#30 of 31 for 2026!!!…read more Get the garnachos! So good!!!!!! The surf and turf we got was really tasty. I think this was the first time I had Guatemalan food before and I would def come back. Tastes authentic (:

Limited parking . Outside area available. Staff friendly…read moreand helpful to explain the dishes . Had breakfast for lunch and was full with left overs available to take for later. Beans delicious and able to dip everything in it . T first time having Guatemalan tostadas and they were delicious. Establishment very clean .

They make your pupusas fresh and over-sized within 10 minutes! I chose cheese, spinach, zucchini,…read moreand pork. Very tender and savory inside. The outside was grilled to perfection--well done... *not* undercooked like some pupuserias. Lively Latin music played at a nice volume where you can talk with your companions. Merengue and more. You give your order and are given a number. You pick your own seat. Signs are bilingual--mostly Latin patrons, which is my usual litmus test that usually means the food has authentic flavor, which I love and look for from ethnic dining experiences. It's very clean and looks freshly painted. I was here just before noon and there was a steady stream of patrons.

La Esperanza Pupuseria and Diner opened 5ish years ago where El Perol Pervuian once was. Inside…read more and outside seating available. Greeted quickly, courteously upon arrival. Ordered, pay at counter. Food came within 15 minutes. Cashier not English prolific. Enough to process my order. Decor of pics, paintings. Guatemalan/El Salvador artifacts & flags. Soft music in background. Offerings (El Salvador): pupusas, breakfast, lunch, soups, entrees, best sellers. Bites: Bistec Encebollado (steaks & onions 20.69) -heated up warm corn tortillas, not freshly made in house. Commercial grade. Ok. Nothing special. -dab of fresh salad of iceberg lettuce, tomatos, cucumbers, lime squeeze. Deliz it was. -fresh fluffy rice helped soak up juices from steaks -beans smooth creamy texture. tasty. -many steak pieces: some chewy, some tender. Mostly large. Grilled tomatos and onions added sublime savoriness. 4.5 stars. Service: great! Quality: pretty good. Corn Tortillas a minor issue. Quantity: reasonable.

Very good food underrated as hell the empanadas are delicious. And so are the plantain things those…read moreare really good.

I really wanted to like this restaurant because I'm from Novato and my husband is from Colombian…read more Unfortunately, we left very disappointed. I've eaten at Colombian restaurants all over Queens NY, Florida, and throughout Colombia, so I have a lot to compare it to. This was, unfortunately, the most disappointing experience we've had. The service made us feel unwelcome from the moment we walked in. The owners barely acknowledged us, and even though they speak Spanish, they spoke English to my Spanish-speaking husband. No one explained the menu or offered any recommendations, which made the experience feel cold and uninviting. As for the food, the bandeja paisa was very disappointing. There was essentially no carne asada, and the chicharrón was almost entirely fat with very little meat. What surprised me the most was the lack of hospitality. In my experience, Colombian restaurants are usually incredibly warm and welcoming. The staff often greet you warmly, offer recommendations, and make you feel appreciated as a customer. I've honestly never had an experience like this at any Colombian restaurant. The atmosphere here felt cold and impersonal, more like eating in a hospital cafeteria than a family-owned Colombian restaurant. I genuinely wanted this restaurant to be great and was excited to support a local Colombian business, but between the unfriendly service, the lack of hospitality, and the disappointing food, we won't be returning. De verdad quería que este restaurante me gustara porque soy de Novato y mi esposo es colombiano. Lamentablemente, salimos muy decepcionados. He comido en restaurantes colombianos por todo Queens (Nueva York), Florida y en distintas partes de Colombia, así que tengo muchos puntos de comparación. Desafortunadamente, esta fue una de las experiencias más decepcionantes que hemos tenido. Desde el momento en que entramos, el servicio nos hizo sentir poco bienvenidos. Los dueños apenas nos saludaron y, aunque hablan español, le hablaron en inglés a mi esposo, que es hispanohablante. Nadie nos explicó el menú ni nos hizo recomendaciones, lo que hizo que el ambiente se sintiera frío y poco acogedor. En cuanto a la comida, la bandeja paisa fue muy decepcionante. Prácticamente no tenía carne asada y el chicharrón era casi pura grasa, con muy poca carne. Lo que más me sorprendió fue la falta de hospitalidad. En mi experiencia, los restaurantes colombianos suelen ser muy cálidos y acogedores. Normalmente te reciben con amabilidad, te hacen recomendaciones y te hacen sentir valorado como cliente. Sinceramente, nunca había tenido una experiencia así en un restaurante colombiano. El ambiente se sintió frío e impersonal, más como comer en la cafetería de un hospital que en un restaurante colombiano de tradición familiar. De verdad quería que este restaurante fuera excelente y me hacía ilusión apoyar a un negocio colombiano local. Sin embargo, entre el servicio poco amable, la falta de hospitalidad y la comida decepcionante, no volveremos.

My son and I had a wonderful lunch today. Chorizo empanadas. Carne Asada tacos. Classic PERUVIAN…read moreceviche. The ceviche was so good I asked our server if the chef was Peruvian. He was! The service was excellent, professional, and kind. Right now, you are missing out if you don't go. I will be taking the whole family back soon. The place is very nice inside and very clean.

Ambiance is awesome (IMO). Food was really good…read more Good service. We arrived at 1:30 on a Saturday. Only 5-6 other people in the restaurant/bar while we were there. Not sure why there weren't more.

I used to come here weekly, decades ago, when I worked down the street. I was back in town and came…read moreback for nostalgia. It's the same great quality! This is NOT some typical below par Mexican restaurant where all dishes taste the same, like is common at strip malls across the country. This is fresh and everything is delicious! I would still be here weekly if I lived or worked in the area. Strong recommendation!

Whew! What a treat! If I was closer I'd be here A LOT. I've been going to Casa Manana for over 25…read moreyears and it still hits solid every time. I'm a creature of habit and usually get the mole plantain enchiladas but I veered off track since it's been so long and I'm glad we did. The chili with walnut sauce was light and deliciously packed with flavor. The potato flauta was exceptional! Service super friendly, it was quiet on a Sunday afternoon but that's what also made it so nice. This place is a gem and we are lucky to still have them as part of our community.

CALDO DE RES!! this place has captured my heart with the caldo de res!! It's super flavor and has…read morelovely chunks of veggies and meat that are delightful and delicious! My colleagues have also had the seafood Marisco plate and the pollo chicken plate . I look forward to coming here all the time and I love the music and their customer service is also very warm and welcoming. They have huge TV screens and have soccer usually playing . Highly recommend them and will definitely plan on coming back soon . Love it and will be back !!

Friendly Atmosphere, Average Food Overall Rating: 3/5…read moreI've now tried a variety of dishes at Luna de Xelaju, and the experience is consistently middle-of-the-road. The Food Churrasco Chapin (3/5): The best thing I've had here. The beef was tender and the beans were good, though the salad was underwhelming and the "hot" sauce had no heat to it. Caldo de Res & Bistec (3/5): Both were decent, standard versions of the dishes--satisfying but not memorable. Enchiladas: These were a bit lower on the scale, specifically the beans (2/5). Service & Amenities Service: The staff is very warm and welcoming, which makes for a nice atmosphere, but they aren't very attentive. You might have to flag someone down if you need something during the meal. Drinks: A big drawback if you're health-conscious--they have no zero-sugar sodas or sparkling water options. Summary: Go for the Churrasco if you're in the neighborhood and want a friendly environment, but don't expect a culinary knockout or fast service.

Homemade tortillas, great flavors/seasoning. I've been looking for good tacos in Marin and there…read moreare only a couple of decent spots - this is definitely at the top for me so far!

This is a small but delightful restaurant in the fast, casual ethnic food category. There's a lot…read moreof Mexican food restaurants out there, which are great, but this restaurant specializes in central American food. If you haven't become familiar with it yet, give it a try! Their pupusa and their tamales are delicious. And you don't have to spend a lot of money to get great tasting food. I only spent $11 for example on my recent lunch there and got two items which filled me up sufficiently. I'll definitely be going back to Cocina Antigua on my rounds through Novato

Came here by chance with a hunger inside me. Discovered a little gem! Looks iffy from the outside…read more It inside it clean, sunny, and smells warm and delicious. The staff was super friendly and welcoming. It's like a cute little burger shop but for pupusas. The vibes are great. Clearly a lot of regulars here, stones throw from Marin Civic Center. Side-note -- you can freely roam around inside the civic center which is one of the most mind-bendingly beautiful public buildings, a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece that inspired a George Lucas for Star Wars. But anyhow, yes, the smell, the happy chatter, the bright windows, lots of little tables, very clean, it just feels right. I don't know Blankita but I can tell she's great. I got three pupusas, cheese and bean, revueltas, and cheese and loroco made with rice flour instead of corn. All were excellent, 5-6 bucks a piece. There are not many places like this in Marin, that feel they could be in the Mission. It's definitely going to be a tempting exit on my way home from work.

Popped by after a weekend of camping. Ordered a bunch of different pupusas…read more Excellent: revueltas and chorizo with extra cheese were def the best and most flavorful of the bunch. Top with the cabbage mix and salsa for extra zing! Fried plantains were great too. Good: beef and cheese Skip: jalapeños and spinach, horchata (odd flavor) Good friendly service, big screen showing the World Cup matches.