I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.
See all posts Frank Gogol15 Best Spots for Venezuelan Food in San Francisco
Updated on April 10, 2024
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Back in 2015, there were about 24.6 million visitors in San Francisco. The 13th most populated city in the U.S. surely has a lot to offer, and one of these things is the variety of spots that offer Venezuelan food. And since you most likely want to have a good experience trying this unique food, you need to know the best spots. You will find a list of some of the best below.
15 Best Venezuelan Restaurants in San Francisco
If you happen to be in San Francisco and need to find a spot to try some high-quality Venezuelan food, here are the best 15 spots you should consider.
Artesano
Artesano is a restaurant created out of love for Latin American cuisine. The place’s owner fell in love with Brazilian cuisine after living in Brazil for a period of 4 years, and that’s what sparked his interest in building a place where others could try this food. Since interest in Latin American cuisine was increasing in San Francisco, they decided to take the initiative and create Artesano. After experimenting in the kitchen with Latin American meals, they created unique foods that are hard not to crave.
- Saltado de Camaron
- Veggie Guisado
- Pescado sandwich
- Paella
- Cubano sandwich
- Bread pudding
- House-made empanadas
Cava 22
Cava 22 is a nice restaurant that can be found in the heart of the mission district. The goal of the employees is to brighten your mood by serving you some delicious food and providing you with a wonderful environment to eat in, while either watching TV or listening to music. You can visit on any day of the week, even stop for karaoke during weekends.
- Spicy mango, watermelon, classic lime or strawberry margaritas
- Pineapple margarita
- Coconut margarita
- Hibiscus margarita
- Pitcher
Cha Cha Cha
Cha Cha Cha is a great place in San Francisco, and the restaurant actually has two spots where you can enjoy its food. You can either go to Haight or Mission. Whichever it is, you can always take your friends and family for some delicious tapas or empanadas.
- Ceviche
- Empanada
- Quesadilla
- Warm spinach salad
- Tapas
Destino
If you want to discover a different side of the culinary world, you need to go to Destino in San Francisco. The restaurant is focused on modern Latin cuisine. You can find plenty of delicious food here. It was inspired by Nuevo Café Barbieri in Madrid, and while it seemed nothing but a dream in the beginning, it became reality. You can now relax here with a nice dish and enjoy being alive and having the opportunity to learn about different cultures.
The owner of the place is James Schenk, who has roots in Peru. If you happen to go to the San Francisco Bay Area, then you must visit this place.
- Anticuchos de Pollo
- Picked Winter Veggies
- Vegetarian Empanadas
- Ceviche Mixto
- Salmon Tiradito
- Ensalada de Destino
- Tamal Rojo
- Bacalao con Arroz de Aceitunas
El Patio
Do you want to try out some unique Spanish and Continental dishes? Then you surely need to visit San Francisco’s El Patio restaurant. It is a great place for small receptions, and the atmosphere will make you feel like you’re in Spain. This is all due to the fact that there is a beautiful fountain inside, as well as a high ceiling and an outdoor patio, making you feel like you’re in a courtyard.
The place won’t disappoint, especially since it has a wide variety of foods to spoil you with, including tender meats and fresh seafood. Whether you need the place for an event or you just want to try out some good food, this is the place to come to while visiting San Francisco.
- Paella Valenciana
- Patatas con Alioli
- Setas Silvestres al Ajillo
- Gambas al Ajillo
- Pan a la Catalana con Jamon Serrano
- Sopa de Ajo Aragonesa
- Solomillo a la Andaluza
- Bistec al Pastor
- Salmon con salsa de Champagne
- Paella Marinera
El Porteno Empanadas
If you’d fancy some Empanadas, then you should go to El Porteno. This place knows how to make their clients feel special, and make you crave them only thinking about their taste. The restaurant is known to mix family recipes of generations past, making some delicious empanadas that you can only dream of. You don’t want to miss them out.
- Jamon y Queso
- Camarones
- Banana y Dulce de Leche
- Acelga
- La Maradona
- Esparragos
Francisca’s
This restaurant has a nice history behind it. Chef Manny’s grandmother, Ana Francisca de Torres, was the one who taught him how to cook. So, since he loved her and the food so much, he wanted to recreate his Venezuela childhood.
After working in various restaurants in the country along with his wife, Katrina, they opened 5 restaurants with no help from any investor. They always make sure to use the most seasonal ingredients and the freshest ones, thus making dishes that you haven’t tried before.
- Fried plantains
- Cesar Chaves salad
- Carbonara
- Crispy yucca
- Arepa Caprese
- Mora panna cotta
- Mesquite-grilled quail
La Mar Cebicheria Peruana
La Mar is another great restaurant if you need to try some unique dishes, respectively Peruvian cuisine dishes. The place has special dining options for events such as Valentine’s Day or many others, so don’t hesitate to check out their schedule.
- Anticuchos (Pollo, Corazon, Pescado)
- Empanadas
- Cebiche (Vegan, Clasico, Mixto)
La Marcha Tapas Bar
Due to how amazing the food is here, there are always a lot of people eating, which makes it a little difficult to reserve a table. But if you’d fancy some Spanish cuisine in a rustic environment, you should check out this bar.
- Tapas (Tortilla de patatas, Coca, Pan y Aceite)
- Arroces (Arroz negro, Paella tres cerditos, Paella marinera)
- Croquetas
Limon Rotisserie
This restaurant was created by the Castillo brothers who always admired the cooking of their mother, Luz. This is how they learned how to cook Peruvian dishes and are now able to serve others as well. When you’re in San Francisco, definitely try eating here.
- Lomo Saltado
- Jalea
- Limon Fiesta Platter
- Pollo a la brasa
- Ceviche de Pescado
- Seco de Costillas
MaMo
Something unique can be experienced if you go to MaMo, where you can eat Californian food with a Venezuelan flair. You will be able to taste some exotic tropical flavors, while the atmosphere is a very cozy one. You should definitely try it if you’re in San Francisco.
- Patacones
- Charred hen of the woods
- Avocado Burrata
- Bavette steak
- MaMo’s Vegan bowl
Miss Arepita – Arepa Mobile
This place has been serving some delicious food for a few years. It is a multi-cuisine place that focuses on Venezuelan dishes. Since arepas are so appreciated, these are made very carefully and they’ll taste like no other arepas you’ve tried before.
- Arepas
Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen
Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen is another amazing place in San Francisco that will please your tastes. It can offer you a little bit of everything, just as the “Pica Pica” part of the name means “a little bit of this, a little bit of that”. That being said, you can either get something crunchy, or try something sweet or spicy. Whether you need to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can rest assured you’ll fill your stomach here.
- Nachos Pica Pica
- Arepa Trio Taster
- Yuca fries with guasacaca
- Tres empanadas with guasacaca
Poc-Chuc
At Poc-Chuc, you can have an amazing time eating some empanadas or salads. With a focus on Mexican dishes, it is able to make your day better. Try out some of the recipes, and your taste buds will thank you.
- Panuchos
- Platillo Maya – Empanadas
- Pata a la Naranja
- Carne Asada
Venga Empanadas
For some great Venezuelan food San Francisco, try out Venga Empanadas. You can have all types of empanadas here, and they are not fried, but baked. In addition, they are made by hand too, and you can enjoy them with many delicious sauces.
- Meat empanadas
- Lentil soup with Spanish chorizo
- Veggie empanadas
- Medialuna
- Sweet empanada
Conclusion
There are many places for delicious, Venezuelan food in San Francisco, but it’s always hard to make the right choice unless you know what each one of them offers. Now you hopefully made up your mind, as all of these spots promise to leave a good impression.
Frank Gogol
I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.