Restaurants

Celia's Mexican Restaurant in SF is #1

Come for the delicious south of the border food, stay for another margarita! Celia’s Mexican Restaurant is a favorite neighborhood destination.

This neighborhood restaurant is locally owned and located in what is affectionately called the “Outer” Richmond District of San Francisco. That means you will likely only head to Celia’s if you live in the area, surf everyday, have family in the area or are lost. We fall into the “have family in the area” category and are quite familiar with this wonderfully foggy part of town.

If you like to bring the kids and dog to Ocean Beach then Celia’s could already be on your radar. We like driving along the Great Highway which is how we found Celia’s the first time, it is only a few blocks from the beach near the end of the line for the N-Judah trolley.

This time we stopped in for lunch and some neighborhood visiting. We were not disappointed by either. Did you know that Celia’s owner makes the house margarita mix from a secret recipe? If you like killer margaritas that pack a wallop then you should stop by early. Local regulars swear by its taste and grumble when it runs out early in the evening.

For lunch they started me out with complimentary chips and salsa and house made cole slaw. Yum! Then I had the chicken taco and chili rellano combination platter. Listening to the N-Judah trolley rumble by every few minutes, hanging out in this family run restaurant makes for a great meal.

Celia's Combination Platter w/Margarita! Ole!

If you like an old school sixties style Mexican decor and listening to ranchero music playing in the background, this is your place. For those who like to go head down south to Baja, Celia’s Mexican Restaurant will give you a kind of an Ensenada vibe without having to cross the border.   Now that is my kind of summer staycation!

4019 Judah Street
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 564-0662

Louie's before and after the show

We knew the second the sign went up at Louie’s Grill & Pub that we would add this newest Greenwood restaurant to our dinner circuit. It didn’t matter if we liked the food, really — when you open an eatery that isn’t McDonald’s down the street from the high school, adults will drop in on their way to sporting events and musical performances.

Well, at least that’s what first pulled us in. We had one hour before the curtain went up on the Christmas show, and I simply wasn’t in the mood to hit the Golden Arches and then burp along to Here Comes Santa Claus. So I sat down and ordered a club sandwich and fries in one of Louie’s booths instead. It was definitely a quality improvement move on my end.

But now, thanks to the chips and black bean salsa, we make Louie’s a destination even when we have no obligation at Center Grove High School.

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Casa Sanchez Painted Patio

If you like chips and salsa, like so many of us do, you may already know the name Casa Sanchez. This savory & fresh salsa is sold in every Safeway I’ve been in and lots of other major grocery stores and corner markets. Fortunately for us, San Francisco is the home to the restaurant where this famous Casa Sanchez salsa began.

I love that this family run restaurant is so proud of its longevity in the neighborhood. Check out their wall of articles posted next to the chips! When we were there Mama Sanchez was adding up the receipts at one of the tables and I think a grandmother was sweeping.

We love coming to this unassuming restaurant because not only are the chips and salsa delicious, but they have the best city backyard to hang out in on a sunny day. Today we came by for breakfast and I had the best chorizo and scrambled eggs.

If you are not a breakfast person then stop by and have one of their enormous chicken burritos, enchiladas or quesadilla. We’ve come by after work before to grab one of their huge burritos to take home – yum! The burritos are so big – and such a bargain – that I never get through more than half before giving up and getting out the foil.

Chorizo and Eggs @ Casa Sanchez

Bottom line, this is an expensive tasty spot to bring the kids or a friend.  Stop by on a sunny afternoon while shopping in the Mission District or anytime you want to grab a beer or agua fresca and some of the best chips and salsa ever.  With their bright and colorfully painted patio in the back, it will feel a little like you slipped into the novel Like Water For Chocolate or a Frida Kahlo painting.

Famous Casa Sanchez Logo

2778 24th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 282-2400

Lively music all day

For many people, breakfast means cold cereal or maybe some toast and coffee. For the kids and workers with big appetites, breakfast burritos are now a very popular choice in the morning.

If you enjoy authentic Mexican food served in an atmosphere as warm as any home, Los Jarritos is a wonderful place to go.

This great little restaurant is in the Mission District in San Francisco, across the street from Mr. Pickles Deli (a great marker for finding the corner quickly when driving).

Los Jarritos is family owned and operated by the Reyes Padilla family of San Francisco. There is only street parking which can be a little difficult sometimes but worth the effort – unless you take public transportation which is abundant.

One of my favorite meals of the day is breakfast, and the Los Jarritos menu includes both traditional American breakfast items like eggs and bacon to real Mexican dishes like chicken mole and Nopales (cactus).

Little jars hang everywhere

My husband orders Huevos Divorciados almost every time we go, while I love their eggs with nopales or an omelet with chorizo (Mexican sausage)!  Huevos Rancheros is perfect if you have not tried a traditional Mexican breakfast before. It will be tasty without being too spicy.

They are open all day so I would definitely suggest stopping by anytime for a great meal – maybe you will also get a lively serenade from a roving guitar player too. You can’t beat the homemade chips and salsa or their handmade corn tortillas prepared everyday in their kitchen.

Carnitas taco and enchilada

Frosty Sangria

Lunches often turn into my only meal when I come here, because their combination plates including the extras always fill me up.

They have Mexican cervezas (beer) and Sangria (love the frosty glasses they serve them both in) but they also have delicious traditional non-alcoholic Mexican beverages like refreshing Horchata (yummy drink made from almond and rice with cinnamon).

901 S Van Ness Ave
San Francisco  94110
(415) 648-8383

Mon-Sun. 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.