My freezer is too full from too many trips to Costco. But after a while, I JUST DONT WANT TO COOK. I am scrolling through my favorite TGTG choices. Up pops Viva Cafe. I remember how much I liked it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is a tiny hole in the wall, easily found by smelling the wonderful aromas[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. If I worked downtown, this would definitely be my go to spot. I ordered 2 meals, each had 2 pieces of chicken, rice, beans and I think cabbage. Wonderfully flavored and enough to share. It felt healthy to me, none of this unnecessary goop. Let the ingredients and spices shine. Since hubby and I shared a meal, we have one left. YAY. The owner/chef is so friendly definitely recognizing his regulars. Highly recommend. read more

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Phenomenal place. THE spot to get hearty, home cooked takeaway meals for a reasonable price: Baked salmon, chicken and rice, polenta, BBQ pork and more. The entrees are deeply flavorful and full of perfectly cooked fresh vegetables including carrots and cabbage. They use a heavy hand with garlic in their chicken and rice dish that made it especially savory. I ordered two Too Good To Go boxes that gave me a day off from cooking. I'll definitely return to choose entrees from their extensive carousel of items; one of us is definitely getting the chicken & rice! Super friendly service, welcoming atmosphere as if you're family. [[HIGHLIGHT]]FiDi spot so open weekdays until 2 or 2:30.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You gotta try this spot! read more

Viva Cafe - Chicken & rice, polenta & beans, lasagna - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This little food outlet is located inside an office building. No seats, no tables to eat, and no street parking.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The employees are very friendly and helpful. The two were really busy, but they managed to put on a pleasant smile for everyone. The food is fresh, and they use good wholesome recipes. The prices and portions are very reasonable. read more

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Location instruction! Enter through the revolving door or the door to the left of it. Hug the left wall and walk alllll the way to the end. You should see their menu sign as soon and you walk in door. Also look for their little sign on street to mark where they are! I always do a Too Good to Go box because the portions is so generous! It's definitely enough for 1 meal but for my tiny stomach it's a meal and a half. The sides are usually the same with veggies, rice or couscous, black beans, macaroni salad all drizzled with the chimichurri sauce. The protein changes daily so I'm always excited to see what it is for the day. I've gotten it maybe 5-6 times already (usually salmon!) and it tastes good and consistent every single time! The chef is so welcoming and really takes care of you! read more

Viva Cafe - Too Good to Go Box - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tucked away inside the 601 Montgomery building, Viva Café is a hidden gem if you're looking for a grab & go lunch. They serve hearty, flavorful meals at a fair price point. I first found out about them through Too Good To Go, but after trying it, I'll definitely be back to try more of their menu. My box came with a generous portion of salmon, yellow rice, beans, veggies, and mac & cheese. Everything was seasoned well and cooked perfectly ; the salmon was tender (not dry!) with a tasty sauce, rice was flavorful, & even the vegetables were crunchy and delicious. If you're in the area and want a quick but satisfying lunch, this little spot is worth checking out! read more

Viva Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food: 3 [[HIGHLIGHT]]Decor: 1[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service: 4 Been here at least a dozen times for lunch off TGTG. Overall, decent spot for a quick lunch that tastes homemade and is relatively healthy. I usually opt for a bowl of whatever they have for the day, which typically consists of rice, veggies like cabbage, polenta, and protein like grilled salmon or chicken. To find the spot, enter the revolving door of the building and follow the left side past the security desk. It's a mom and pop store owned by the chef. read more

Viva Café is a tiny eatery on the ground floor of an office building, squeezed into a narrow alleyway next to an elevator. This unassuming cafe offers one of the most affordable hot lunch deals via Too Good To Go. My hot entree came with a fillet of salmon served with salsa verde along with yellow rice, black beans, mac and cheese, cabbage, and zucchini. Each element was tasty (though nothing too outstanding), and this daily selection was definitely worth the price. The service was quick and friendly read more

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Amazing food! I would say that's the best meal I've ever eaten in the US. The lady is very nice and I will come back again.

Amazing hidden gem. This spot is tucked away in building 601 on Montgomery but just keep walking a little bit once you enter the place and you won't miss it. The food is exquisite at a fantastic value. I got my salmon with chimichurri sauce atop a bed of greens with delicious balsamic. I was able to sample the mac and cheese, and chicken stew, which were equally delicious. The chef who owns the place is awesome, really great service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a grab and go spot but you will be made to feel at home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will definitely be back for more! read more

Viva Cafe - Salmon with Chimichurri and balsamic greens - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Got two boxes from this eatery as part of the Too good to go initiative. Would otherwise have never heard of this place or ventured in, as it is inside one of those big downtown buildings that one has no business visiting unless one works inside. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is no seating for the eatery itself, it's basically a order counter for to go orders.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The man taking orders and preparing the food is super friendly and very efficient. Food itself was tasty although I only tried whatever was in the surprise box so it wasn't any of the actual menu choices. read more

Amazing home-style food made by some of the nicest people you'll meet. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Totally unexpected from its location - a small stall in the back corner of a corporate office building.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Everything is fresh and made from scratch. The baked goods are exceptional as well. Almost hesitant to post a review to keep it low key since they tend to sell out at lunch. read more

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This café is located inside an office building and can be a bit tricky to find due to the lack of visible signage. I picked up a Too Good To Go meal and was impressed with the experience. Despite arriving at 12 p.m. on a Monday, there were only three people ahead of me, and I waited just five minutes. My meal was pre-prepared, and the process was efficient--simply swiping on the app, and my box was promptly handed to me. Cutlery and napkins are conveniently placed near the security desk. The meal itself was delicious, featuring couscous, salmon with chimichurri sauce, mixed vegetables, and rice with beans. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's a small seating area in the lobby with room for five, though only one table suited for an individual diner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It appears that customers can select items they'd like, with generous portions provided. The employees gave off a warm and welcoming vibe despite it being a grab n' go type place. read more

Viva Cafe - Too Good to Go Surprise Box - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love this place! It's the perfect intersection of value and quality. Portions are hearty and served with enthusiasm! I personally go for the salmon every time and that chimichuri green sauce takes to the next level. It's a restaurant quality entree packed in a to-go box for lunch. All of their sides are super flavorful and you can't go wrong with anything they serve. Even the rice is packed with flavor! You can tell they are proud of the product they are putting out. Owner run and operated. Go and support small businesses! read more

Viva Cafe - Roasted Salmon, wild turkey Mac and Cheese, veggies - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Do not go here. I want to gate keep this amazing place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's hidden away in the lobby of the hsbc building.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] What you're walking to the lobby you can't not smell the deliciousness . Go here. It's delicious. The team is awesome. do you like sandwiches? Do you like salads? Do you like a daily rotation of different hot foods? read more

Delicious, hearty, generous hot food (chicken pot pie, enchiladas, and more), sandwiches, and salads and more with all with a side of hospitality. read more

I've been meaning to try this place for awhile - my coworker frequents and I've had bites of his boxes. Finally went and wondering what took me so long. The quality of the food is so fresh and delicious, the flavors and seasoning are on point, and the customer service is so lovely. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's basically just like being at someone's home and having the best home cooking you can imagine.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely the best salad that I think the financial district has to offer and the prices are beyond reasonable. I would definitely support this local business. They are lovely and put a lot of care into this delicious food. read more

I love this little hole in the wall café, it's my go to and probably eat here three or four times a week. These people are the sweetest and they always load up my box with the tastiest food for reasonable price. read more

I happened to be in the neighborhood and used the TooGoodToGo App for this pickup of random food item during this weekday lunch time pickup. This cafe is pretty much a hidden spot that only tenants in this big building complex will know about. It is basically a takeout location where you order food from I think it was only one lady working there. I felt kind of bad waiting in line with other workers in this building and seeing one lady worker take my order and also fries up my food all at the same time. A line of 5 people including myself. I had no idea what she was making and still don't know what I ate. I think made everything on the spot with polenta, beans, chicken and shrimp dish that she threw together into take out paper container. Surprisingly It was heavy and lots of food in there! I was pretty impressed because if you hungry, you can easily get two or 3 meals out of it. It doesn't look pretty, but it's better and more healthier than those evil fast food places out there! People working here will never starve with this tiny place here that gives good portion side. I call it the "Mashed up box"where they seemed to mix everything together in a box and tastes pretty natural. Like many others mentioned earlier, it is a hole in a wall like other reviewers have mentioned. Even I walked passed this building and walked in circles before I went inside cautiously and walked around in another circle to find this place on the corner literally (a hole on the corner wall). My tummy was pleased with no issues and had feeling of being healthy with polenta because i normally don't eat that stuff. read more

Viva Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The food here is made from scratch, made to order, and clearly cooked with love. The service is unbelievable. Truly a gem and I am so glad I found this spot for breakfast and lunch. My burrito bowl was topped with homemade chicken sausage patties and I can't believe how good they were. read more

I have really had a great experience here. The amazing pasta is what keeps me always coming back! I also love the salmon and chicken. It's so excellent. I'm a chef myself so I know quality food, and this is it. The service is quick and friendly. They remember me too, which is always a nice plus :) [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambience is chill and laid back.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You will not be disappointed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is quite the hidden gem in plain sight in the financial district.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's an amazing area to dine out in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Chinatown is around the corner if you're looking to explore and it's accessible via public transportation, waymo or uber/lyft. read more

Food smells so good. Tiny place inside the lobby 601 montgomery. Behind the security guard is a tiny place to order hot foods. Once i got close, i can smell home cooking, as the sign said. Everything was delicious in my box. I got "Too Good to Go" box. I would never have gone there if not for this program and also out for appointment. Smell and taste good. That is the ideal. Polenta was creamy. Cabbage was crunchy. Chicken was seasoned well. Rice was good. Beans was good. read more

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Vinny is incredible, good is just as good. Highly recommend. Got the bbq. It wants more words but that's all I've got to say. Pretty happy read more

Viva Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great and nice staff; literally had to tell them to stop loading up my plate haha. Food is a little interesting but tastes good, great pricing and line moved very fast. read more

BEST breakfast burrito! Super friendly chef, huge burrito, super tasty. What more can you ask for! I mean he makes his own chipotle salsa! Went twice during my short stay. Will def be back whenever I'm in town read more

Solid downtown lunch spot - love the array of healthy options and the customer service is always top notch. I appreciate how the server gets to know their frequent customers. I haven't gotten to try any of their desserts yet (since their lunch portions leave me stuffed, with plenty left over for dinner), but I have heard good things :) read more

This salad was fresh, chopped on the spot, and gigantic. Excellent food and great price for a hole in the wall in downtown SF. Highly recommend making this place a spot for your weekly in office lunches. Very nice chef too! read more

I've gone here for lunch several times now and have yet to be disappointed -- there's always a wide variety of tasty options, and the menu is constantly changing which keeps it exciting. The staff are usually the same couple of people who are very warm and welcoming, making a meal from here something to look forward to every time! read more

Viva Cafe - Salmon, pasta, and yellow Curry Chicken - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a review from a TooGoodToGo order so it's not a normal menu item but rather a great sampling of several items. First the location is a little hidden. I must have walked by a few times until I realized the cafe was inside the lobby of 601 Montgomery. Go through the spinning doors and walk past the security guard. You can actually see the beverage fridge from the street. The guy working the counter was super friendly. He seems to know all the regulars. He also made sure to make me a fresh order. Sometimes TooGoodToGo orders are prepared before you arrive. Not here. He portioned everything up right in front of me. This was definitely a great value!! 7bucks for tortellini, a massive sausage patty, perfectly cooked eggs, some potatoes, and really good rice. The curry sauce wasn't spicy but had lots of flavor. If I'm in the area again I'd definitely consider trying a regular menu item. read more

Viva Cafe - Tortellini, sausage patty, egg, and rice with curry sauce and some chimichurri. - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Viva is well hidden, but they had an enticing deal on the app TooGoodToGo (preventing food waste), so I figured I'd try it out. It turned out to be a box full of delicious grits, cabbage salad, beans, french toast and some of the best rice I've had. Other hot food on the counter also looked sumptuous, brisket, roasted chicken, potatoes, tamales, vegetables etc read more

Delicious place to grab lunch in FiDi! This is my favorite Too Good to Go place I've tried. Such a good deal for a filling, healthy, and complete meal. They typically give rice, some sort of veggies and/or beans, and protein (usually fish or chicken) with their delicious chimichurri sauce on top. read more

My boyfriend is obsessed with viva cafe after he discovered this hidden gem from meal pal. The place is really hidden. It is inside an office building and located at the back of the lobby. He goes there everyday now. His favorite is the roasted chicken and he said there is just something magical about the sauce. The German cabbage is amazing too. He tried the pulled pork too but just can't forget the chicken. read more

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I've worked at office buildings where there's a little café or coffee shop in the lobby. The food is usually ok and they're places to get a quick bite without having to leave your building. I saw an offer from TGTG app for Viva Café and decided to get it and give it a try. It's located at 601 Montgomery. Enter the building and it's at the back of the lobby. The Café is a walk-up and take-out place. Checked in and got my TGTG box. The meal had a curry chicken couscous, grilled vegetables, and black beans on top a bed of Mediterranean rice. The box was full and must have weighed a 1 1/2 pounds. The food was very tasty. Viva Café sure changed my perception of office building cafes. If I'm in the area, I would definitely try again and if they're on TGTG, I'll get another box meal. read more

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Hidden gem! I picked up a Too Good To Go surprise order and I was very pleasantly surprised both by the quantity and quality of the meal. The food was hot, fresh, and delicious and as I was walking away I started doing the mental math about how many meals I would likely get from this generous haul. The surprise order included rice, beans, chicken, vegetables, polenta, and a delicious garlicy green sauce. Yum. I also watched the team prepare an order for the gentleman ahead of me in line and the portions were enormous. No wonder the line grew to five additional people behind me within a matter of a minute. This is a place where you not only get your money's worth but you get something worth your money. Will definitely be back! read more

This is a good place for lunch. It can be hard to spot the restaurant. There are no tables. This is a to go business. It's in the lobby of an office building in the Financial District and tucked in the back corner. We discovered this place through the app, TooGoodtoGo. I placed the order the day before through the app. It is $5.99 for a "surprise" meal. It's a surprise because the app promotes not wasting food so you get food that may get thrown out. We got a delicious curried rice dish, barbecue chicken, vegetables, and a quarter of a corn muffin. There was quite a bit of food. The picture doesn't capture the depth of food given but it was sizable. Definitely would go again. read more

Viva Cafe - Curried rice, barbecue chicken, vegetables, and corn muffin - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

I found Viva Cafe on the app Too Good To Go, and I'm glad I did! This is a tiny little stall inside of an office building behind the security counter, and they serve up delicious and healthy food. I got a mystery box and it was filled with pasta, rice, beans, lentil stew, veggies, and chicken for only $6. The other food that was out looked so good, I'll definitely come back again! They have a big menu and the prices are very reasonable. read more

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For those of you guys who want a nice warm meal at an affordable price (and dirt cheap if you go thru the Too Good To Go app), this place is legit!!! It's hard to find this place since it's inside an office building in the back and it's a small kiosk take out place. The collection was pretty quick. The lunch special was HUGE and my hubby was happily satisfied with the quantity and quality of the food! (I got a "small" sample to have as part of my lunch. ) GO HERE!!! Keep this local business going!!! read more

Viva Cafe - Pasta lunch via Too Good To Go app! OMG!!! It's tasty!!! I'll be back for more!!! - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

WOW. I did not see this coming from a tiny cafe tucked away behind an office building security desk. Viva is putting out some incredible food. Everything is very fresh, very well-seasoned, and very generously portioned. The owner is really accommodating and makes you feel special for each order - I've twice pointed to his roasted salmon and said, "hey, can I have that on a salad?," and he just crafts a salad based on whatever fresh ingredients he has in the back (after checking with me on each addition). There's so much value for price, too. He's coming in below what salads at nearby places charge (mixt, proper, mendo), but is offering 2x the size and 4x the taste. If you haven't stopped in yet, you really must - this place is doing something special. read more

Take Out during Covid 19 Overall: 8/10 I found this cafe by using the app 'Too good to go'. So basically I paid 5.99 for a meal box of whatever they put in it. I actually felt guilty that I only paid this little to get such a generous portioned, tasty lunch box so I got a chocolate brownie which looked delicious. I like this store and I think I will come back for the regular price meal! Lunch: 8/10 The lunch box included chicken/ potatoes/ rice/ Black beans and veggies and I really enjoyed the food here. The food here feels like the warm home cooked food prepared by someone cared about what you eat. I will come back for more! Chocolate Brownie: 8/10 You can tell it is delicious when you sees it! Do not disappoint! read more

Viva Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The owner is super friendly and chatty, food is made with love and it is delicious and he is generous with the portions. I had a vegetarian/vegan open plate if you will and from the rice, potatoes, beans to cabbage and the two different sauces that it was drizzled with was off the hook. Small place inside 601 building so you can easily miss it. read more

V is the absolute best. I'm a vegetarian and this place always provides big portions and tasty food. My friends, not vegetarian, also love this place. V prepares everything fresh daily! read more

Viva Cafe - Veggie Platter with rices, beans, curry, veggies - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California