“One of the more reasonable places to eat in the touristy area. Instead of standing in line at In N Out, try the burger here. It’s a different style but it’s extremely juicy and tasty. Garlic fries too. The patio area at the back is cute and provides some shelter away from the street.“
“Small spot in the Salesforce travel plaza. Wide selection of meat, veggie, vegan empanadas that are heated up on ordering. There's a selection of salads, soups and a couple of desserts. Everything we tried was great and tasted very good. The guy behind the counter was great. Turned out to be super convenient for a snack on a Sunday evening and I'll be stopping by at other times too.“
“Very good meat pocket. I had their espinacas $7 (spinach, bacon cheese.) It was delicious! It was served warm and without a wait. The ladies at the counter recommended this one. This was my first time here and had no idea what to order. Her commendation was spot on. Good job crew at El Porteno!“
“Delicious empanadas! Fillings are always flavorful and the crust is so buttery and flakey. My favorite is the mushroom one. Don't forget to add a side of chimichurri, probably the best tasting kind I've had. It is really expensive though. Each empanada basically comes out to $7 and the chimichurri is $1.50 for such a small amount.“
“An empanada from El Porteño is a surprisingly delicious and filling inexpensive lunch at the Ferry Building. Before I had tried them I thought that it would take at least 2 or 3 for a satisfying lunch, but a single warm empanada is a great lunch, quick and less than half the price of any alternatives I have tried. There is lots of good food at the Ferry Building, but most of it involves a wait and at least $15 or $20 for lunch. El Porteño is an exception on both counts. The mushroom and shrimp ones are delicious. I can't wait to try all the other varieties.“
“What a cute lil spot! These empanadas are delish, and creative - I loved the imprint of "Venga" on each of them. I got the Sweet Corn, snd the Argentine Beef empanadas. The chimichurri style dip was great with the sweet corn, while the Chipotle dip was great with the beef. The guy running the shop was very nice, and suggested the pairing for the dips to each empanada. Stop by here for a quick bite, or pick up an assortment of these delightful empanadas.“
“What a cute lil spot! These empanadas are delish, and creative - I loved the imprint of "Venga" on each of them. I got the Sweet Corn, snd the Argentine Beef empanadas. The chimichurri style dip was great with the sweet corn, while the Chipotle dip was great with the beef. The guy running the shop was very nice, and suggested the pairing for the dips to each empanada. Stop by here for a quick bite, or pick up an assortment of these delightful empanadas.“
“This cafe is a fantastic spot to grab a meal. The cashier provides excellent service, the place is spotless, and the food is delicious. If you're in the mood for a Mexican-style breakfast and happen to live nearby, I recommend visiting this cafe to savor a peaceful and relaxed morning atmosphere! P.S. For the first time my husband and I tried the empanadas and were pleasantly surprised by their delicious and unique flavor. This probably added extra score to the positive experience at the cafe.“
Latin American • $$
“My gf and I just got back from our trip to Argentina and we were craving a good asado. I didn't expect to find anything so close to us but this restaurant was a pleasant surprise! We ordered the parrilla for two and everything was great! The parrilla comes with chicken, beef, sausage, and morcilla (+salad). You can't have an Argentinian experience and not order flan with dulce de leche so we went all out and ordered one (even though we were already in a food coma). Service was great too! Vamos Boca!!!“
“The sign at Il Pollaio is like a Cubist 1980s video game design. Obviously, the restaurant opened in 1982. Not so obvious, they never made the blunder many establishments do of remodeling for the sake of remodeling. Fashions ebb and flow; that which is cool is timeless. I think Ralph Lauren said that. Michael Bauer, former SF Chronicle food critic said good things about this place. The staff at Il Pollaio wear t-shirts with Bauer's quote printed on them. I can't really remember the details of the encomiums, but it's not a bad article. You should read it. The Chronicle will allow you to look at a limited number of their pieces online. In the age of social media, the world has lost the professional dilettante. For all his faults, I wish Bauer would still do reviews. Perhaps he wasn't the most exploratory critic, or the best writer, but he's preferable to his successor, Soleil Ho. Not only is Soleil a hack, but a crusading hack, a hack on a mission. Back to Il Pollaio... It was founded by a man from a Calabrian man. That is, a Calabrian by was of Argentina. With his chickens, he merged his two backgrounds. The chickens are spatchcocked and grilled (over gas). Cooking a splayed animal over fire represents the Argentine. Giving the bird a rub with garlic, herbs and spices before grilling represents the Italian. It is honest, no frills cooking. The crispy skin is imbued with the flavor of the fire. The seasonings - olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme - add savory depth. Perfectly cooked, somehow, even the white meat is moist. The waiter gave me a plastic squeeze bottle filled with chunky, brick red sauce. It is the kind of sauce you find at Italian or Greek restaurants where the Mexican cooks have been given their freedom. That means more capsaicin. It is also the most affordable meal in North Beach. You can get a half chicken here for $16. In a neighborhood that sells spaghetti pomodoro for $23 a bowl, that is a bargain.“