Nopalito

Perhaps equally so famous as sister space Nopa it was 2009 that Nopalito opened just north of the Panhandle, and since that time a focus on organic Produce and sustainability has found the Restaurant widely regarded as one of the best Mexican eateries in the Bay Area.

A labor of love from Veracruz native Gonzalo Guzman, a youth in the fields and techniques passed down from his mother yielding traditional flavors bolstered by California's bounty, it is at 306 Broderick that guests are greeted warmly by staff offering a menu including everything from slow-cooked Pork to handmade Tortillas.

Upscale yet casual, a true "Bib Gourmand" punching above its weight class in a city where very little is a bargain, Cocktails are simple yet effective while those craving the likes of Chilaquiles or a fluffy Concha to-go will appreciate hot or coldbrew Coffee from a take-away window.

Open all-day with no reservations, a concise indoor-covered patio setup with wood and organic elements offering comfortable seating, Appetizers lean heavily on Vegetables and whether one chooses creamy Esquites or smoky Cauliflower adjacent Orange slices the results are equally impressive.

The author of JBFA winning cookbooks and a retail line, recently celebrating their quinceañera, it might be expected that Nopalito's Pozole brings the sort of complexity possessed by few others while Enmoladas utilize Corn Tortillas with appropriate flex to house a good amount of Cheese then smothered in Mole that is equal parts sweet, smoke and earth.

Stopped here on a whim while in SF, and I'm so glad I did. Everything from the drinks to the flautas to the main courses were stellar. The covered patio is so nice because it blocks the wind while still getting the feeling of dining outside.

Definitely will come again when I'm in the neighborhood.

The perfect spot for a delicious margarita!

A friend and I stopped by for a drink on a Saturday. There was no wait for a table, and ordering off the app was easy!

We ordered the Frozen White Guava Margarita. All I can say is WOW! It might be one of the best margaritas I've ever had--perfectly sweet with a wonderful guava flavor. A must-order!

We also got the chips and guacamole. The chips tasted like corn chips, and the guac was very fresh.

TL;DR - The Frozen White Guava Margarita is a must-order!!

Food is yum but on the pricier side (e.g. chips and guac for $13). The ambiance is nice and well-decorated, so maybe that bumps up the price. The restaurant is a little weirdly laid out in that it doesn't really have a front of house with host podium, you just kind of stand at the door next to other tables eating until they seat you - which they forgot about us there, since it looks like you're just standing there. But otherwise, everything was nicely presented and yummy, just may be more of a group treat every once in a while to get to try more things more affordably.

Last Saturday my husband and I decided to have dinner here with our baby. We live nearby and I wanted to try it for years.
When we arrive around 6pm the place was almost empty, but the it was pretty packed.
My 3 stars is more for the service than the food, even though the food is just ok.
We shared the poblano mole with chicken and tacos the Pescado. Chicken was good but the chocolate flavor in the mole was too strong and we didn't like it. Tacos de Pescado was good maybe the quantity of fish wasn't too much (I forgot to take the picture). We really like the tortillas that came with the chicken. Our baby eat the cheese quesadilla and the rice we had, but they don't have a lot of options for kids. In general the service was a little unkept.

Nice spot for some casual lunch. You order using the QR codes making things a lot faster. We did the fish tacos, which were good. The tortilla were probably made in house and grainy. Felt very full after eating one and we got some of those nachos to share as well. It has a lot cheese and sour cream on top with the chips in this tomato sauce. It was good but we couldn't finish it all! Good amount of food for two people

I'm not sure it Nopalito knows this, but they have a little cameo in one of my favorite books of all time! It was one of my dreams to visit and eat here as a birthday treat for myself, and the staff went above and beyond (I actually cried, like in the good way). The food is incredible, the ambience is so chill and gorgeous (lots of plants!), and the staff was so incredibly nice!!! I couldn't believe it. Ten thousand stars; you guys made my entire day!!
Highly recommend if you want an absolutely gorgeous dining experience.

More like a 3.5. The biggest problems I had were with the vegetarian main (I'm forgetting the name) which was $28 and was just some pretty bland beans and mushrooms ?!

All the appetizers were good though and reasonably priced as well. I particularly enjoyed the nacho plate and the cauliflower. Another plus is the buzzing atmosphere. It feels rarer these days to find restaurants with that type of atmosphere in SF so it is a welcome change.

They also have a strange policy that you open a toast tab to order, but if you don't close out they automatically add a 20% tip ... Even though you order through your phone.

We ordered the Totopos con Chile, Quesadilla Roja, and Mole Poblano con Pollo. The Totopos were a bit dry, and we wish that it had a bit more toppings--cotija cheese and onions. The quesadilla was huge and packed with extremely tender pork belly! Lastly, the chicken (the thighs were a little dry) was covered with a nice blend of mole and salsa.

The Horchata on the other hand--Regular (Almond-flavored) and Strawberry--was incredibly tasty and packed with flavor. The cinnamon-sweet milk drink was to die for. This is an absolute must-try!

Last thing worth noting was the outdoor patio area was really nice and a perfect vibe for brunch on a nice sunny day. Overall, Nopalito is a nice Mexican restaurant that fuses various Latino cultures. Definitely worth stopping by if you're around!

Service and ambiance were good. But in a city with so many good, hearty Mexican options that are reasonably priced, why go to a place that charges close to $30 for two small tacos? This is definitely a gentrified version of a Mexican spot. I doubt that I will be returning.