The dinner ambiance started from the minute we walked in. Service, food and dancer was 5 star! All the dinners in the restaurant made it feel like we were with friends at a party in a living room. read more

The server was fabulous! I unfortunately forgot his name. He was so classy and super friendly, Food kept coming... Yummy food... And then, at around 8 PM, a great belly dancer appeared. She was very skilled. Beautiful young woman, balancing a sword, doing all kinds of dances in different costumes, she put a great effort in it. Balancing a whole chandelier of burning real candles on her head. And interacting in a very nice way with the Guests. They happen to be a group of young women celebrating graduation. So we all danced. This is not my first time there. Really love that place. If you haven't been, you should check it out! read more

El Mansour - The belly dancers name is Jennifer Estrella, she gave me her card - Moroccan Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of the worst service experiences I have ever had. After we were seated, we were essentially ignored for about 20 minutes. I had to repeatedly walk around and flag down staff just to order and receive basic service. Our soup arrived without spoons. After asking again, we were given one normal spoon and one oversized serving spoon. We purchased a Groupon advertised as a five-course dinner for two. The portions served felt appropriate for one person, at least one advertised item never arrived, and we were charged separately for mint tea even though it was listed as included in the Groupon. An 18% service fee was automatically added. Although that fee appears in the Groupon fine print, it was especially frustrating after such inattentive service. The food itself was average at best. I would not return. read more

El Mansour gave us something that's been hard to find since we left the East Coast. Why aren't there more Moroccan restaurants? This has all the atmosphere we wanted. Carpets and cushions everywhere, dim lights and curtained ceilings with beautiful light fixtures. Too bad we can't have hookah smoke anymore. You get to choose among different options for different courses, but mostly everybody gets the same thing except for the main protein. Because I'm pescatarian, The Wife graciously agreed to a veggie bastilla, instead of chicken. We expected the same thing, just without chicken; so egg and nuts. Nope - neither were present. But there was a lot of carrots. There was also a carrot salad, and carrots on the side of my main dish. The salad course was superb. The aforementioned carrot salad, plus a cucumber salad, and an amazing eggplant salad that I kept scooping up in my pita. I had the Moroccan seafood platter, with shrimp and scallops, both very well cooked. The Wife had the chicken kabob, and was very happy. At the end, we had baklava with stylishly poured mint tea. The show is almost as important as the meal. Speaking of which, we were there for the belly dancer Jennifer, and she was excellent. She started with a lit skirt, then came back twice, once with a curved sword on her head and another just alone. Beautiful and friendly, dancing briefly with a gentleman from one party, and for a while with a younger girl from another large family. So sweet. read more

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A restaurant doesn't stick around for 38 years unless it's got something good going on and El Mansour most certainly does. It looks a little tired when the place is less than full but on a recent weekday night there were three different parties celebrating birthdays (lights dim, an African version of "Happy Birthday" is played, and a candle-lit goodie is delivered to your table), the belly dancer was the most beautiful I've seen (join her when invited), and the multi-course prix-fixe meal (about $62-$67) was very satisfying. It's dinner and a show in an exotic environment far out on Clement Street. What's not to like? A change from my last visit here, many years earlier, is that one doesn't have to order the prix-fixe, multi-course meal. We did though, and enjoyed the lentil soup (salty), bread, and all of the shared platters (salads, Bastilla, dessert). With one exception (an inedibly chewy Beef Kabob that was sent back and replaced with a different entree), we really enjoyed the Lamb Shoulder (with eggplant, delicious), Chicken (with onions and olives), and the Seafood Tagine. Concluding with that dessert platter and authentic hot mint tea, I'm happy to report that El Mansour is still around, still worth a visit. Some poll somewhere identified it as one of San Francisco's funnest restaurants. Gather a group and head there on a weekend evening and I'm certain you'll agree. read more

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Came here for dinner at 7:15pm on a Wednesday night. I had a Groupon deal for dinner for 2 + bottle of wine. The inside is very cute, and decorated. I really loved the ambiance of the place. The service was 10/10. Belly dancing show started around 7:30pm. Please bring tip if you are watching the show! We did the signature 5 course menu. The dinner comes with 3 appetizers, 1 entree and a dessert w/ mint tea. We got the braised chicken with couscous and Moroccan seafood tagine which had shrimp and scallops. The braised chicken was so tender the meat fell off the bone. The seafood entree was also really yummy and the portions are huge. read more

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So beautiful and delicious! Also loved the belly dancing. The ambiance is amazing, and the food is incredible. We got the chicken and vegetarian dishes and each were great. I also loved the mint tea at the end! This is definitely great for date night or to impress out of town guests read more

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As soon as we walked into El Mansour we were transported to the inside of a shieks tent. The attention to the decor detail was impeccable from the oriental rugs on the floor to the overhanging drapes from the ceiling to the low round tables and ottomans. We ordered the 5-course prix fixe sets. Some of my favorite items were the lentil soup, chicken bastilla, braised chicken with caramelized onions, baklava and the mint tea. Everything was delicious. I especially loved the chicken broth used to make the lentil soup and the braised chicken. The waiter also came to wash our hands with water out of a kettle and portable basin. Such a unique experience! read more

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Such a fun place to go for a date night or celebration! You get a 5 course meal + a belly dancing show for a good price. A couple other reviews mentioned Groupon, so I looked there and found a coupon for dinner for 2, so I got that. Definitely check and see if they have a Groupon available as you can save some money that way. We made reservations for Sunday dinner at 6:30 two days beforehand and were seated promptly when we arrived. Parking was all residential in this area and was easy to find. The inside decor is beautiful with colorful walls and bright yellow curtains hanging from the ceiling. Rather than tables, all of the seating is on low couches, so the experience feels very intimate. It's the kind of place you come more for the ambiance and show rather than to chat, as the seating arrangement can make it hard for large groups to chat. The food is the same for everyone, a 5 course meal with fixed appetizers and dessert and your choice of entree. For the appetizers, you get: 1. harira/green lentil soup 2. Moroccan salad 3. chicken bastilla For the entree, you can choose from a number of options. They offer a good variety of meat, seafood, and vegetarian entrees, so there's something for everyone. You end the meal with some mint tea and dessert, which is a plate with baklava and banana fritters. Our favorite course of the whole meal was definitely the harira. I could have drank a lot more of this, it was SO good! The salad platter was decent as well. My favorites there were the eggplant and cucumber, though everything was good. My least favorite course of the meal was the chicken bastilla, which was like a sweet and savory pie with ground chicken. I couldn't get used to the sweetness of the pie and had trouble finishing this. For my entree, I went with the lamb shoulder and my friend got the chicken kabobs. I thought the lamb was very tender and flavorful and thoroughly enjoyed it. My friend's chicken was good when it first came out as it was warm and tender, but as time passed and it got cold, it became harder to chew and less appealing. Eat quickly if you get this. We were stuffed by the end of the meal. We weren't able to finish all of our food and got a box to go for the leftovers. I saw a lot of other people doing the same, so portions here are generous. The belly dancer of the night was fantastic. She came out twice, once around 7:30 and again around 9 pm right as we were preparing to leave. Once she comes out, they turn up the volume and it's pretty much impossible to talk until she finishes dancing, so keep that in mind. read more

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What a fun place! I had not heard of El Mansour but attended a celebration dinner with a group of 11. Everything was perfect, the ambiance, service, food and entertainment. I was not expecting the volume of delicious food, or the easy going pace of the night, but will be prepared for a 3+ hour experience next time! Dinner is a 5 course prix fixe, with your choice of entree. I chose the chicken kabob plate, and the chicken was cooked perfectly and delicious. Honestly, everything we were served was delicious. Then there's the belly dancer, who danced two sets, and encouraged patrons to join her and dance. It was a fun night all around and I shall return. read more

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This place is amazing! 10 outta 10!!! I went here last Thursday for my birthday with my family and it was such a great experience. Good food, good music & beautiful ambiance. We even danced with the belly dancer! I highly recommend this place if you want to try something completely exotic and different. It felt like we traveled to Morocco! I will definitely be returning to this restaurant again. read more

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I have been having my birthday dinner here for the past 15 years. (Except when they were closed during the pandemic) We used to have 35 guests now we are down to just a handful plus. We have always been treated like royalty and the belly dancers are superb! They serve my birthday cake with candles and sing. Excellent authentic food! The mint tea is so delicious. Bring your friends and enjoy the evening! I highlu value this traditiinal San Francisco establishment! read more

First of all, this was a fascinating place in terms of ambiance. It is very reminiscent of actual restaurants in the Middle East. The food was good, though I have to admit that while the lamb was just fall-off-the-bone juicy and flavorful, the beef kebabs were tough and way too chewy for the price. We did the dinner set, though, so got to try a number of their items. All were good, except the beef. The belly dancer was advertised as the whole evening, but we were lucky to see a little of the show. It was good, but could have lasted longer. Or the advert should be updated to set expectations. Service was terrific. I give it 5 stars altogether and will revisit sometime soon. read more

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Excellent to come here with a group of friends or just a nice date and great for any occasion really. Everything is a wonderful ambience and environment like you are in someone's grand living room. They bring warm water pitcher to wash your hands before meal. The female Belly dancer comes out at around 8pm or when majority of the tables are filled. You can even join the dancer too. At end you can tip her. She takes Venmo! I would love to comeback again to try more dishes. I would like to try the lamb shoulder next time. The set dinner menu for everyone one is Signature 5 Course Dinner ; 3 Appetizers 1 Entree of your choosing I was able to get 3 people to order the special platter to get a sampling of their popular dishes where we would share the dishes which was great for us to see which items are good and when we come back later we would know what to order next time. Desserts was sweet and bite size A La menthe is sweet moroccan tea and the El Baklava is layered pastry filled with tree nuts + fried banana fritters. This made me think I was at a tea party. All in all I enjoyed this event, I had a group of 15 people so we took up 1/4 of the dining room. And yes, I would love to come back again! Fun to bring out of town guests to as well! read more

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El Mansour puts on a spectacle for you to enjoy! Great atmosphere and service with several courses of food. If you are vegetarian - they can still accommodate! Highly recommend. read more

El Mansour - Moroccan Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have been here several times for special occasions. Each time, I had a great time. It's a dinner show with belly dancing. The belly dancer encourages customers to join so it's interesting to watch those that gladly join and others hiding. The dancer passed out "tip" business cards to those that did not tip while dancing with her or just for her dancing. It's no different than those money dancing at weddings. I had the 5 Course Prix Fixe Dinner that was $58 per person that includes 3 appetizers (soup, salad and pastry puff) on a table shared plate, one entrée and two desserts (baklava and banana fritter) on a shared table plate, and a cup of Moroccan mint tea The food was interesting - Middle Eastern food. After ordering your food, the waiter comes with water so you can wash your hands. It's typical in Morocco. Since I had it done several times in Morocco, I asked my waiter to pour the water as high as he could and surprisingly, he accommodated and did well just as I had it in Morocco. My waiter was patience, explained the menu in details, out-going, friendly, and professional. He made frequent checks to see how the food was and if I had any questions. It's a an enjoyable place to take out of town visitors or a treat to yourself. It's like you are in Morocco. read more

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A friend that had been here several times recommended it so we thought we'd try it out. I guess I must've caught them on a bad day. Turns out they had a pre-fix menu that day which didn't have many gluten-free options. I got the chicken kebabs which I "think" were cooked, they were a little chewy (was too dark in there to see anything) and not very tasty, Got a margarita which tasted like fruit punch, I couldn't tell if it had any alcohol in it. Place was packed and it was very hot in there. I had to tell them to open the door to allow some fresh air in, In general, a disappointing experience not sure I'll go back! read more

First time we tried Moroccan food and loved everything about this place. Food was amazing! Plenty of food that we had to take some home. Staff was amazing! So nice, checked on us but not overbearing, personable and never rushed us. Chairs, tables, everything in this restaurant was amazing! Only downfall which was our fault because we didn't know. We booked our reservation for 5 pm and the belly dancing didn't start until 730. Before 7, we asked for our bill and the waiter asked if we were going to stay for the show. After 2 hours of eating, we were ready to go home. We will be back, but next time, I might make the reservation for 6 or 630 so we can enjoy the show. Thank you El Mansour for an amazing date night. Can't wait to go back. read more

I really like the ambiance of this restaurant. The decor is very ethnic with seating in ring to make space for a belly dancing performance in the middle of the room. The menu selection is minimal but the prix-fixe menu has many ethnic and fun courses. The food is pretty good and the service OK but the experience is great. read more

I've been wanting to try this spot for a long while and finally, I'm here. We came on a Saturday, limited street parking. We were able to snag a parking spot right in front of the restaurant. We came and waited until they opened for dinner (reserved, but was seated early). Walking in, I felt like I was walking into a whole new world, I loved all of the decor, art, and intimate sitting areas. The customer service is AMAZING!!! The food is finger licking good!!! The aroma and spices!!! read more

El Mansour - Moroccan Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fantastic food, very attentive staff, a show with dinner and all without breaking the bank?! Almost unheard of! My wife and I had an amazing time. Great energy and got to enjoy a full Moroccan experience. There is nothing like this! 5/5 stars, we will be back! Thank you El Mansour for a wonderful evening. read more

Had an amazing dining experience at El Mansour Restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, the service was outstanding, and every dish was beautifully presented. The Moroccan-themed atmosphere and decor truly made us feel like we were in Morocco. The authentic belly dancer was incredibly entertaining and made the evening even more memorable. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a unique and flavorful dining experience. We are returning with more friends. Loved all of it. read more

The restaurant was very impressive looking. The staff were very friendly. It was a weekday and we were the only ones there. read more

El Mansour - King's platter this was Beef Kabob, Chicken Kabob, Lamb, shrimp. - Moroccan Near Me - San Francisco, California

I bright my sister here for her birthday. The service was amazing they didn't rush us or ask questions during bite . The entertainment was amazing and the food was outstanding we had the lamb shank with couscous and the seafood plate. I was so intrigued I forgot to take photos of the food before we started eating . We will we making the trip again to try more. read more

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The 5 course meal with the belly dancing show is the best experience for the whole dinner! The food was amazing and service was top notch. It was traditional Moroccan ambiance which was great! read more

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The food is amazing! This is a fun delicious place to eat. The staff showed us a great time. We loved the music!

Amazing service from staffs Amazing food Fun environment Everything was great. Will visit again read more

El Mansour is a unique restaurant in San Francisco. As soon as your walk in the front door you feel you are in Morocco. The food is delicious, the slow cooked lamb and chicken tagine is to die for. Highly recommend to do the 5 course dinner to enjoy the full experience. read more

Service was very good, the waiter remembered our no ice request. We had a good view of the performance area, food was a tasty experience. Be sure to leave enough time to savor the experience. I felt a bit uncomfortable with the dancing, but it was a tasteful performance. read more

Purchased a Groupon for a full course meal and belly dance show. Thought it was a beautiful place! Service was amazing, show was so fun to watch! The food was a bit bland, but the Groupon price was a great deal although y hey end up charging fees and a 20% gratuity, but it's still ends up being a tad bit less than if you walk in and order without the deal. Would likely come here again for a date, fun experience! read more

El Mansour - Moroccan Near Me - San Francisco, California

So I'm not fond of loud music playing while we have dinner. I actually like to enjoy food in a calm environment and can hear my companion speak, and he knows this, so he was surprised when I booked us a table at El Mansour recently because this is a pretty interactive dinner that comes with belly dancing entertainment. What can I say, I like to keep things interesting. We passed by El Mansour many times, but we have never been here, so it was exciting to see what's behind the interesting exterior. The inside is decorated like somewhat what you imagine between the interior of a Kasbah and a Berber tent with lots of carpeting and cushions to seat on. We were given choices of set menu that came with appetizers, main and dessert. It also came with hand washing at the beginning and end of the meal. Lots of groups celebrating birthdays and special occasions. We were kind of the odd ones because we weren't a big group and weren't celebrating anything. Wait staff was very nice but everything was pretty slow paced. Expect to be here at least for 2 hours. My husband got really hungry at one point because the food wasn't coming out fast enough. The belly dancer was great. Very beautiful and entertaining. I didn't know this but she can invite you to join her to dance. Another table joined, but we didn't. I just wanted to take photos and vids. Also tipping the belly dancer is a thing. And if you don't have cash on you, no worries, she has Venmo! And yes, we definitely tipped. Maybe we are not used to Moroccan food, but we thought the dinner was just okay. The lentil soup; however was pretty delicious. I would say that you need to experience this place as a complete package, and not just food then you will have a good time. read more

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Lois Pl I first went to this restaurant when it first opened in 1976. and My friend and i went at least once a month until covid struck and i hae not been able to go since. I knew and loved the owners wife (cant remember names ( i am 90 now) I remember when she was sso excited to get some pillows and cushions. and when she had her 2 boys i gave her presents for them. and now my grandson and great granddaughters are going together . This is the best and most fun restaurant and am looking forward to my favorite restaurant in the coming week.. I am so happy to come back again. read more

This was the coolest dining experience, the food was delicious, and the belly dancing was a surprise. It is a slow meal, we were there for 2 hours. If you like a little adventure this is totally worth checking out. read more

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I used to come here in my twenties... quite a while ago. This place has retained and exceeded all the ambiance, charm and culinary delight it always had. We loved everything! We drank Moroccan Cava, ate the meat platter and all the other courses and put plenty of bills in the belly dancers belt. She was a great and charming dancer by the way. As she left in her street clothes everyone cheered her again! There were many people there all enjoying as much as we were. Fantastic evening out with adult children. read more

El Mansour - The interior of the restaurant - Moroccan Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cool experience! This is a dinner and show type experience where you have a 5 course meal and a belly dancing show. I thought it was very cool! I got the chicken kebab as my main dish which was delicious. For appetizers you get soup, salad and a meat pie wrapped with dough (they can make it vegetarian if you ask). I liked the bakhlava dessert and the tea they serve. This place is a great vibe for a special occasion (they sing happy birthday to birthday people and bring a cupcake). read more

El Mansour - Awesome belly dancer! - Moroccan Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The food was fantastic and the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. For this to have been a first time experience I loved everything about this restaurant. The authentic & traditional food was off the charts and the staff kindly explained things that were a little different to my everyday life. PLEASE make sure you arrive early enough to see the belly dancer the ambiance in since is a MUST SEE read more

've been hearing a lot about this Moroccan-style restaurant, El Mansor, and how it's got a great vibe! Not only is the food delicious, but there's even a belly dance performance, and the decor makes you feel like you've traveled to Morocco in a second! 3119 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121 The belly dancing show is super cool: when I went on a Sunday, it started around 8:20 pm. You can even tip the dancer if you'd like. They do a prix fixe menu with 5 courses for $68-$72, a bit more if you choose the lamb chops. Too bad, when I went, both the beef and lamb chops were sold out: First, they have you wash your hands--a nice little ritual touch! First course: chickpea soup & small appetizers. The soup was so good I had two bowls! Second course: Moroccan chicken pie (a bit sweet, not my favorite). Third course: the main! I went with the chicken skewer, stewed lamb, and Moroccan seafood. All of them were super tasty! The seafood, especially, is a must-try! Fourth course: Moroccan dessert--think a very sweet fruit tart and a layered pastry. I'm a big fan of sweets, so I loved it, though some people might find it too sweet. I was all in! read more

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I traveled to Morocco without leaving the city and enjoyed every minute of the experience! The interior is beautiful--feels like stepping into a movie. It's not the place to come for a quick bite. First, they bring bread with soup, then salads, then appetizers. For my entrée, I had salmon with a fantastic sauce. I was so full I couldn't move after! Thank you so much for the wonderful service--I felt like a princess! P.S. The dance performance was so much fun! She even gave us a short dance class. Loved it! read more

El Mansour - Instagram corner - Moroccan Near Me - San Francisco, California

Its not often you get the pleasure of enjoying dinner and a show, but that's what you get here. Good food and a good show. Consider me a newbie when it comes to Moroccan food but sign me up for having more and more of it after this experience. I got the 5 course signature dinner which sounds absurd for one person, but I wasn't alone and I suggest you not be alone too because it was such a huge and delicious meal. One of my favorite items off the menu was the Bastilla Chicken Pie, it honestly caught me by surprise because you dont expect that combination of cinnamon, powdered sugar, and chicken to go together but it went very well together and I wanted to have more and more of it but this was honestly item number 2 and I had 3 more courses to go. The main corse was a medley of freshly grilled perfectly seasoned meats on a skewer and a variety of side dishes. It was hard to pick my favorite because every item was so good, but I think if i were to lean one way, I would say the shrimp (im a sucker for great seafood). Dessert was also a medley and every dish really highlighted moroccan culture. The belly dancer was absolutely amazing, very engaging with the audience and very talented. Though, I was having a hard time decided if I wanted to watch her amazing performance or the food I was eating... eh minor problems to have, because everything was great either way! read more

El Mansour - Moroccan Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My most adventurous friend told me he wanted El Mansour for his birthday, so I knew it would be a treat and it did not disappoint. The decor is impeccable inside and out, with a photospot by the doorway and everything. I can't say if it's authentic due to lack of knowledge but it definitely didn't feel like San Francisco anymore. The server was very kind in explaining the menu and introducing the various options to us. He suggested one set meal and an additional entree to us for our first time so that we could try a little bit of everything. He came out with a teapot that was meant to help wash our hands shortly after and it was part of what made this experience so immersive and fun. The mosaic salad had 4 different offerings to it and they were all refreshing and delightful. The chicken pot pot surprised me since it was sweet, but it was so yummy with well seasoned meat and a good crunch to the crust. The Moroccan seafood was very yummy and I enjoyed the scallop and shrimp, though I did feel like the portion was a tad smaller than I expected. The honeyed lamb with almonds was another surprise. The server said this was a unique offering of the restaurant and he was definitely right. Although sweet is not my preference, I will still get the lamb next time because it was cooked to perfection and fell right off the bone. The desserts were really yummy. There was a baklava, which he threw in an extra for us to share! I really enjoyed the strawberry crepe as they picked very fresh strawberries and the crepe had a good crispness to it. They also threw in a free cupcake for my friends birthday! Speaking of birthday, this was definitely the spot to celebrate as everyone was celebrating! The lights would frequently dim as the server came out with a birthday cake and the restaurant would clap and sing along to the happy birthday song. The dancer for Thursday, Jennifer was also SO amazing. She was so pretty and talented! If you're not someone who has cash ever like me, she has a Venmo for tips too. Definitely coming back here to celebrate another occasion! read more

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