During My Days When Going To My Non Credit Course At The City College Of The Valencia Campus!!! I Have Passed By Esperpento España Restaurante So Many Times!!!! Although I Have Bought España Cevesa Dos Vez But Never Ate Here, I Have Always Wanted To Eat Here, Until When That Streak Ended!!! I Finally Came Here With Two Of My Amigos On A Wednesday Miercoles Afternoon For Lunch Almuerzo Almuerza!!!! We Ordered Oxtail Soup, & One Big Size Sea Food Paella!!! And For Me I Ordered Myself A Organic Coffee Which Came In A Very Cute Small Sized Cup!!!! Now I Can Say That I Finally Got A Chance To Eat At This Espertento España Restaurante If U Yelpers & Yelpettes Like Eating At A España Spain Restaurant Restaurante Try Going To This Esperpento Restaurante!!! read more

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¡Enamorado! Un lugar que cumple con todo lo que necesitaba... el ambiente maravilloso, tenían música en vivo y eso alegra mucho el espacio. La comida deliciosa, no hay falla. Todo absolutamente todo Estaba riquísimo. El servicio muy atento, muy pendientes de sus órdenes y eso te hace sentir en casa. El ambiente es ameno, la locación está muy bien, repetiría muchas veces. El vino riquísimo, muy buen acompañante pasa comida tan deliciosa. Quiero felicitar a todos los que acá trabajan... lo recomiendo muchísimo. Un dato importante: no tienen estacionamiento. Sin embargo puedes encontrar; valdrá la pena tu visita a Esperpento... read more

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This restaurant is a staple in the mission neighborhood. I had my first experience about 12 years ago and it makes me so happy that they're still around. The paella is so overflowing with ingredients and delicious. The papas bravas are crispy with a great aioli. The ambiance is also extra inviting on the weekends with live music and friendly staff. If you're looking for a quintessential SF Mission dining experience with just the right amount of cultural flair, this is definitely the spot. read more

This place just isn't good anymore. Probably the worst meal I've had in SF in ... 10 years? It *used* to be solid Spanish food - not too fancy, but still good. Everything we ate today was bad. The "pan con tomate" was not pan con tomate. They subbed something else, I think more of the same brava sauce they use on everything, for the tomato. The albondigas were bad. The croquetas de pollo were bad. The snapper combo plate was awful. The rice side was inedible, zucchini side was bad, and the fish was flavorless. Too much good food nearby to waste your time and money here. read more

Our friends took us here saying it was authentic Spanish food and that we needed to try it. I was craving paella for a while so I was happy to go. Paellas did not disappoint! The squid ink paella was crispier around the edges more so than the seafood, so i think i prefer that one! Other than that, everything was good but the meat was a bit dry. Staff was wonderfully nice - I requested to be moved to a better seat and they did everything they could to accommodate us. Friendly crew. If you want authentic paellas in a no fuss or frills, bustling and hustling Spanish resto, this is the right place to go. read more

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This place used to be great and years ago was a bit of a scene with lines often out the door. I believe it changed hands a few years ago, and the food has gone WAY downhill since then. We recently visited and sadly I think it will be my last time there to eat, after a few such disappointing visits. It's still cheap for San Francisco, but while previously the low prices equaled a great deal, now you're definitely getting poor quality cuisine for that price. I ordered the grilled chicken combo plate, and the chicken was tough, dry and difficult to eat. My girlfriend ordered some sort of chicken in sauce. The dish overall was utterly tasteless, with the exception of absolutely overpowering garlic. None of it was good. The servers have always been very friendly here, and that hasn't changed, and the sangria is still great, so maybe I'll just come in for that sometime. read more

I couldnt taste any fresh ingredients. Seasoning is missing, portion is not great, and bechamel spinach tastes like just cream and mayonnaise. read more

Had this place saved for a while and finally got to visit but was very disappointed. The food quality is lackluster for lack of a better word. Beef stew was super plain and the fried cod is highly suspect of being pre-frozen. I would hesitate to eat as a meal if it was free. It was so mediocre, we looked up whether it changed owners and surprise surprise it was changed earlier this year. SO DISAPPOINTING. Sangria was at least good. read more

Pretty underwhelming, especially with regard to the quality of the food. I came in excited to have some Spanish tapas and left disappointed. On the upside, I thought the staff was very attentive and nice! read more

Food is awesome here. I highly recommend this place. Paella and tapas are a must to try!

It's a good moderately priced tapas restaurant in the Mission. Good food and very nice staff.

Warning, street parking can be tough. We had an absolute blast, eating our hearts out. Tip: It is best to order, eat, rest, order again and eat again. :) There were some confusion with our orders, but it got resolved. Nevertheless, we had an absolute great experience with our servers. Place was clean; restrooms were clean. Tapas were yummy. The paella was just OK for me only because I was too full with the tapas. Anchovies is a must; green beans was yummy. Oxtail was great. Calamari was to die for. read more

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The best Paella in the Bay Area!!! I've been to Teleferic in Palo Alto and Los Gatos but Paella of Esperpento is the best in my opinion, taste wise and lots of fresh ingredients !!! Fast and friendly owner and servers . Ambiance is okay as well . Parking is just across or near the restaurant . Highly recommended! read more

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Best Happy Hour deal in town, $20 a Sangria pitcher 5pm-7pm (yes, 7pm)...Paellas are delicious too. read more

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Service was good. Food affordable. I liked garlic shrimp as an appetizer. Then I had chicken stew which was also good.

3.9 / 5 Tapas are an acquired flavor, for those who can appreciate smaller dishes. I used to love it here, over the 10 years I been coming here it has always been good not great. Consistency they are good at. Flavors are solid with plenty of lemon on the side. I usually order the fish and veg options as well as the classic sauce they serve with the bread. Service is a bit slow, ambiance is dated but kinda cute. Try it out and see for yourself! read more

My husband and I were revisiting our favorite date-night spots and we stopped by Latin American Club to have one of their mean margaritas. We've always noticed Esperpento multiple times across the street and always talked about trying it out and this time, we finally took the leap!! I do want to preface this by saying I've lived in Spain for half a year and have revisited different parts of the country 7x since so I may be a paella/spanish food snob. We ordered the tortilla de patata and the Paella de Carne and a bottle of wine to share. The tortilla de patata came out quickly but unfortunately, it was nothing to write home about. It was quite dry and flavorless. Finally, the paella de carne came out and it looked like it was filled with a variety of meats. I was excited to dig in but was disappointed with the lack of flavor, no socarrat, and not even a hint of saffron. MEHHHH. So dissapointing! This place is a "no" for me, fam! read more

Esperpento - Paella de Carne - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here on a Tuesday night with 6 friends and had no wait. The interior of the restaurant is cozy and cute, and the staff is super nice. We all loved the bread and garlicky aioli and appreciated the refills! The food was also pretty okay but kind of pricey imo. The squid ink paella was delicious but I do wish there was more seafood. The seafood to rice ratio for each bite was a bit off. For 6 people we got the 4person paella and it was more than enough- definitely had some to go. The sangria pitcher was $19 and a great deal to split amongst the group. read more

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I was in the neighborhood and decided to give it a try. Spanish food is always a good option but sadly, this place disappointed me. The service is attentive and friendly, inside fees cozy and welcoming. There were 2 guys that played the guitar. I appreciated it but I wish the establishment pay them instead of making them go around the tables asking for tips. The food: -Meatballs. Under seasoned. Bland. -Gambas al ajillo. Nothing special. I appreciate they removed the intestines. -Patatas bravas were good. -Artichokes. Bland. -Pan con tomate. It had a tomato paste instead of fresh ones. Meh. Why did they add onions? Dessert: Churros. Didn't say they were filled with raspberry jam, that's not traditional in Spanish cuisine. But it was good. Nice consistency and flavor! I recommend it. Points for having Inca Cola. I won't comeback. read more

Esperpento - Left to right: gambas al ajillo, Jamon Serrano en Pan con Tomate and patatas bravas - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a fabulous restaurant! We were in the mood for tapas and stumbled upon this sweet place. Some of the best tapas we've had including what we've eaten in Spain. Garlic prawns, marinated sardines, patatas bravas, grilled asparagus, padron peppers... all top notch. And the sangria was delicious too (happy hour from 5-7!) We will be back! read more

Insanely good food, as good if not better than I've had in Spain. The marinated anchovies, the papas with aioli, the padron peppers, the asparagus, the garlic shrimp!! The folks who worked there were lovely and the service was quick quick. The place itself is charming. Unassuming from outside, quaint, yet absolutely incredible food. New favorite in the mission. read more

How I love thee Esperpento! Feeling fancy but on a budget? Esperpento has a cure for that. Hungover and need soul cpr? Esperpento has a cure for that too. Oxtail stew for life! There's a reason why this gem has survived all of the mission neighborhood changes. It's epic, budget friendly, Spanish comfort food Not sure what to get? The staff will gladly help you have an amazing experience. Definitely recommend in person over delivery for the full food high . read more

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Went there on valentines day and was able to get a table within 5 minutes of arriving the tapas were served super fast and everything was delicious, the same for the paella it was so tasty and good. read more

I recommend Esperpento for Lunch and Dinner. EVERYTHING is so fresh and flavorful!! I usually order the grilled salmon or trout but all of the seafood is excellent as well as the beef and chicken dishes! The meals include fresh french bread with a wonderful sauce for dipping and the creamiest soup I've ever tasted, two sides of wonderful veggies and rice. I recently tried the seafood Paellas for two and it was great too! The service is wonderful and even the Coffee is superb! The decor is pretty, cozy atmosphere and the prices are also very good! This is one of the best restaurants in San Francisco, that I pray will stay here, in the Mission district, forever! Cynthia P... read more

Love the sangria and paella . We visit on a regular basis several times a year. Highly recommend! If you can't afford to visit Spain, then visit here. read more

Food was delicious. Served very hot. We got different appetizers and a paella plate. They do tell you it takes 30 minutes but it goes but fast. I recommend getting appetizers if you get paella. The restaurant has inside and outside seating. They give you bread too which is very good. read more

Esperpento - Paella Seafood - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I'm a Paella connoisseur so I tried it out. It was ok, not delectable as it should be. Price is right but something flavorful was missing. Prosciutto tapa was bomba! Sangria was average, not delicious but does the job. I did my good deed but will def try elsewhere. read more

Esperpento - Seafood Paella, added Spanish sausage. The prosciutto was amazing! - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Update: Saw other reviewers saying their tip got changed without their knowledge after leaving. Just checked my credit card statement and thankfully that didn't happen to me but maybe take a picture of your receipt just in case! It was more like a 3.5 star experience, but rounding it up to give them the benefit of the doubt as we didn't try their signature dish. And also because their salsa brava is bomb. My friend and I stumbled in here after walking around the Mission looking for indoor dining to avoid the cold weather. The paella is their specialty here, but we were too hungry to bear the 30 minute necessary wait so we opted for the chicken adobo combo plate with rice and potatoes and a gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) to share. Major pro for our hungry selves: The service here was extremely quick. All our dishes were brought out within 10 minutes, and they started us off with some bread while we waited. We were also seated immediately; the indoor dining area was very spacious with 6 feet distance between all the tables. There's also outdoor dining available for the extra-cautious! Unfortunately, while the food came quickly it was mostly lackluster. The gambas al ajillo had no garlic flavour, not even in the sauce. While the chicken adobo was tastier, it only consisted of a measly five small pieces of chicken just bathing in a surplus of sauce. The potatoes and rice sides were good, but overall unremarkable. The rice was a little too salty for our taste. One exception to this though was their salsa brava. We were served the salsa with our bread appetizer and while the bread itself was cold and slightly stale it was okay because that salsa!!! more than made up for it. It was perfectly tangy and just the right amount of paprika to give it that good kick that lingers in your throat a little. The bread just became a socially acceptable spoon-substitute for us to inhale the salsa. In fact, as the other dishes we ordered started arriving, they quickly also became vehicles for eating the salsa. It was that good. While we were eating, a table nearby had their paella arrive and ngl, it looked way better than anything on our table. They seemed to be enjoying it too (lol yes i know i'm creepy), which tracks with most of the reviews I'm seeing on here. I guess we learned our lesson about delayed gratification! Stanford marshmallow experiment, meet the Esperpento paella experiment. We clearly failed, but maybe we'll come back to try again. read more

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Delicious food! Ate pescatarian and loved the meal! We at the grilled artichokes, the red snapper strips, and the potato/onion/egg pancake thing. All were soooo good! Then we had the vegetarian paella, a lot of food for two people! It was delicious and happy to take home leftovers. Would definitely return! read more

Esperpento - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The only good thing in this place is the sangria! For the paella they used the cheapest seafood and meat ! I don't recommend this place! read more

I was walking through the Mission yesterday night and stopped by Esperpento to pick up food for dinner. I was surprised by how affordable the menu was, especially the lunch menu! There were lots of options under $15. They also have a daily happy hour from 5-7pm, with $14 sangria pitchers which normally would be the price of one drink anywhere else! I saw a lot of groups trying the pitcher while i was waiting for my food. The Sopa De Mariscos (seafood soup) was 5/5 lots of different seafood including jumbo shrimp, calimari, clams, and a big slice of tilapia I believe. The broth was warm and hearty. The dinner combo plate with steak was 4/5- everything tasted delicious especially the creamed spinach, I did think they could've given more meat They gave us 5 or 6 slices of bread with this amazing spicy mayo dipping sauce that I could not stop eating. Overall great stop in the Mission for cheap good food and nice happy hour deal! read more

My husband landed here on his day in the city and called me to meet him. Turns out, he celebrated the birthday of a good friend here, some years ago and it was a return visit for him. The menu was interesting. The food was fine/ok, but it wouldn't be a destination spot for me. But our waitress was really nice and when I mis-ordered a small plate, beans and sausage (which was served on bread), she took it back. I felt so bad, but she said no apologies and suggested some things that I could eat. I really appreciated this and it's why they have four stars. I had the crema brule and usually I like it, but theirs had orange zest in it, and I don't like floaties in things that I eat or drink. Also, orange isn't my fave, but my husband wolfed it down. The texture wasn't as solid as I would have liked. But, not a deal breaker for me. So, if I were in the area and had to go back, I'd do so willingly. Knowing that they had something for me to eat. read more

Esperpento - Menu cover. - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved this food so much!! Definitely sit outside to enjoy the atmosphere. Enjoyed the sangria pitcher. read more

Esperpento - Paella de Arroz Negro - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing food! We'll definitely come back again. Ambiance is nice and comfortable. Service was very nice and attentive. read more

Esperpento - Paella black ink - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This review is based on the customer service skills that this restaurant is lacking. Arrived early for our 715 reservation, for my sisters bday dinner in January, they sat us but since we had a couple more people coming than we anticipated we asked to move tables. Immediately got eye rolls from all the workers working that night. They were full upstairs for a large party so they had no where to accommodate us. But eventually they moved us to a bigger table. They made us feel very uncomfortable the WHOLE time despite the fact that we ordered a bunch of food. The worst part is someone from our table ordered a plate that didn't match the description on the menu she didn't even touch it and ask to take it back for something else but some woman with a stank ass attitude said no she wouldn't take it back, eventually, she called her boss and only she knows what she told her boss that they came back and told my friend they wouldn't serve her anymore that she had to leave. Honestly I have never seen anymone have such bad manners and customer service skills towards anyone. I guess you can't expect much from a small business restaurant. The food wasn't even that special save yourself and go somewhere else! read more

My friend recommended this spot to me since she always goes here for Spanish food. My boyfriend and I were craving Spanish food and decided to check her recommendation out -- it didn't disappoint! Walked in on a Saturday night and it wasn't buys -- got seated right away. I thought the service was great! The food came out fast. The paella was yummy, although, I wish I could've tried their squid ink paella but since I'm allergic to shrimp we decided to try the paella with chicken, pork, and clams. I loved the patatas bravas especially with the sauce that it came with. It was my first time having tortilla de patatas (spanish potato and onion omelette) and it was so good! I didn't have this when I went to Spain and I wish I did. The salted cod croquettes were delicious as well - could really taste the cod flavor. Also had to order a pitcher of sangria to have with the meal. Overall, I enjoyed this restaurant and I'm so happy we got to check it out! read more

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Great service, good food, good deal, very fresh seafood Just went to eat at Esperpento. We use to go all of the time nearly 10 years ago and it is just as good as it was. The first thing I noticed eating the seafood was that it was very fresh and soft. I really appreciate that. This is how it should be. We had the mixed paella, sangria, cod croquettes, grilled artichoke, mushrooms, shrimp, tortilla, and calamari. The tortilla was really good--nice and fluffy. My wife is Cuban and very critical of croquettes--they were solid. Grilled veggies were great and sangria yummy. We finished with flan--which my family is also very critical because it is served every major holiday. It was good. The only gripe--the espresso didn't taste right. It was pretty bad. Any place that serves european or Latin food needs to serve good espresso. Maybe the beans were old. Not sure. Esperpento --Please try to address this. Otherwise--my family loves your restaurant and can't wait to go back. Technically I would give 4.25 to 4.5, but I'll round up because they are underscored on average. read more

A jewel in the Mission. Reminded us of our visit to Spain, and the service was exceptional. The restaurant was light & airy and not too crowded with room to move. Very friendly and personable service throughout the dining experience. The food was beyond compare. Everything from the tapas & paella was amazing. Definitely coming back here again! read more

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The last time I was here was more than a decade ago. It looks to be about the same, and I sat at the same table a decade ago from my visit yesterday. Damn, I'm "gettin" old! Haha.... Oh one cool upgrade that is new, their bathroom. What I love most about Esperpento is their casual dining, with a touch of La Familia. I am not a tapas specialist, but I have had them over the years. Their menu here is simple and homey. Nothing fancy, but their taste are flavorful. I highly recommend ordering any of their Paellas. It is their specialty. My all time favorite is their Black Squid Paella. It's so flavorful. Be patient though as it takes about, half hour to cook. I suggest ordering them right away before ordering your drinks and appetizers. The other suggestion is to order their blood sausage. They have a nice crunchiness. Lastly, they get super busy during the weekends especially for brunch so I highly recommend making a reservations. We lucked out as we got in a few minutes after they opened. Cheers! read more

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Delicious food and a relaxing setting is all you can wish for! We ordered the seafood paella, escalvida, and almejas à la marinera! Our favorite was the almejas but the escalvida was also delicious! I wish the paella was a little more flavorful but it was still good. There was always someone refilling our water and bread but otherwise, we were left in peace which was great to catch up with a friend. read more

Esperpento - Paella Seafood - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California