Loud and noisy and colorful and I love it this way. If for any reason we're north of the bridge,…read morestopping for lunch is a must. My favorite thing is their pique, a pineappley mildly spicy concoction. Anything I order is just an excuse to eat about a quarter bottle with the food. Today I had the three pork ribs with half sweet and half savory plantains, black beans. The garlic lemon dressing on their greens? Just like my family makes it- garlic forward with lemon spike. Everything must be accompanied by a mango tea. You really can't go wrong. Today I had the ribs because I could smell them a block away, but my usual is the chicken thighs. Their sandwiches are amazing, and you can substitute the r bread out for plantains. Their food is consistently delicious. They never disappoint.

Got the plantain crusted shrimp plate, and my partner got the bistec plate - I think next time I'll…read moretry the shrimp with sauce instead! For drinks we tried the regular mango tea, and the mango tea with lime. Personally liked the lime one more. Also got a coconut flan as dessert and it was so custardy! Loved it. Would come back again!

#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.

Placed an order online for 8 pupusas, an order of nuegados and a pastelito de plátano. I got…read moreconfirmation saying my order would be ready at 12:56, I got there at 1:05. The lady at the front told me 5more minutes for my order, I waited 10mins and nothing. When I went to ask again she told me my order had just come through their system? Make that make sense! And on top of that there were other orders just sitting on the counter getting cold and the lady at the front cares more about peeling mangos with her back to the front door then handing out the orders to the customers that are waiting! The manager talk to me and was able to get me my order but guess what? They gave me the wrong order. We tried the pupusas we were given, they were dry and barely any filling inside. So not even the food is good. Bad customer service which is very sad because i drove from Santa Rosa to give this location a try. Will not be coming back.

Friendly & lovely service at the walk-up counter inside. I ordered 2 chicken and 2 shredded beef…read moreempanadas. The girl behind the counter said it would be about 6 minutes for some fresh fried ones so I happily waited. There was 1 beef empanada left inside their front display so I got that one to eat there while I waited. After getting them home for hubby to try we both liked how abundant and juicy the meat fillings were and like the crispy outside crust. Our only critique is that we wished the meat fillings had more flavor and were seasoned more. Nothing that some hot sauce added to it can't fix, but I don't care to add hot sauce if I can help it. The fillings were really bland tasting, but at least juicy. Would like to try other things on their menu, but will skip their empanadas.

I'm really pleased with the abundance of Latin American food available in Novato. One of the newest…read morein Chicha y Cafe, near the Post Office, which we frequented for the first time yesterday. They offer a range of bowls and plates where you can pick one or more entrees and two sides - and a bunch of other main courses, empanadas, arepas, breads, and desserts. I opted for a bowl with chicken and mushrooms, rice, and canario beans, and damn near licked my plate clean. My wife had the Ceviche - peruvian style - and loved it too. The owners are Columbian and Peruvian, so there is a fusion of those two cuisines. There was a STEADY stream of people getting to-go orders while we sat at one of the only two tables they have (they're in front of the restaurant facing the parking lot). They looked like business is going strong - and I am looking forward to dining there again!

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 really enjoy going to Marinitas, but unfortunately it hasn't felt the same since the…read morechange in ownership. The food that once felt fresh and flavorful now seems a bit inconsistent, and the overall experience just doesn't match what it used to be. The atmosphere is still nice and the location in San Anselmo is great, but the quality and attention to detail seem to have slipped compared to before. I'm hoping things improve because this used to be one of my go-to spots in town. The service was great otherwise.

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.

I have always made an effort to try food from as many different cultures as I can find. Still when…read moreI saw this Guatemalan restaurant I had to do it despite being on a diet before it's the first time I had ever seen such a place. My wife and I shared the Pepian de pollo and the Guate Steak. Both were excellent. We also had Atoles which is a very unusual warm corn drink. It was like a hot cocoa but with sweet corn. I have a feeling this drink probably has ancient roots.

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.

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

Delicious Guatemalan food. Many aqua frescas. Had the Plato Antigua and partner had a beef with…read moremole sauce. Beans, guacamole and salsa yummy. Plantains fried to perfection.

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.

The pupusas were not bad, just OK (and a bit pricier than other places I've been to). I liked that…read morethe pupusas weren't too greasy/oily, but it did need the sauce for flavor (without it, it was pretty plain). The place is quite clean with a decent amount of seating available. Service could be better.

Took my daughter here on our quest for the best taco in marin. Definitely stood the test, good sign…read morethat we were the only two gringos. We definitely liked the el pastor the best! Juicy, grizzly, tasty!

I don't know if they changed owners , since the food wasn't very good . Until I tried it again…read moreafter 2 years and let me tell you , the burrito especially was goood I give it 5 stars !