I had tried Nopalito through Local Kitchens and I honestly wasn't impressed. I therefore decided to visit their actual location to see if I would have a better experience. I have to say that Nopalito was facing an uphill battle with impressing me for a few reasons. First of all, I usually don't have good track record with the lower echelon Mexican restaurants in the city. I don't know why but I always find that the Mexican food by my place in Mountain View is much tastier. The next thing is that this place did not start off with complimentary chips and salsa. As I have said in other reviews for Mexican eateries, I am NOT saying that correlation equals causation. However, generally speaking, when I visit a Mexican restaurant/taqueria and there are no complimentary chips/salsa, I tend to subsequently not have a good meal. The last thing is that, like I mentioned in the prior paragraph, I didn't have the best experience when I had their food at the Local Kitchens near my place. I ordered their Trucha a la plancha, which was seared trout in a stew-like broth with beans and lettuce. I was pleasantly surprised by its tastiness. The flavors worked really well in this dish. The dessert situation was a little less exciting. They were out of both the concha as well as the bunuelo, both of which were my top picks. I ended up getting the flan, which was nice but nothing special. I don't think I have written the following disclaimer for any review thus far, but while I am giving this place a fairly decent review with a rating of four stars, I need to be clear that this review is one that is "on thin ice." The dessert situation was a little off-putting and I truly don't think I would have enjoyed the other items off the menu. However, I write my reviews on what I actually ate and not "what could have been" experiences so I will still be giving this place four stars because the fish was pretty tasty. I don't necessarily think I will rush back to this place but it's definitely better than my experience with their food at Local Kitchens. read more

Super disappointed. I was really excited to try this place, but unfortunately the food lacked flavor and seasoning throughout. I ordered the Quesadilla Roja con Chicharrón, and the chicharrón wasn't crunchy or seasoned. I also tried the Panuchos de Pollo, which were extremely bland!!! Such a bummer because the drinks were actually great. The horchata and margarita were definitely the saving grace of the experience. read more

Good food, but a bit overpriced for what I personally got. The quesadilla was more like a large taco--it tasted good, but it was deep-fried, which I typically try to avoid. I wasn't aware of this since it was mentioned as a quesadilla. I also got the mezcal paloma, which was tasty. I loved the ambiance and the indoor/outdoor feel, although it's worth noting that you have to walk outside to access the restroom when seated indoors. Service was great--everyone was very friendly, and the food came out quickly. read more

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I had heard great things about this place was, but was a bit underwhelmed. I will say the service was incredible and I did like the ambiance. But the food itself was a bit of a miss for me. We ordered two things that our server recommended were his favorites. If you're interested and looking at the restaurant, I think it's worth a try. But I don't know if I personally have any sort of drive to come back here. read more

Nopalito - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Friendly service, great patio ambiance, and food was decent portions and well flavored! Really enjoyed the quesadilla Roja con chicharron and the panuchos de pollo! read more

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Met up with a friend at Nopalito around 7 on a Sunday for an upscale Mexican dinner and catch up. We both took public transit but there seemed to be pretty minimal street parking in the area, so drivers beware. It wasn't busy at all by the time we got there, and after being greeted we were seated in their very green and well heated patio for our meal. Service was warm throughout the night. Chips and Guacamole: very fresh, but $13 was honestly a little steep. The size of the guac bowl is a little deceiving - if you aren't liberal enough with the guac/chip ratio, you might have quite a bit left over and have to eat it with a spoon (the horror!) le Carne Asada: apparently this notable dish only recently returned to their menu, so I jumped at the chance to try it. Piled in the middle of my plate, the steak and chorizo made for perfect bites of succulence, acidity, spice, and smokiness. This was my first time trying grilled nopales (cactus leaf), and they were mostly a textural component - almost couldn't distinguish them from the onions at first, but they sort of reminded me of sautéed chayote with its slight bite and chew. Roll it all up with the provided tortillas (you can ask for more once you run out) and you have yourself a delicious meal. Bonus points for the refried beans, which I usually am not a fan of but devoured this time around. My friend had no complaints about her fish tacos, and they looked colorful and inviting. Definitely worth a try, but price might be a bit prohibitive to regular visits. read more

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Now this place is EXCEPTIONAL in so many ways. Very cool and interesting vibe inside and the patio is really nice and full of greenery. Host was friendly and seated us quick. Server also super friendly and quick, seems they do a kind of communal helping of tables so we were never short on good service. The cocktails were super creative and perfectly balanced. I love their Mezcal selection and got to try a new one that was suggested to me that I really enjoyed distilled in a clay pot. The dishes were beautifully presented and delivered with flavor and texture in each bite. The Ceviche was super fresh and vibrant in color and flavors. The Brussels sprouts were very inspired and the sauce they were enveloped in was divine. Overall would definitely suggest stopping in as it has to be one of my favorites we have tried in San Francisco so far. read more

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Stopped by here for lunch the other day and we both enjoyed our meals. I miss the sister restaurant that used to be on 9th! Chilaquiles Verde: 4/5. Recommended by our waiter and the green sauce sounded really good. Everything tasted fresh and was quite good. Our waiter asked if I wanted another egg when I ordered it and I wish I had. read more

I've been eyeing for a spot for a while so I had the chance try it out while my day trip in SF. Parking- don't be like me. I missed the parking garage that is RIGHT next to the restaurant so I parked in the neighborhood, way blocks down. At least I got my steps in? So I got there a Saturday night so it was fairly packed. However I manage to get a table with a big wait. I ordered the totopos as a mini appetizer. Ok, so I thought the totopos would have the sauce on the side, but no, they put the sauce on top. It was basically chilaquiles, minus the egg of course. Idk if I would order it again as an appetizer. It was tasty though. Next came the entrees. I ordered the chicken enchiladas mole and my bf got the carne asada. About my dish, I appreciated the hand made tortillas. Anything hand made tastes 10x better. However, some room for improvement. For the mole sauce, I prefer my mole a little on the sweet side. This one wasn't that sweet. Like it had a little notes of sweetness but not a whole lot of chocolate. Also, for it to be $26 dollars, I really wanted some freaking frijoles with it, but sadly it doesn't come with it! :( I feel ripped off. My bf said his carne asada was ok. The nopales on his plate were good though. They seasoned the nopales with lime. That's it. Is it authentic Mexican? I'm just summarize this in one simple sentence. It's giving hipster ~ Service was good. Attentive and what not. However, if I told my Mexican mom how I spent here, she probably would slap me. That is all. read more

Nopalito - Enchiladas de Mole con Pollo on bottom, Carne Asada on top. Totopos in middle. - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Dinner was very important that night to us as we meet up with a good friend we had not seen for many years. The waiter (name unknown but he has long hair and braces ) welcomed us very nicely and served our dinner with much grace and kindness. We cried, drank and ate great food and very good drinks and this young man would just bring us happiness and laughter as if he was part of the gang! The place gave awesome vibes and is meaningful if you like enjoying serene surroundings and joyful atmosphere! Thank you for making that night very memorable read more

Nopalito - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

there were a few people waiting outside but we were willing to sit at the bar so we got a seat immediately. the vibes were pretty home-ly, and the staff were super friendly. we got the: - Quesadilla Roja con Chicharron ($18) - Taco Arabe Estilo Puebla ($17) I liked the meat in both dishes, but the tortilla of the Quesadilla Roja con Chicharron and the "crispy" pork belly were too soft, almost stale like read more

Nopalito - Taco Arabe Estilo Puebla - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The parking is close and assessable at ground level. Cozy and comfy with outdoor option. The food is very tasty and unique but a bit pricey. Loved the chicken mole enchiladas, my son had delicious carnitas and daughter had the gorditas. All tasty and yummy. Overall, it is a great place to eat and will definitely return. read more

Nopalito - Gorditas - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing food, kind service, easy ordering and paying via QR code on the table, and beautiful interior with plant decor. We ordered tacos de pescado, quesadilla roja con chicharron, enchiladas de mole con pollo. All great tasting, even the picky kiddos approved. Prices are high (we spent $70-80), but worth it once in a while. Only issue was the bathroom is inconveniently located, you have to walk outside around the restaurant to the other end. Overall however great experience. read more

Nopalito - Quesadilla Roja con Chicharron - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Everything was incredible. Very tasty very fresh. Lots of seating area parking in the back no wait time. read more

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Honestly, what a great restaurant!! As long as they continue to sell totopos, they will always have a customer. I could easily eat a whole bowl to myself in a single sitting. It is basically the fancy version of a Doritos topped with sour cream and cheese. How much better can you get? Totopos are a must every time I visit Nopalito. This time around, I got the cauliflowers to share (also, delicious!) and the tacos de pescado. The margarita was also a solid option! The service has always been terrific. My only "negatives" would be that it's a little on the pricier side for the portion, and parking can be a bit difficult. Overall, I would come back again and again!! Service: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 read more

Nopalito - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I really like the Lower Haight neighborhood, and if you're looking for elevated Mexican food, Nopalito is a great option! We asked the waiter for their recommendation (something I usually do when dining out), and they recommended the tacos de pescado. I personally enjoyed the freshness and zesty marinade of the fish, but felt like the orange slices on top were a bit overpowering. The mole enchiladas were another hit! I really enjoyed the layered spicy and sweet flavor of the mole and would just buy that by itself read more

Nopalito - Enchiladas de Mole con Pollo - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My group was all very disappointed in what was ordered. My mom and I got the tacos. Her pork was fatty and very oily. My taco had some orange in it, which I didn't feel went with the flavor profile of the taco (I just took it off though). My dad's mole enchiladas was were forgettable as well. The chips and guacamole weren't very good either. The guacamole lacked lime. The margarita was forgettable too. Cute restaurant. It's a shame that the food wasn't better. I do think the service could be more coordinated, like three people asked us if we wanted a refill of the chips and guacamole. No big deal, but a little atypical. The food wasn't very heavy and I didn't feel well after eating it. read more

My wife and I had a great experience at Nopalito. The meal started strong with the totopos con chile--bold, smoky, and spicy, perfectly balanced by the salsa and queso cotija. The tacos de pescado were excellent, with just the right balance of heat and acidity. The quesadilla roja con chicharrón was a standout--crispy, rich, and deeply satisfying. We finished with a traditional arroz con leche, which hit the spot. Tip: Share everything. read more

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My grandmother and I went right as it opened for lunch, and thank god we did! Impeccable food and phenomenal service in an environment that is fun yet chic. I loved everything I had, particularly the pulled pork quesadilla. Adore Nopalito! read more

The perfect spot for a delicious margarita! A friend and I stopped by for a drink on a Saturday. There was no wait for a table, and ordering off the app was easy! We ordered the Frozen White Guava Margarita. All I can say is WOW! It might be one of the best margaritas I've ever had--perfectly sweet with a wonderful guava flavor. A must-order! We also got the chips and guacamole. The chips tasted like corn chips, and the guac was very fresh. TL;DR - The Frozen White Guava Margarita is a must-order!! read more

Nopalito - Frozen White Guava Margarita - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Last Saturday my husband and I decided to have dinner here with our baby. We live nearby and I wanted to try it for years. When we arrive around 6pm the place was almost empty, but the it was pretty packed. My 3 stars is more for the service than the food, even though the food is just ok. We shared the poblano mole with chicken and tacos the Pescado. Chicken was good but the chocolate flavor in the mole was too strong and we didn't like it. Tacos de Pescado was good maybe the quantity of fish wasn't too much (I forgot to take the picture). We really like the tortillas that came with the chicken. Our baby eat the cheese quesadilla and the rice we had, but they don't have a lot of options for kids. In general the service was a little unkept. read more

Nopalito - Mole Poblano con Pollo - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

My husband and I have loved Nopalito for years, and are still fans. I would describe this type of cuisine as refined fast casual Mexican cuisine, that is quite clean, but delicious, with high quality ingredients that you can really taste. I feel sad that their Irving Street location closed in the past few years, but I'm glad this establishment is still around. All their dishes are great! The favorites that we get over and over again are the Carnitas Plate, the Seared Trout over beans, Nopalito Margaritas, and Pozole. Their rice and beans are a staple too, although I wish they were just included in their entree plates - it's kind of annoying to pay another $6.50 for rice and beans on the side (when other Mexican restaurants will just include it). Their plates are nicely presented too, nothing crazy, but definitely some thought was put into it (i.e. the trout). Margaritas are strong, very nice!! This place is extremely family friendly. They have tons of high chairs, and the food comes out very, very fast for those impatient toddlers, since you do have the option to order from a QR code on your table. My only complaint is that the prices have really gone up over the years. My favorite trout and carnitas are now $30 each, and that doesn't include rice and beans even. Sigh. We do love this place though for their great food, which is why we're repeat customers. We'll be coming back for more no matter what. read more

Fantastic food and service as always. The braised beef is incredible. Waitress was on top of drinks and water. Had some chips and medium salsa to start. Generally parking is extremely easy in the attached lot or street side. Love the Indoor/ outdoor vibe. read more

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Delicious but overpriced. I love sitting in the "outdoor" patio, dogs are allowed on the patio. This place is great for a margarita and a handful of small plates. Menu and ordering can either be through the QR code or with a physical menu and waitress. read more

Nopalito - Frozen white guava margarita - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

More like a 3.5. The biggest problems I had were with the vegetarian main (I'm forgetting the name) which was $28 and was just some pretty bland beans and mushrooms ?! All the appetizers were good though and reasonably priced as well. I particularly enjoyed the nacho plate and the cauliflower. Another plus is the buzzing atmosphere. It feels rarer these days to find restaurants with that type of atmosphere in SF so it is a welcome change. They also have a strange policy that you open a toast tab to order, but if you don't close out they automatically add a 20% tip ... Even though you order through your phone. read more

Nopalito - The vegetarian main i mentioned - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

The "online" ordering system is a little wonky while sitting in a restaurant. It was a very impersonal way to start the experience. The ambiance is very casual and chill, which is a perfect way to enjoy an upmarket Mexican lunch. The food was pretty sensational! We had the canitas, which were cooked to perfection. The two dishes in Mexican food (IMO) that make or break are the chiliequiles and the mole. They nailed both. What a fun idea to pop a few pomegranate seeds on the guac! Each dish was PERFECTLY plated. Hats off to the chef or team in the kitchen. Everything was IG ready. :) read more

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I love coming back to Nopalito every time I'm in San Francisco. I was sad that their Sunset location is now closed, but the original location is still there. On my last trip I went with a group of friends on a Saturday night. We were sat right away and everything came out pretty fast. We had some delicious margaritas to start. My friends had the carnitas and I had the carne asada. Everything was super flavorful and filling as always. My favorite part though, the tortillas! read more

Nopalito - Carne Asada Tortillas (6-pack) - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's a favorite in the city. Yes, it is pricier than your Mission District taqueria, but there's just so much thought and labor into making their food and the choice of ingredients. The taste reminds us of the food we got so easily in Mexico City. They have a solid selection of great tequilas and drinks. The frozen guava drink is such a treat of a dessert. The succulent meat in the taco arabe, the clarity of the broth in the chicken caldo, the clean taste of the masa in the tamales - it's all just truly darn good food! read more

We ordered the Totopos con Chile, Quesadilla Roja, and Mole Poblano con Pollo. The Totopos were a bit dry, and we wish that it had a bit more toppings--cotija cheese and onions. The quesadilla was huge and packed with extremely tender pork belly! Lastly, the chicken (the thighs were a little dry) was covered with a nice blend of mole and salsa. The Horchata on the other hand--Regular (Almond-flavored) and Strawberry--was incredibly tasty and packed with flavor. The cinnamon-sweet milk drink was to die for. This is an absolute must-try! Last thing worth noting was the outdoor patio area was really nice and a perfect vibe for brunch on a nice sunny day. Overall, Nopalito is a nice Mexican restaurant that fuses various Latino cultures. Definitely worth stopping by if you're around! read more

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This place is absolutely outstanding. Came with my son, who has celiac disease, and they were well informed about it and steered us to gluten free dishes. He had tacos al had pastor, which were the real thing, not the fake stuff you get at lots of places. I had pozole rojo, which was also excellent, incredibly flavorful with nice big chunks of pork. For dessert we split one of three great rice puddings, with a strawberry sauce. Not sure when I'll be back in SF, but I'll come back here. read more

Food was meh and service was bad. The menu itself doesn't have many options and we all ordered via the QR code on our phones - 2 separate orders for 5 people. One of our friend's entree didn't arrive until significantly later than everyone else (30 mins) and the crema that she ordered for her entree ended up randomly on our other friend's plate which confused us. They tried to argue that we ordered 2 fish tacos when we didn't. It was messy and quite frankly won't be coming back. read more

Nopalito - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Perhaps equally so famous as sister space Nopa it was 2009 that Nopalito opened just north of the Panhandle, and since that time a focus on organic Produce and sustainability has found the Restaurant widely regarded as one of the best Mexican eateries in the Bay Area. A labor of love from Veracruz native Gonzalo Guzman, a youth in the fields and techniques passed down from his mother yielding traditional flavors bolstered by California's bounty, it is at 306 Broderick that guests are greeted warmly by staff offering a menu including everything from slow-cooked Pork to handmade Tortillas. Upscale yet casual, a true "Bib Gourmand" punching above its weight class in a city where very little is a bargain, Cocktails are simple yet effective while those craving the likes of Chilaquiles or a fluffy Concha to-go will appreciate hot or coldbrew Coffee from a take-away window. Open all-day with no reservations, a concise indoor-covered patio setup with wood and organic elements offering comfortable seating, Appetizers lean heavily on Vegetables and whether one chooses creamy Esquites or smoky Cauliflower adjacent Orange slices the results are equally impressive. The author of JBFA winning cookbooks and a retail line, recently celebrating their quinceañera, it might be expected that Nopalito's Pozole brings the sort of complexity possessed by few others while Enmoladas utilize Corn Tortillas with appropriate flex to house a good amount of Cheese then smothered in Mole that is equal parts sweet, smoke and earth. read more

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The ambiance and service were the highlights!! The food not so much -- it was expensive and lacked good flavor. There are so many good Mexican options in the city for fraction of the price. read more

Nopalito - Torta de Chilorio - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Casual upscale Mexican place, super great for a quick dinner. I like the veggie quesadilla!

Nopalito never disappoints! They have the best fish tacos in the city. Don't miss their refreshing hibiscus juice either it's the perfect pairing. Always fresh, always delicious. A must-visit spot for anyone who loves great Mexican food. read more

Nopalito - Grilled fish tacos - the best - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Nice spot for some casual lunch. You order using the QR codes making things a lot faster. We did the fish tacos, which were good. The tortilla were probably made in house and grainy. Felt very full after eating one and we got some of those nachos to share as well. It has a lot cheese and sour cream on top with the chips in this tomato sauce. It was good but we couldn't finish it all! Good amount of food for two people read more

Nopalito - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came at around 3-4pm on a Saturday and there were already a good amount of people dining in. Ordered 4 dishes to try and I love corn so Esquite became an automatic favorite. The flavor for totopos is very overpowering on its own so the corn went really well with it. Personally, I prefer having slightly more salt in my soup, so the pozole was kind of bland but still delicious with the onions and chips broken in. The quesadilla was really fat. It's delicious when you get to the meaty juicy part. The cocktails were good. Refreshing margaritas. Overall, would revisit. read more

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Nice vibe at this restaurant and the food was okay but a little disappointed overall as the food was a bit bland for my taste. We tried: Carnitas - Dish comes with carnitas, 3 tortillas, some pickled veg, and green salsa. The carnitas were cooked super well, amazingly soft, fall-apart texture; however, I wish it were seasoned more heavily. 3 tortillas also wasn't enough to finish all of the meat. The green salsa was really fresh and tasty, would've loved a spicy red salsa as well Taco arabe estilo Puebla - marinated pork in this was my favorite, and most well-seasoned, meat that we tried. Overall it was tasty but my gripe with this dish is that the pickled veg was hardly pickled at all, they were basically raw veg as a side Empanada - Again, it felt like the beef in the empanada was under-seasoned and didn't really have much texture. Worth noting that it is not a traditional empanada pastry and the masa shell was more crumbly than crispy. I did like the cheese on top and the, slightly, spicy red salsa on this. Overall, was disappointed with the lack of seasoning in the meats and veg. read more

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Came to have a lunch and was pleasantly impressed. It was a nice way to take a break during the day by having quick food excellent taste and comfortable atmosphere read more

Nopalito is our go-to spot in San Francisco, and it never disappoints. Our favorites are the Mole Poblano con Pollo and the Carnitas plate--both are consistently flavorful and beautifully prepared. The rice and beans are outstanding, and on our most recent visit we finished the meal with a silky, delicious flan. The service was excellent from start to finish, and the margaritas were fantastic. We're already looking forward to our next visit! read more