, good sauce. * Quesabirria tacos - 4.5 stars. Very tasty, great hearty meat. * Tlayuda de Oaxaca - 3 stars. A little logistically hard to eat, meat a little rubbery. * Braised short rib - 4.5 stars. Very soft and tasty meat. * Donaji Enchiladas w Chicken Tinga - 4 stars. Good flavors and soft meat. read more

I've passed by this spot on 24th a bunch of times and finally got to try it during weekend lunch! It was pretty busy inside, but got seated fairly quickly. I was most excited for the enchilada mole but was a little disappointed because it was lukewarm and the skin didn't seem that fresh (or maybe because I had a realllyyy good one in Mexico last year to compare it to). The open-fave tostadas were really flavorful and yummy and I enjoyed those a lot. The ambiance was awesome -- super cute inside, warm vibes, and friendly staff. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to get the mole but it'd be fun to stop by for a drink or a small bite again. read more

Donaji - tostadas - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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10/10 highly recommend!!! Went for the first time last night and was super impressed. The Queso Fundido + Birria Tacos were delicious, and we loved trying the Tlayuda Oaxaca per our server's recommendation. Their Mezcal club sounds super cool too, very excited to join next time we visit :) Thank you for a lovely evening, Donaji!! read more

Oaxacan restaurant with romantic vibes & gluten friendly! The dimly lit restaurant was the perfect spot for date night with my boyfriend! We made a reservation for 6pm but the restaurant wasn't full when we got there. They have outdoor seating as well. Reservations can be made on their website or OpenTable. APPS Ahi Tuna Aquachile 7.5/10 - I enjoyed this a lot! Fish tasted fresh and dressing was flavorful. The tortilla was crunchy as well and paired nicely with the tuna. **Made with gluten free soy sauce! DINNER Braised Beef Short Rib con Mole Rojo 8/10 - The short rib was tender and the mole sauce was amazing! Donaji's mole coloradito is made with 21 ingredients, one of them being cookies which is why it isn't gluten free. It's rich, dark, sweet, and flavorful.. definitely recommending at least one dish with their mole coloradito. Quesabirria Taco 6.5/10 - Came with 2 tacos and a small container of birria juice. Solid option, nothing amazing. DRINKS Coco Margarita 8/10 - blended creamy goodness! my boyfriend ordered this and really enjoyed. would rec! Taramind Tini - 7.5/10 - Donaji's spin on a virgin martini, except with taramind. Taramind is a sweet & tangy fruit usually found in Asia cuisine. I was excited to see that they incorporated this into a drink. Tasted like pineapple juice with a little more flavor. Not bad! Service was great. Restaurant was clean. Give Donaji a try! Parking: metered parking on 24th street, street parking in the residential areas. A block away from 24th & Mission bart! read more

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Donaji is truly exceptional. We love everything on the menu, especially the tacos and mole enchiladas. Everything is ultra fresh and flavorful. They also have a surprisingly good kids menu. Not to mention the kindest staff and fun cocktails. Love this spot! read more

Pedro was FANTASTIC. So good at his job, very on top of everything and a hoot! A true pleasure, and delicious food/drinks! Will be back!

Hard to tell just how cute the restaurant is from the street. Very comfortable and nicely decorated restaurant. I can see reservations are needed as it is not a large place. Our server, pedro, was right on. Friendly, timly and efficent. Food was quality and delicious. Tacos were on the small side but filled with good fresh scrumptious mahi-mahi. Mole enchalidas were excellent. A dish I have never had before (mole). We were lucky to hit happy hour and the $6 margaritas. Quality alcohol. A must for dessert were the smores churros. Omg...sinful. Yes...I recommend. read more

Donaji - Sinful smores churros. Oh yes. - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here for a date night and was pleasantly surprised. Reservations are recommended but they will take walk-ins. We had a reservation and were seated promptly. We ordered the guacamole to start, which had great flavor and was a good size for 2 people or to share. To drink I got the Manguita, which was mango juice with a dollop of Jamaica sorbet, and my partner got the Michelada, which was ok (the beer was just a bit too warm for the liking). For an entree, I got the chicken mole and my partner got the carne asada with shrimp. Our dishes were a nice portion and flavorful. The mole wasn't too bitter and I felt that the pickled vegetables they had on top of mine paired perfectly with the mole. We got the churro donut with chocolate ice cream. The churro was delicious and the ice cream was very homemade and subtle in flavor (although the texture wasn't my favorite). Outside of the great service and food, I found the bathroom at this place was really bad. My partner mentioned it to the host when he went when we first arrived, and I mentioned it to our waitress when I went in about 30 minutes later, since it looked like nothing had been cleaned. It looked as though someone had vomited in the toilet and the backsplash got all over the inner lid of the toilet, so that when you lift it up, that's what you see. It was so bad that I couldn't even use the bathroom. Someone needs to probably monitor that restroom to ensure that it stays clean for guests, which goes a long way in the overall experience. read more

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My favorite dish was probably the pork tacos. The flavor was very rich you can tell the pork was braised slowly for a long time. All the other dishes were not bad but also not very memorable to me, either. read more

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Incredible food, drinks, and service! ALSO PLEASE PLEASE MAKE THAT CORN SOUP A PERMANENT PART OF THE MENU I WOULD ORDER IT BY THE GALLON IF I COULD. The food was very well presented, you could tell there was lots of care put into each dish. The chicken was so juicy and the meat fell off the bone. The service made you feel like you were at home. The server made my night by offering me a sip of mezcal and giving me a little lesson on it. The atmosphere is a colorful and fun setting for a date night. read more

Donaji - Chicken Mole - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went on a Thursday night early, and it was easy to get a table at the front. Strong and tasty Amazing Oaxacan food by Chef Isai Cuevas. Try the spare ribs! Spicy marqrita and Tequila blanco were strong af. Loved this place and am sorry it took me 4 years to try it! read more

The partner and I decided to try this place, since it's not far from his home. I read the reviews and wanted to check out their selection of mezcal and of course, the delicious menu. We were pleasantly surprised walking into a place filled with bright colors, welcoming artwork, and a feel of Oaxaca that was very inviting. We were lucky enough to be able to grab two seats at the bar as we did not have reservations. I would highly recommend making reservations if you can, bc it is very busy. We ended up having a couple appetizers and several dishes. My partner had the short rib and I had the pollo mole. The food is so delectable that we immediately stated we need to come back. The bartender Evan is such a personality that he makes you feel at home. You can definitely tell he has experience and loves what he does. read more

Donaji - Pollo mole - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I was so hyped to come to this place, and I'm so glad we did! We got 2 cocktails including a coconut margarita, a tlayuda, and 3 tacos: mushroom, cochinita, and pescado. Everything just tasted right. The food and drinks came out really fast too! I loved the strong flavors of the cocktails. Everything on the tlayuda tasted fresh, and I really appreciated how the cheese wasn't overpowering and the tortilla was a good texture for picking up without falling apart. For the tacos, I appreciated the homemade tortillas: they were closer to store-bought than the masa mounds you see sometimes, but still had the nicer texture. Every single taco had a well balanced mix of fillings, and it was great to add the chili oil at the table to get some more intense bursts of flavor. The decorations inside elevate the experience for sure. The art for sale and the cute fake windowsills with plants on them were fun. The way they had a mirror on the wall with the "fence" in front made the place seem bigger than it actually was. I can tell they've put in effort to make it a fancier experience, but they don't have prices higher than any normal restaurant in the area. I really appreciate it, and I'll definitely be coming back. I think this is somewhere I'd be comfortable preaching as a go-to spot in the Mission, and I wouldn't be surprised if they get way more popular than they are today. read more

Donaji - Tlayuda - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Donaji has a fun, lively vibe. They have bright artwork on the walls that's tricky to see due to the low light level inside. I sat at the bar. The friendly bartender guided me towards an amazing smoky Mezcal. I ordered chips + guac, beans + rice, and the carne asada steak. Overall, the sauces were the stars of my meal. They had a delicious depth and complexity. I knocked off a star in my rating because I felt the food was under-seasoned and the steak had a tough texture. When I pay $29 for an a la carte steak, I expect better. Regardless, I'd gladly return for another meal to enjoy the fun vibe, Mezcal and sauces. read more

DE-LI-CIOUS!! The food is fresh, flavorful and authentic. We loved the guacamole and chips, quesadilla with steak, and mole enchiladas. Pedro the server was so friendly, quick to bring items / food. The ambiance was welcoming and my daughter enjoyed the festive decor. Took us back to Mexico with all the vibrant colors. read more

Great service Cute location The Mole was AMAZING - on the Totopo and Mole Rojo on the short ribs. read more

Donaji - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Waited a year to try this always busy place. Tried the potato soyrizo mole negro as one of the 4 vegetarian options. The potato soyrizo was kind of bland, cold, and dry and left me wanting more. The mole was also cold but a good balance of sweet and savory. I enjoyed the salsa macha on the table the most and had to ask for salsa verde on the side to spice up my mole dish. The churro donut (although not what we ordered) is any easy pass. It was mushy, eggy, and not warm - the chocolate was alright but didn't perfectly drench the donut. I would not get this again. Overall, this is a cool place to try Oaxacan food but not a place I would frequent over and over. read more

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Went to Donaji for dinner and it's a fantastic Mexican spot in the Mission. You order and pay at the register in the front and the food is great. To start things off, we got a tlayuda to share. I've never had it before and it was huge! Definitely recommend, especially if you want a dish to share. It was so crispy and had so many toppings. Next we had some tacos and mole tamales. Enjoyed both! But the mole was my favorite since had so much depth and flavor to it. Loved this spot and I will be back to try more things on the menu read more

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I am pretty much obsessed with Mexican food, and Oaxaca is ground zero for the bet Mexico has to offer. Donaji gets it spot on. It isn't a fancy place, but the food is nothing short of AMAZING! This is the first time I tried beef birria, and everything since has been sub-par. I really can't recommend this place enough. read more

My boyfriend and I recently tried Oaxacan food for the first time and were excited to explore something new. We asked our server for recommendations since we're unfamiliar with Mexican cuisine, and based on the suggestions, we ordered the tlayuda. When the dish arrived, we were enjoying it until I noticed something unusual in my slice -- a large bug. With the help of a flashlight (the restaurant has a dark, moody ambiance), we realized it was a grasshopper. We called a server over to confirm, and he explained that yes, grasshoppers are a traditional ingredient and are included in the dish. He also acknowledged that the waitress who took our order should have mentioned that to us, especially since she had described the ingredients when recommending the dish. When our original server came over, her response was that "it's on the menu," repeated multiple times -- which, while true, felt a little dismissive given the situation. We completely respect that grasshoppers are part of Oaxacan cuisine, and we take full responsibility for not reading the menu more carefully. That said, for guests who are clearly unfamiliar with the cuisine and are asking for guidance, a quick heads-up would have gone a long way. We didn't see grasshoppers listed on any of the older menus posted online either, so this may be a newer addition that isn't widely known yet. We want to stress that this isn't about the culture -- we understand and respect that insects are used in various cuisines around the world. This is more about the guest experience and the importance of clear communication, especially when recommending something that might be unfamiliar to many diners. The dish was otherwise tasty, but the surprise did affect our enjoyment, especially for my boyfriend who has a bit of a bug phobia. The food overall was flavorful, and the experience gave us a deeper appreciation for Oaxacan flavors, but hope the staff will be a bit more proactive in informing guests about less common ingredients in the future. read more

My favorite Mexican place in the City. Such excellent food, in a cheerful and authentic atmosphere. Warm and attentive service. Great drinks too! read more

Honestly I am a little disappointed. The wait time here was awful. It took forever to get our food, and I thought the food was very average, nothing mind blowing. I liked the decor of the restaurant, but again, nothing special. I was definitely very disappointed in the service and wait time. We got there at 7pm and didn't get our food until 8:20 pm approximately. read more

Donaji - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Almost a regular at this place and I recommend almost everything here. Except for the ceviche; that was a little too fishy for my liking. Atmosphere is nice; drinks are solid but not overly inventive. The mole is one of a kind and the service is good, we had a waiter who had an interesting sense of humor. read more

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Friendly service and good food nicely prepared and visually appealing. Warm welcome to my service dog read more

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