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    La Playa

    3.2 (425 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Sports Bars

    La Playa Photos

    LA PLAYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - La Playa

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    Carne asada salad
    Miriam V.

    Got the Carne Asada salad with the tomatoes and avocados and it was so much food! The carne asada is a huge portion, super tender, and has a great flavor. They don't skimp on the tomatoes or avocados too. I got mine without cheese, but there is usually a cheese crumble on top. For being a salad, the carne asada portion alone almost dominates over the lettuce. The service is always great. Even with the place being almost fully packed (all watching the World Series), and a bit noisy, the food came out promptly and all orders were accurate. If you're like me and love some additional heat, ask for their special habanero salsa.

    Diablo shrimp, rice and beans
    Charlotte M.

    My fiancé and I had a little get away weekend and were craving Mexican food. Walking in we were greeted and told we can grab a table then return to the counter the order, simple enough! The staff dropped off our chips and salsa + our drinks. The service was quick. The atmosphere was chill even when it was football Sunday which was nice. We absolutely loved the food. Each item we ordered was flavorful!

    Pollo verde
    Clifford W.

    Parking tight today because nicer weather and surfers in wet suits taking many mall parking spots. Beef enchilada was good, sour cream and guacamole on top in bed of tomato sauce. Chile relleno fill with cheeses inside of Anaheim chile, with sour cream guacamole on top in tomato sauce bed. A little doughy but okay. Fish n chips were still crispy, several pieces of cod, sauces (3) tartar, vinegar, catsup was very good. Flautas (3) rice n beans was very good, crisp, sauced well. Pollo Verde was tasty, sauced with tomatillo sauce, rice n beans and flour tortilla on side. Self service ( get table, get menu, make your order at order desk, pay, get number, server will bring order to table). Ambiance is casual, indoor and outdoor seating.

    Chile verde dinner plate
    Sean F.

    La Playa is the best Mexican food joint in the sleepy little beach town of Pacifica. The quality of food and chill atmosphere make for an enjoyable experience on any evening or weekend, and the staff does a decent job of servicing the register and bringing dishes, chips and salsa, and drinks to guests after they're seated. It can be on the expensive side for Mexican food, but the dishes come with all the accoutrements - rice, beans, guacamole, salsa, lettuce, and really fluffy corn or flour tortillas. The restaurant is situated in a small strip of store fronts and food spots off Highway 1, right by the Pacifica state beach. True to its name, and because it's got a fairly large parking lot for the 6-7 businesses that occupy the space, sometimes it can be tough to find parking on a nice day where everyone wants to be by the water. Still, during regular weekday business hours there's no issue finding a spot to park and walk in. Similarly on a Friday or Saturday night the restaurant can be quite busy, especially since it has a bar area where people can stand and order drinks without being seated, but I've not seen this area become so busy that it's a nuisance to guests who are there to dine. I've read some other reviews complaining about the staff, but I haven't experienced any negativity first hand. The handful of times I've been to La Playa, the man at the front register was smiley and friendly. It should be noted that not all the staff speak English, and that might be the source of some of the "service-related issues" that other reviews complain about. But for me this is a good thing, as I like a Mexican restaurant that employs people who truly get the Mexican food experience. Of course, the food is the spotlight. I typically get the chile verde dinner plate and not only is it quite enormous, but it's some of the best chile verde meat I've had in recent times. It's tender and flavorful with just the right amount of kick. Since it comes with all the sides and some delicious tortillas, I end up eating 5+ tacos that I make myself off the plate every time I go. It's delicious and I leave satisfied every time. Pro-tip: chips and salsa are free, so keep asking for more and more and they'll keep bringing it out. Don't feel bad gorging yourself on their tasty chips.

    Chile verde plate
    Alycia D.

    First impressions walking into this place seemed a bit sketchy. It's a bar full of very loud people in a room that echos. Although the walls are painted beautifully, it seemed like there was dirt marks on the walls. The place looked a bit old and dirty. There's no service available here, you buy your drinks from the bar and order food from the cashier. While there they also cleaned the restrooms, which was nice to know they were clean. But the smell of bleach filled the whole restaurant and was very unappetizing while eating dinner. I was pleasantly surprised by the food! It was very delicious! Everything tasted home made and reminded me of authentic Mexican food. The food made up for the lack of appearance. The chips were stale but the food was hot. I got a green chile platter with rice, beans and fresh tortillas on the side. The beer was also served by the pitchers or in bottles and they had a lot of cocktails to choose from.

    Shrimp & Fried Fish Super Tacos
    Joanna D.

    When you enter, you pay first then seat yourself. Pay in cash to avoid a 4% charge on your card. There is 2 separate lines, one for the food, the other for the bar in the back. Bring another person with you at the bar if you have more than 2 drinks or the pitcher for help to bring back to the table. As for the food, I thought they would be small but they're actually big which is great but I should have just ordered one super taco. Taste is good & crunchy. The design of this restaurant is cultural & nice.

    This is how the owner deals with constructive criticism.
    Carson S.

    We originally wanted to go to Burger Board but due to the area being so close to the beach, it was extremely busy and there wasn't seating for our large party. So we decided to go to La Playa instead because it was a bit emptier. When you walk up, they tell you to order at the counter and then find whatever table is available. You block the exit as you're standing at the counter looking at the menu so lots of people will be sliding by you to leave, which is okay, but you can't help feeling a bit in the way. As a Type 1 diabetic, I asked if there was nutrition information available so I could count carbohydrates correctly. I was shut down immediately with a "No. We don't do that here." That was a little off-putting to me, especially with the rude delivery of the man standing behind the register, but I shook it off and proceeded to order the Grilled Chicken dinner plate with a salad (which they only charge 1.25 for and it is good!!!) If you're lactose intolerant, beware that they do add cheese to this salad, yet another thing they don't put on the menu that could cause a problem for those with food sensitivity. My family pushed some tables together and we were able to sit comfortably and enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant while we waited. The food came out pretty quickly and the food runner was amazing, dashing around and handing everyone their orders. Those of us who ordered waters did have to wait an additional five minutes after the food was served to get our drinks, even after reminding the food runner, but he was so busy that it was understandable that he forgot. He seemed to be the only person coming out from behind the counter to help guests so shout out to him! Our table ordered a variety of dishes: the nachos, the burgers and fries, and the bean and cheese burrito. I have to admit, the food was pretty good! 7.5/10. However, the service is why I knocked my review down to three stars. I think this restaurant could benefit from a more traditional, sit-down kind of service and it would allow the awesome food runner to become an even more awesome server and receive tips for his hard work. Secondly, the front of house guy who takes orders needs a bit more customer service training because his gruff demeanor and dismissal of me when I asked for help navigating my disability is the thing that I will remember the most from this experience. For those with diabetes, food allergies, or other sensitivities - this might not be the best spot for you as they will not provide any nutritional info about what they're serving. For those who can process food regularly and aren't looking for a dining experience where you have a waiter - you will enjoy yourself! Edit: Based on the other reviews, I knew the owner was rude but wow! Dropping my review to two stars. You clearly took what you wanted from this review rather than reading the facts stated. 1. It was carbohydrate content, not calories, that I needed. 2. There was no line out the door. There were people leaving the restaurant, but my family were the only people coming in to order. We were nothing less than kind and patient, it was your employee who was curt. 3. If you cannot accept constructive criticism about your business without becoming defensive and rude, you are going to continue to lose customers and get horrible reviews. Your explanation about a lack of employees makes sense (especially based on the way you're accused of treating them) and would have sufficed without the "don't tell me how to run my business" tacked on the end. I hope God continues to bless your business and move in your life because the attitude that you have is truly deplorable.

    nachos in a styrofoam container

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    11 days ago

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    14 days ago

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    8 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    La P.

    Awwww! Thank you! Next time ur in town come by and I’ll buy u a soup.

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    8 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 months ago

    I really miss this place. Im hoping it opens soon! Great food, great barNever disappoints. Love the skirt steak burrito and other things.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    La P.

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    2 years ago

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    4 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Giving a 5 to compensate for all the neggos out there. This place deserves to be a 4. Good, authentic food.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    La P.

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    1 year ago

    We love this restaurant. The portions are so generous and food is very flavorful and we always have such a great time here watching games

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

    Superb Mexican food. Even the salsa is wonderful. Carne Asad salad. Shrimp tacos, chili colorado,.... all great!!

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    3 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    La P.

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    11 months ago

    Just no. If you're looking for good Mexican food this is not the place sorry. The service could be better.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Fun and friendly place. When it's busy, there will be a little bit of a wait to order. Great for game night.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - La Playa

    Are they making corned beef and cabbage burritos this year for St. Patrick's Day?

    Yes! If u follow us on Instagram or FB- Laplaya restaurant we post. Thanks!!

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    I had an amazing experience at Norman Rose Tavern. As someone who's been on the hunt for truly good…read morefish and chips, I can finally say I found something worth calling the real deal. The fish was perfectly cooked, and the portion size felt fair for the price. The staff struck a great balance -- friendly and attentive without constantly interrupting the meal to ask if everything was okay. It made the whole experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. At one point, the music was slightly loud for my liking. Another guest politely mentioned it, and the staff immediately turned it down and made sure everyone was comfortable. That kind of responsiveness really stood out. What truly went above and beyond was what happened after I left. I had forgotten my hat on the seat, and instead of just putting it in lost and found, our waiter actually ran out of the restaurant and caught up with me before I crossed the street to the parking area. That level of care is rare and genuinely appreciated. Overall, this was a 10/10 experience. I'd absolutely bring my family here -- kids included -- and would recommend it to anyone considering stopping by. .

    Service needs improvement…read more We went to this tavern to watch the World Cup soccer game. I was with a party at four and our dog. We sat out on the patio, which was dog friendly, which was very nice My gripe is that the service was rather slow, and the server wasn't very friendly. The kicker was we were ordering off the happy hour menu, which goes until 6 PM, and around 5:30 we asked the server if he would come back in about 15 minutes so that we can get our last order in before 6 PM He came back at 5:55 and we ordered a few more things from the happy hour menu and he said "happy hour is over, you can no longer order off the happy hour menu." I asked him "how can that be? It's still 5:55. The menu clearly states that happy hour goes until 6 PM plus we asked you 30 minutes ago if you can come back in 15 minutes and you said yes." He said he was told that happy hour is over and he can't take any more happy hour orders I told him to ask his boss or whoever told him that to come over and explain it to us He said the owner told him that I asked him please have the owner come over and explain that to us He went over and talked to the owner and then came back and said I can take your happy hour orders But that's just uncalled for you. They have a happy hour to attract business and they need to honor it. If it's 'till 6 o'clock they gotta take happy orders 'till 6 o'clock. Cutting people off five minutes early just results in upset customers. It's poor way to run a business. Other than that, the place is OK Food was all right, nothing to write home about. I won't be coming back.

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    Bar and Christmas tree
    Bar and Christmas tree
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Fish and Chips

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    Fish and Chips
    Bottom of the Fifth Sports Bar and Grill

    Bottom of the Fifth Sports Bar and Grill

    4.1
    (424 reviews)
    37.1 mi
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    Danielle is an amazing bartender! Even on a busy Sunday night, she stayed on top of every order…read morewith a positive attitude and a smile. Her drinks were excellent, and her energy never slowed down. She made sure everyone was taken care of and created a fun, welcoming atmosphere. Great service, great drinks, and always friendly--Danielle is the best!

    There's not a lot of places that stay open during the week. We were in town for the long holiday…read moreweekend and not wanting to end the night, we came here. Also a recommendation from friends who's in the neighborhood. We ended taking an uber as we weren't quite sure where it was. Honestly we could have walked there....lol... It was pretty lively when we walked in. They're open till midnight I believe and we arrived about 10:30. It's not quite a dive bar but somewhat better. Theres two pool tables right when you walk in through the back. Theres the bar counter along one side. I think there's only one bar. Besides that, food is also served. A good crowd with locals when we arrived. Both pool tables were utilized and a line was set. Drinks, we got a couple of the Moscow mules which was informed that they only had one cups left. Guess people take them. A couple of those and beer and margaritas. They were quite nice. Kitchen was still open, so we put in for some good. Heard that their fish and chips were good so that was ordered and the fried pickles. Food didn't take long to arrive. Yes, the fish and chips were quite nice. Two big chunks of fish which was nice and flaky. Served with tater sauce and marinara. Fried pickles were ok, a little too salty for my liking but good. The place was fun. A lively crowd there for the same reason. Drinks and having fun. Pool table was getting utilized the whole time. Food was quite nice. A fun local bar.

    Photos
    Interior vibe
    Interior vibe
    Wedge Salad  This was delicious
    Wedge Salad This was delicious
    Outside sights

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    Outside sights
    Nickies

    Nickies

    3.9
    (460 reviews)
    12.9 mi
    $$

    Y'know, I've never been in here for a drink, much less a beer. Shocker, I know. That's because when…read moreI walk on Haight, as I often do, I usually go from the Upper to the Lower. That means when I'm shuffling toward Market Street and happen to be in the mood for a cocktail, I would've already made my stop in the Upper Haight at spots like Zam Zam or The Mad Dog in the Fog. So I'd be fully snockered by the time I get to this block. At least that's my story. However, even without a booze break, I still get hungry, especially on my way home in the late afternoon. I figured this would be the place to get a good pub burger, and I was right. They offer four burgers, and I went with the $18 Mushroom Swiss Burger. Accompanied by fries, the beef was medium rare and juicy in a fluffy brioche bun with aioli, sautéed mushrooms, melted Swiss, tomato, and lettuce (Photo 7). Standard, I know, but tasty and satisfying. FOOD - 4 stars...the kind of pub burger I wanted AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...friendly tavern, will stick around some other time SERVICE - 4 stars...quite efficient bartender TOTAL - 4 stars...i might stop for a cocktail next time RELATED - Exploring the Haight? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/OS5C2LmQbq

    Stopped here while walking around the neighborhood on a warm weekday - San Francisco was in the…read moremiddle of a heat wave, so it felt like the perfect excuse to stop for a cold beer (or three). I actually used to live in the neighborhood and the last time I came here was back in the '80s, and it's great to see that it really hasn't changed much at all. The bartender was friendly and they had a good selection of beers on tap and in bottles. I stuck with beer, while my wife ordered a vodka soda and appreciated the generous pour. Overall, a great neighborhood bar to cool off and relax. Nice to see some places in the city stay true to themselves

    Photos
    Bar view.
    Bar view.
    Nickies
    Hibiscus Margarita

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    Flatiron

    Flatiron

    4.0
    (448 reviews)
    26.0 mi
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    We came here during the Brazil and Norway game and were lucky we were able to snag the last two…read moreseats at the bar as two patrons were leaving. The service was super friendly and I appreciated how attentive and quick the servers were for such a packed and busy restaurant. I ordered the wedge salad, which was tasty, but I feel like the lettuce could have been fresher as there were a couple of wilted parts. I enjoyed the addition of the crispy onions, and it had the perfect amount of dressing. My friend ordered the burger and said it was flavorful and the Gouda paired well with it. I stole some of their fried and we both agreed they were a solid fry. All in all a nice spot to stop for lunch, or to watch a sports game with some good food and drinks.

    Straight up real deal: nice vibe, great service... (Please note that there are new owners and…read morerecently took over in the last few months. Therefore, pricing here could be inaccurate.) Excellent spot for watching the Warriors. Elevated bar food with great pricing. Me likes the Grilled Broccolini in black truffle salsa verde. Doesn't everybody love tater tot's? Nice tap beer selection and full bar. Best hang in Downtown San Rafael... Gets better with each visit ! Bombdigity! Love this joint!!!!

    Photos
    Inside at bar
    Inside at bar
    Absolutely delicious cauliflower appetizer
    Absolutely delicious cauliflower appetizer
    We randomly stoped here,an amazing place the best place to sip a Margarita and enjoy some original reggae music.

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    We randomly stoped here,an amazing place the best place to sip a Margarita and enjoy some original reggae music.

    La Playa - mexican - Updated July 2026

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