Ate here my first day back in San Fran from the Yucatán. Still trying to hold onto the essence of Tulum, Bacalar, Coba, Valladolid. This place definitely took me right back. The food was fantastic and when I asked for salsa negra they brought me their special housemade mega spicy salsa that they make daily in small batches. Man was that a treat! The salbutes and panuchos are huge and the torta was enough for me to eat half and store the rest for dinner. Amazing! & the people working here, gorgeous, kind and attentive. Without hopping on another flight back, you can't get much closer to authentic! read more

Yucatasia - Salsita que si pica - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Good hot food, their watermelon agua fresca was so damn good! This place does need a good scrub down tho. read more

Yucatasia - Empanada and Panucho - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

I stopped in for a quick taco at a place in the SF Mission District today as I was visiting the Sunday Streets event (amazing daytime fun in the sun!). I thought it would be a quick visit for a five minute taco fix to fill my belly, but as I looked closer at the menu for this tiny restaurant on Mission near 18th, I feel into a deep trance- and the magic of authentic Yucutan cooking began to make me want to explore further. As I perused the menu, my eyes grew wider, braised turkey? My favorite!! On your choice of corn AND choice of tortilla thickness, AND fry level?? Wow! I loved the Watermelon Fresca- it was so fresh and with a perfect balance - absolutely the right sweetness, with very little or no added sugar! In the end - although I had already eaten the entire menu with my eyes, I went with the braised turkey on the slickly thicker handmade tortilla taco with pickled onion and cabbage, such a divine and flavorful combination. I could taste the love, and feel the community inside. The intimate nature of this small 10-12 table restaurant is perfect fir taking people with cultivated palettes who you want to impress! I just can't believe I have lived in the Bay and been an avid lover if eating Mexican food and never before tasted the unique and wonderful flavors if the yucutan peninsula. Highly recommend, and I will be going back to eat every last item on the menu, one at a time of course;) read more

Yucatasia - Turkey taco, watermelon Fresca and caramel flan. - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Probably the most delicious traditional Yucatán food I have tried. The talking lasting taste in every bite. The dishes we ordered came in bowls soaking in broth. Servers were friendly and explained the menu well. Food was speedy. There are nice pictures on the walls. read more

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I cannot praise this restaurant enough! It may not look like much inside or outside but the food is very good, what I got was excellent. I had the sopa de pollo con papas or chicken soup with potatoes. The chicken was so fresh and of a quality you cannot find in SF supermarkets. Also the amount of chicken was huge. Much more than most other restaurants by far. The broth was excellent and freshly made. The tortilla were freshly homemade and to die for. Yum yum yum. The service was fast and very friendly. If you don't speak Spanish you will need to point at the menu. read more

On the fence between 3*|4*. Great to support local businesses. Really good value for the neighborhood. Cash only. Friendly, efficient service for our take out. Several dine In tables, no outside area. We ordered carne asade and a panucho. Panucho was excellent. We've had many versions of carne asade & this didn't do it for us. A thin pork chop, with fresh tortillas, salsa, salad and bean soup. At home we had to chop the pork chops up, toast the tortillas and compile everything for a nice meal. Not really what we expected so we would order something else next time. Definitely recommend the panuchos! read more

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A hidden gem amongst the busy restaurant scene of the Mission District. Stopped by on a rainy day for some warm Mexican soup and tacos. Everything about it is super authentic. Looking at the menu and the presentation of the dishes, I literally got a throwback to my Mexico trip. We got Beef Tongue Taco (De Cabeza) and Chicken and Potato Soup (Pollo Con Papas). I am not a big fan of a tongue of any kind but they made it so tender that it tastes just like tendons with some extra texture. The soup selection is absolutely HUGE here. Usually, anywhere I go, I pretty much just pick between regular chicken/seafood soup and tortilla soup. But here you get pretty much all kinds even Mole De Pollo (Mole is very authentic Mexican sauce. I won't recommend it unless you are feeling super adventurous but it speaks to the quality of the place). You won't disappoint if you love soup like me with some Mexican flavors. The food itself is not absolutely mind-blowing. But the homey vibe and super friendly service made it a 5-star experience. The waiting staff here kept checking on us making sure we enjoyed our food with a big smile and they explicitly told us to stay longer if needed after we eat. It just feels like you are going someone's home for dinner. Would highly recommend! read more

The Panuchos con pollo were soooo delicious and flavorful. Beware of the jalapeños on here... they were spicy . The panuchos were juicy and the jalapeños added a kick to it! Eating two was good enough to feed one. The tamales were also delicious. Not too much masa and the tamale was moist. So much rich flavor inside and the chicken was not dry at all. Highly recommend these two items! The staff were very friendly and welcoming. If you're in the mission, check this spot out. read more

We ordered tamal colado, panucho and empanada de queso everything was delicious. My husband is from the Yucatán Peninsula and he loved the food, it reminded him of his home town's food. Service was exceptional. We're definitely coming back. read more

Yucatasia - Empanada de picadillo. - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Authenticity describes it best, like walking into a small local eatery in the Yucatan peninsula and feeling there, while being in the Mission district in San Francisco. read more

Yucatasia - Frijol con puerco soup, soul comforting! - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

If I tell you I couldn't find the Asian side of things, it wouldn't be the first time in my life that I've said that. Guess that's what makes me a banana...yellow on the outside and...well, you know the rest. Anyway, I only saw the Yucatecan side as I was perusing the four-page menu. There is mention of a "deli & sandwich" on the front signage, so I assume they make banh mis somewhere back in the mystery kitchen. Since it was my first visit there, I thought I should just stick with what was in print and not go out on a high wire. Meanwhile, a young pre-adolescent girl at the next table was moaning discernibly. I was worried it was food poisoning, but it turned out she had earbuds on and was singing (sorta) to the music from her laptop. It was close to 8PM when I got there, and it looked like they were getting ready to close shop but not quite. I first ordered the $10 Poc Chuc thinking this may be the house specialty, but the waitress came back from the kitchen and told me they were out. I then tried to order the $8.50 Chuleta de Puerca (Pork Chop) and again she came back, apologized profusely as she said they were out of that, too. OK then, how about the $8 Carnitas? At last, something they were willing to make. The modest plate came out, and there was a mound of fried pork, some lettuce covered with avocado slices and a fresh tomato sauce. Black beans were served in a bowl, and the warm flour tortillas were wrapped in a red towel on another plate (see photo). She asked me if I wanted rice to which I affirmed yes, that would be nice. Now the Asian side kicked in since it wasn't the orange Mexican kind I was expecting but the white kind scooped in a bowl. It reminded me of the kind of street food you could get from a cart at a festival in Mérida. Not a bad thing especially since the tortillas tasted homemade. It's no dining destination - but it'll do in a pinch. FOOD - 3 stars...street cart-level food...OK but... AMBIANCE - 2 stars...not the cleanest-looking place but they appear to try SERVICE - 3.5 stars...friendly though a tad paranoid when they saw me taking photos TOTAL - 3 stars...not a standout in the Mission but decent enough for a fast meal read more

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Great server! The manager is super nice and helpful. You don't have to worry if you dine alone. They will help you order great and not too much food for you. !!! The soup is soooo good! How can they make chicken so soft? Highly recommend! read more

Yucatasia - chicken tamela - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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loved this place - def hidden gem that deserves some more love. We didn't know it was a Viet-Yucatan fusion. It's so subtle and natural, and unless you were Viet you might not really catch on the little culture mix since it isn't really advertised. The owners seem to be half Viet and Yucatan, and so the fusion felt seamless instead of gimmicky like other fusion foods. They've got their tamales wrapped in banana leaves, a sauce with nuoc mam on the table, and their tortas use banh mi baguette. I got the poc chuc torta and carnitas taco. Both were excellent read more

Yucatasia - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Probably easy to miss Yucatasia because it's just a small storefront in the Mission surrounded by much flashier, more obvious restaurants with bigger signage. However, I stopped by the other day to grab some dinner because some friends were getting boba at District Tea a few doors down, and this was the closest open spot. I got a carnitas torta, super affordable IMO at about $8, and was a solid sandwich. Really nothing too fancy. I might get skewered for this, but it was sort of the Mexican Lee's Sandwich to me LMAO, but I liked it honestly this time around, because sometimes I've gotten tortas that are just dripping with stuff and falling apart, and I liked how nicely this torta was assembled and kept together. I'd definitely come back to try some of the other stuff on the menu. read more

We were extremely hungry after a few drinks in the area. We ended up here and were not disappointed. The place is tiny but MIGHTY. They have really incredible food, fantastic servers, and a super cute atmosphere. I highly recommend coming here and giving them your business. We had tortas, cochinita soup, and tamales. You better get here before it gets too packed!! read more

Food is beyond amazing! The empanadas, salpuchos & tamales are deliciously flavorful. Goes great with a fresh melon drink. This tastes authentic. read more

Yucatasia - Look at this hungry child - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

**CASH ONLY** My mother and I stumbled upon this place while walking around "The Mission". We were quickly greeted and told we could sit wherever we liked. They recognized that we weren't familiar with the menu and took a minute to explain it. The food was good and came out quickly. They didn't check in on us nor offer us anything else, more drinks, etc but it wasn't horrible. This definitely seems like a place that has regulars because I noticed a couple of people came in, sat down, said a few words and just nodded and the waitress knew what they wanted. Overall not a bad place but not great, I'd eat there again but I'm not exactly dying to go back. read more

Yucatasia - Torta de Puc Chuc (left) and Salbute de Cochinita - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

(Originally posted on 10/03/06) I live just above the backyard of this restaurant. These guys are absolutely disgusting. THEY CUT THE MEAT ON THE GROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARBAGE! YUCK!!! I filed a complaint with the San Francisco Department of Public Health and posted some very telling pictures at http://www.photobiker.com/dirtyrestaurant/ Bon appetit! ============================= (Update 10/21/06) Lots of activity in the backyard in the past week. They got rid of the trash, picked up the rubbish, scrapped the junk, and then brushed and even washed! It was panic time for the rats: they were all over the place, fleeing the neighborhood, chased by the cats. So no more cooking, no more meat cutting on the concrete outside. Yeah! Yeepee! But are these really good news? I thought the restaurant would be closed down for a little while, like they do to liquor stores that sell alcohol to minors. But no... They're still open for business. Apparently they'll get away with it with just a good scrub. Sorry, I won't be able to keep reporting about their activities anymore; it all takes place indoors now. So I'll leave you with what could be their new motto from now on... "Whatever happens at Yucatasia stays at Yucatasia..." read more

Yucatasia - The worker is laying the meat on the ground to cut it -- almost a daily ritual. - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A touch of grunge, but I've had consistently tasty meals here, all at a very affordable price point. You can get a whole fried fish here for $11. Perfect crunchy skin, soft chunks of fish, and plenty of pickled onions and sides to accompany it. Not much sauce on this, but get the chicken mole ($9) for ample brown sauces to drown the rice and thick housemade tortillas. The carnitas ($9) were also solid here, big chunks of oink oink with avocado slices. Never a wait, and plenty of neighborhood folks in here! Cash only. read more

Delicious. Family-owned Mexican restaurant. The Real Deal. This is a legit place to get inexpensive and delicious foods from Yucatan. The service is fast and so friendly, it will make you smile. The empanadas were huge and had a variety of toppings to choose from. We had a hungry crew and ended up ordering so much food from the menu that we didn't have enough room on the table for everything. I had a tamale with chicken and cheese and it was incredible. The red sauce on top of it added an extra layer of divine comfort to the dish. I also ordered the pork chop, which had a delicious rub on it that weirdly enough reminded me of German wiener schnitzel. You made the right decision if you order a horchata to wash down the flavor. It cooled the spice while adding a good refreshing break from the delicious foods. This place doesn't have a scene or amazing ambiance. But if food is queen then you will not be disappointed. read more

I have eaten at Yucatan about 10 times. I mostly like trying the different taco and pork plates and they have been good. Have not tried the soups. Place is popular with the locals. Service and staff have been nice. I'll be going back to try different dishes. read more

Ok I discovered this place like 5 years ago because this lady and her kid was eating and walking and I had to run after them to see what it was. It's the glorious Panucho! I always get with a side of black bean "mole". There empanadas are like no other too. I am for sure rooting for this place! read more

Our server was super nice, everyone else was great too. Exceptionally nice people I thought. Tortas were substantial and tasty, and the pork was well cooked (we had a cochinita and a poc chuc, plus a cheese empanada). Substantial bang for your buck. Would be fun to go back and dig around the menu some more. There's some really good stuff I'm positive. Poc chuc torta is a good deal if you like pork. Nice hefty pork sandwich. Really recommended. Left me happy. read more

Ahhh yesss...one of my last meals on earth would be the panuchos de pollo dripping in habanero salsa, tamale de pollo, and sopas de mariscos homemade from the authentic Yucatan ladies in the back. Dang I heart this place! read more

Yucatasia - my addiction: panuchos de pollo and tamale with habanero salsa ;) - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Decided to give this place a try after craving panuchos. They were super oily and there was a lot of chicken skin in the meat. They were not pleasant to eat will definitely not be coming back. read more

Only in the Mission, before moving to SF I did not even know what Yucatan food is all about. Lots of compliments on their food, so tasty and so flavorful. There are a lot of different things to switch up and try before you get bored of this place. Panuchos (bean stuffed fried tortilla with you choice of meat), salbutes (fried breaded tortilla with choice of meat) the best!, tacos, empanadas, tamales, tripe soup (mondongo), carnitas, seafood soup!!!! and so much more. This placed gets packed!!! read more

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Ok. Here's my attempt to save the soul of the Mission District. I've lived in the Bay Area all my life. This place is the definition of a hole in the wall, but it's also the definition of the heart of the city. The food is amazing. I'll line up one of their poc chuc tacos against any competitor any day. When I walk in and see the guys sitting at their tables enjoying something that tastes like home. That's how I know... read more

I tried the #1 and #2 tacos panucho, De Pollo & De Relleno Negro. Both were absolutely delicious! The sauces are amazing, flavorful, and make for great toppings on the tacos. Will definitely be back and explore the rest of their menu. read more

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OK, OK, yes I have seen the photos of the back of this restaurant that some guy posted here, and yes they looked pretty disgusting. Very glad to see they have cleaned up because the Panuchos and Mole at this place are unbelievable, and I will go back. It really is a shame that they have gotten this bad press. This place has really authentic, delicious yucatan regional mexican, which is hard to find anywhere in the city and makes me think: If this is how a place is run in the US that serves this food, what does the back of the places I have eaten in Mexico look like? I loved the food there.... I guess ignorance is bliss.... They have cleaned up, and the food is really good. Even if the bad press has hurt their business with gringos, it probably wont matter to them too much, as 95% of the folks that eat here are from the Yucatan, and travel far to get a bite from home. read more

Like the name implies, this little mom and pop shop offers Yucatasian and Asian (specifically Vietnamese) food. It is a tiny and confusing place, but it's a real gem! The wife greets and seats and takes your order -- look to the tiny blackboards along each wall for what you want. None of it is your regular Mission fare, and it's all written in Spanish. No Vietnamese dishes are listed, but if you ask she'll make you a banh mi. I've had the chicken and the pork - both are amazing, but nothing whatsoever like the banh mi you'll get at a typical Vietnamese sandwich shop. Other times, I've just pointed at things and in the widow or at an adjacent table and tried something new. I've never been disappointed. They are insanely friendly, and I've never been in a place where it was so obvious that they love the food they make. They're really proud of it -- and rightly so. read more

Ever since our trip to the Yucatán we have been craving Yucatecan food often. They're not quite like typical the Mexican food, so it's not always easy to find them. Luckily San Francisco offers a great variety of Latin food from many regions especially in the Mission, such as this restaurant. We had lunch here on a weekend, despite the small space we were seated at a table right away (or we basically seated ourselves, since the waitress barely acknowledged us and just pointed at a table from across the room when we walked in). The waitress wasn't super friendly nor helpful with giving suggestions, and did not speak much English, but we still managed to order a couple of the authentic Yucatecan dishes. The food was actually quite good, with some great flavors made with unique spices. Despite the minimal service, we would probably come back to try their other dishes in the future. read more

Yucatasia - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

While my studiomate thought $3 for banh mi was expensive (!?), the size of this sandwich is worth the extra $0.50. This sandwich is seriously going to last me for 2 lunches. Plus, the owners are super fast and friendly, and don't let the grime outside impact their attitude or service. I'll be back to try the Yucatecan cuisine next time! read more

Post script... aux Pierre...le foto homme: le grand street flava..no es bueno... sanitario is non existamente...PUBLICA banos... See the photos NOW!!! seeing is believing...not photoshopping *********** carnitas then a chicken bahn mi sandwich to go! unique combo. read more

After passing by several Yucatan places on Mission, my friend and I decided to duck into this fairly quiet mom-and-pop Yucatasia joint. First thing that I was thinking was, "Where's the Asia from?" We walked in grabbed a seat and the lady who served us seemed to have an interesting accent. My friend and I (who have both studied in Vietnam) concluded that she and her spouse were Vietnamese. Curious, we decided to learn more about their hystory and how this place came to be. Of course, we first ordered our Panuche with Pok Chuk as recommended by the server and a salbuche(sp?) with pollo. And a fresco tamarindo to top it off! When we got our order, we discovered that the owners once owned a grocery down the street and when the rent pushed them out, they teamed up with their employees. So now, the employees cook and they serve! Brilliant combo. The food was great and the hot sauce was pretty cool too. I minus one star for the somewhat burnt meat on one of the tacos and also my tamarindo was not as flavorful as I'd hoped. Needless to say, my friend and I are going to return to give their Banh mi a try! As for the sanitation, I noticed previous posts about it being a mess. And all I have to say to that is, I've definitely seen, eaten, and survived worse in Vietnam! nomnomonom read more

Unique in the world, Vietnamese/Mayan food. Vietnamese owners and Mayan cooks from Yucatan. This is the real deal! Lots of pork dishes, an amazing black mole, tamales the size of a football, pokchuk and many typical Yucatan dishes. Archeologists say that the Mayans disappeared centuries ago but in reality they abandoned the ceremonial centers and moved into smaller communities. There a millions of Mexicans who identify themselves as Mayans and there is a big community in the Mission around 16th and Mission. This is a great way to try the real Mayan food experience, run by Vietnamese owners who have embraced the Mayan community. I read reviews by local hipsters who were grossed out by their food preparation, these people should stick to Whole Paycheck and move back to Iowa. read more

So it's President's Day, and after an incredible weekend my girlfriend and I wake up this morning to a huge urge for delicious. Hop into the White Dragon and we're off, Bonnie+Clyde of tastiness. Hard Knox... Closed FML... Various wonderful restaurants in the Mission.. Packed.. *Shakes fist at hipsters* The lady suggests hand ground and packed burgers in Excelsior (look out for that review) and we're on our way. Driving though the Mission definitely feels like a mission, dodging jay-walkers, double parked cars, and the amazing road quality make for a wonderful trek. "Oh Yucatan! I wanna try that!" - M' Lady I cut across the next lane into a parking spot, "Sounds perfect!" I say after startling her. We step into this hole within the walls, and seat ourselves. I scan the area for general vibes and look on the wall for their menu... *bad eyes, need glasses* Waitress drops off some menus, whew! Somethings familiar yet foreign all around. I ordered the Panucho Poc Chok+Rellenos Pollo... What can I say... herra good son! Oh, by the way, ordered Inca Cola... Sold out... FML, got me a mandarin Jarritos. The gf got herself a empanadas and a tostada as well... Both delicious... But that Panucho! Oh damn... I read the reviews posted by the neighbors, and I'll tell you something... I've been to Vietnam four times... Their findings are nothing, especially since they've supposedly cleaned up. But I digress. Come here if you want to step into a serious hole within the walls of flavor. *Drops the mic* read more

I found this little gem serendipitously - as many of the other greatest discoveries are in the world, this one was by accident. I was on my way to another restaurant, which turned out to be closed. Distraught, I decided the venture further into the mission. I see a restaurant with an awning that read "Yucatan Food," and I thought to myself "what the *expletive* is Yucatan Food?" I was already feeling adventurous, so I enter to find a slightly cramped restaurant with a plethora of patrons. I approach a pair of workers who ignore me for a good 30 seconds, but one finally seated me. She was very friendly and had a good attitude. When I asked her to recommend food for me, she pointed to the panuchos. She said I could try one chicken and one pork, which sounded awesome. Who doesn't want variety? I also had my heart set on the tamale and was intrigued by the "inca kola." Nothing disappointed. All my food came on one plate, and the soda reminded me of cream soda. The panuchos, which sounds dirty to me, were tasty - the chicken panucho had pickled onions veggies on it while the pork panucho was very juicy. The lady who waited on me also asked if I liked my food, which is always a plus in my book. So, my 2 panunchos (giggity), tomale, and inca kola totaled to roughly 8.50. This place is a friggen steal. I can't believe I almost went to tacobell... Give it a try! read more

Killer tacos and empanadas that are very unique compared to the standard Mexican mission joint. Definitely go pork! read more

Yucatasia - Two types of pork tacos and an empanada - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Okay so I'll admit this place doesn't look the cleaniest but the food is pretty good and the price is great! I don't know how authentic this place is for Latin American food given I grew up eating Chinese food but its definitely not a panda express. I got a beef tongue taco and a salbute de cochinita. The beef tongue taco was really good. I've never had beef tongue melt in my mouth before but this was cooked really well. Plus the homemade flour tortilla was so soft and delicious. The salbute de cochinita was something I've never had before but basically the shell of the taco is a little thicker and deep fried/fried. It was good! My friend ordered the torta poc chuc which is Banh mi bread with Latin American food in it. I had a bite and it was pretty delicious. My friend said he liked it. The bill for all our food came out to $12. Cash only. read more

I wish i can spell everything here I just ate ....all I got to say is wow !!!! Great good home cooking !!! You all got to give this place a try you won't be disappointed...friendly environment good customer service...great prices also... read more

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