Nopalito

The wait for a table of four on a Monday night was about 45 minutes, which is decent for a popular restaurant like Nopalito.
The complimentary baked garbanzo beans were perfect to munch on as we waited for our dishes.
Totopos con chile: One of the best «chips and salsa» starter I’ve had. The chips were real deep fried tortillas giving each bite a satisfying thick crunch, and all the combined flavors of the toppings, especially the cojito cheese, had me reaching chip after chip.
Empanada: Stuffed with goodness and not bland at all.
Carnitas: My favorite dish of the night. The braised pork was so tender and flavorful. Highly recommend
Mole Poblano con Pollo: The chicken was not dry and the mole was rich and easily one of the best mole I’ve tried but… for me, it also was one of those flavors/​tastes that you get tired of easily. Just a few spoonfuls was enough.
Ending with the complimentary almond cookies was a plus.

My Fav here are Totopos con chile and Fish Tacos! Very delicous!
Improvement wise, im not sure if it is the host or the servers or whatever. We waited almost an hour and it was not even busy. In fact, there were available tables. But nevertheless, their foods are fantastic.

Our first dinner in SF on this trip and we were not disappointed. Nice location in a shopping plaza and we sat outside — near an overhead heater which was welcome.
Starting off with Altamont IPA (Carol had tea, adjusting to the time change) we shared a great order of Guacamole. Entrees were Empanadas, Carnitas and Carne Asada — all were tasty but could have used a little more spice.
We ate dinner late, but the place was packed — always a good sign.

I’m such a sucker for good ambient music at restaurants, and this place won me over with all the best pop latino from the 2000s: Bacilos, Reik, Juanes, and, of course, Shakira. And my hips certainly don’t lie when it comes to how yummy the food is. We got the huarache con suadeo y chorizo (so good you’ll think it’s beef) and the taco arabe. Also got the house horchata with strawberry purée to share, but next time I’m definitely getting my own.
If you want some gringo-​friendly Mexican food a la northern California style (gluten free options) that is more authentic than your neighborhood chipotle (don’t get me wrong, got mad love for those burrito bowls), then this is your spot! Servers are very attentive, always ready to refill your water glass and offer to take away your plate when you’re not quite ready (sorry still sopping up the sauces with my tiny piece of tortilla).

I will fight a grandma with a walker for that delicious frijoles puercos con huevo!
That’s saying something. The texture of the buttery bean stewed in the juice of homemade red chorizo with the aftertaste of limey bacon… Gosh, my mouth is watering again!
The quesadilla roja con chicharron was good too, albeit a tad too oily and dry. The margarita is so so. But yeahhh for that frijoles!
Looking from outside, Nopalito gives the charm of mexican fusion dishes. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much at first, given the previous tacky experiences with mexican fusion which similar to a boy with identity loss. But boy, am I wrong. And am I glad to be wrong! Nopalito chefs work it out like a boss.
PS: The complimentary almond butter cookies were a nice touch.

Oh Nopalito, thanks for a fantastic dinner once again. The community style set up paired with the great service and tasty food, you can never go wrong! My main reservation for this place is the lack of seasoning in a few of their dishes, other than that, this is a great place to spend with friends!
Favorites:
–Totopos con chile — Hot sauce flavored chips with crema, cheese, cojita cheese, and tons of flavor. A MUST GET.
–Panucho de Pollo — one of the most juiciest chicken tacos. Theres just so much layer of flabors.
–Chicharon Quesedilla — Not your regular quesedilla. Great crunch with the chicharon and
The Bad:
–Queso Flameado con Chorizo y Nopales: lacks so much flavor and lacked the cactus flavor.
–Hurache con suadero: a little too heavy and oily — would really avoid.
Drinks ($ 11 each usually, unless you get a shot)
–Their drinks are very light and refreshing — if you want a kick — just get a shot.
–The bloody maria and sangria are missing that punch these drinks usually have, BUT the mezcal paloma and killer bee (very sweet flavor) are great to start off a meal!
After some drinks and great bites, I highly suggest getting a popsicle. For 3.50 a pop, you can’t go wrong. They have five flavors and go great with the mexican wedding cookies in the end. Also, huge kudos to our server for always asking us if we wanted a drink or something else to eat. Talk about hospitality!

I’ve been here once. My fiancée and I shared a quesadilla and torta. Both were off the he z.
I’m trying the mole now. I’ll let you know how it is.
Place is pack, n crazy good, n different in a great way.
As far as appetizers and dessert.
Btw the mole is scream n good!

2 ½ star on food.
4 star on cleanliness, staff and meal presentation.
Cute place and very trendy. Decently priced at $ 37.00 (not including tip) for 2 of us. We ordered pork tacos, veggie quesadilla and a beef empanada to share. I wasn’t impressed with the taste of my meal. It lacked a lot of flavor. I wanted salt, spices or something to add a kick, sadly, I felt it was quite bland. :(
We did receive a small bowl of complimentary dry roasted garbanzo beans, I liked those as it was spicy and had good flavors like paprika, cumin and/​or chili powder.
The check came with 2 small round complimentary cookies, similar to a Russian tea cookie. (I LOVE Russian tea cookies!) It was like a sugar and butter cookie with nuts topped with powered sugar. The texture is soft and should crumble in your mouth. I should really call this a Mexican/​Spanish tea cookie, although it really wasn’t bad, but it had too much nutmeg or allspice plus a lot of cinnamon. Sorry folks, I wasn’t a fan!
The food lacked flavor (with the exception of the garbanzo), and «Russian tea cookies» was overpowering with spice!
Nopalito is nestled in a cute plaza with street parking. Oh, did I mention they have outdoor seating?!
Will I come back? Perhaps, to try another dish. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best, because I really want to like this place!

Pro tip– call ahead to get your name on the list for the night!
Drinks were awesome! We ordered this pumped up quesadilla with chorizo/​brisket, the fish tacos, and the chips soaked in some salsa! Was all delicious, especially the quesadilla.

Opening at 11:30 am, this is not a typical a brunch spot. The menu doesn’t offer signature brunch items so factor that into expectations when you choose it!
A bonus, unlike many SF brunch spots, brunch is served well into the afternoon at Nopalito. No mimosas or bloody marys here but if you’re feeling boozy, the bloody maria will do the trick. It is a spicy, tequila based, bloody mary and it is quite delicious.
We didn’t end up staying for brunch because we were in the mood for old-​fashioned breakfast items but I would come back to try it when I am feeling bit more spicy. The ambiance is great, warm and bright. They have heaters for the outdoor seating area and it was quite lovely.

I loved the place !
Really nice outdoor seating and an interesting food section.
We tried several items of their menu and they were all really good!
Their staff is friendly and I would definitely recommend trying that place.
Side note: bathroom is in an awkward spot, where you have to leave the main restaurant, walk outside and back into a new place/​bathroom.
For a slightly higher end eating establishment, this is weird and reminds me of some fast food chains. Specially gets bad when it’s warm inside and cold outside, not very healthy for the suppressed immune system.

I’m not sure what all the hype was about… Nopalito reminded me of a «Chipotle but slightly better» type of place (not necessarily a good thing). Super busy on a Saturday around lunch time. I appreciate their call ahead service and I would encourage anybody to use that if they were thinking of coming in for breakfast or lunch. But in all honesty, I found the food to be boring and one dimensional.
I ordered their quesadilla with pork belly and it was more reminiscent of a large hard taco with some stuff inside. They don’t add any salt to their food so they conveniently have salt in a side dish on the table. I didn’t realize this until halfway through my meal when I was feeling that my quesadilla was lacking any flavor. Once I added that salt, it improved but only slightly. I think some salsa or heat would have made the dish so much better. Also paying $ 7 for a plain taco was kind of meh for me.
I did enjoy my horchata, the spicy chick peas, and the little cookie dessert at the end of our meal. Those were nice touches. Service was okay… nothing spectacular. Some people were super friendly while others were not so.
If you want real Mexican food, this certainly isn’t it. Drive around and you’ll probably find a real taqueria with authentic Mexican food for way cheaper.

The food is great, but this place should be known as a tapas place as the plates are very small and the prices high. The margaritas, well if you took the ice out the glass may amount to a couple ounces of liquid.
Service is super, food is good. Value — just is not there.
Not on my lets visit again.

TLDR — solid Mexican food, good catering option as well; the totopos con chile are a must!
Came here recently with a group for lunch on a weekday. It’s a small restaurant but it wasn’t busy during the day. Casual spot that felt like it was completely outdoors even though it was technically indoors or covered. Relaxed, laid-​back atmosphere.
I’ve also had their catering, which didn’t stand out to me in comparison to other Mexican options or Mexican food in general, but it’s a solid catering option. The meat was cooked super well (especially for catering), but was pretty greasy and lacked a wow factor.
My experience dining in was more memorable though. Not sure if it’s because I ordered something different or because dining in is generally better than catering (or because of both), but I liked the food and overall ambiance enough to want to come back.
They started us off with some complimentary fried garbanzo beans, which had a nice crunch and were flavored well with some sort of spices. My group shared the Totopos Con Chile as an appetizer and I ordered the Caldo Tlalpeno Con Pollo as my entrée, and both were delicious!
–TOTOPOS CON CHILE ($ 7) — ⁵⁄₅
[tortilla chips, salsa de arbol, cojita cheese, onions, cilantro, crema, lime]
Addicting! The tortilla chips were thick and crunchy and loaded with toppings. Lots of cheese but cojita isn’t overly cheesy. It’s not served with any guac but we asked for some on the side. The best part is the sauce the chips are covered in — some sort of spicy buffalo sauce that makes you just want more.
–CALDO TLALPENO CON POLLO ($ 14) — 4.5÷5
[chicken consommé, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, garbanzo beans, avocado, queso fresco, chipotle adobado]
I honestly would’ve never expected to love a soup from a Mexican restaurant, but this was surprisingly good! And it was really healthy, which is something I always struggle to find at a Mexican spot. The chicken was cooked really well, the broth was light but flavorful and there were plenty of healthy veggies. Super filling, warm and satisfying, especially for a cold winter day.
*** From catering ***
–ENSALADA DE LECHUGA Y DURAZNOS ($ 9.50) — ⁴⁄₅
[lettuce, stone fruit, pickled red onion, pumpkin seeds, tortilla strips, cotija cheese]
I’m always a fan of salads with fruit in it. The apples gave it a little sweetness and the cotija wasn’t too cheesy
–CARNITAS ($ 21) — 3.5÷5
[braised pork, orange, bay leaf, milk, cinnamon, beer, cabbage salad, pickled jalapeño, salsa de tomatillo]
Huge chunks of pork. Tender but superr fatty. Flavor is solid but not super memorable.
–POLLO AL PIBIL — 3.5÷5
[shredded citrus-​achiote chicken]
Cooked pretty well — good texture and not dry — but rather greasy. Flavor is citrus-​y but still lacking a wow factor
–VEGETALES — ³⁄₅
[carrots, zucchini, potatoes, onion, broccoli and cauliflower]
Roasted nicely, but MUCH greasier than I would’ve expected from a vegetable dish. I really liked the carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Would be a 5 if it weren’t so oily!
–GUACAMOLE — 2.5÷5
Average guac, but a little on the salty side.
–CORN CHIPS — 3.5÷5
Not super special but I like that their chips are a lot thicker than average. Super crunchy, not too salty and very sturdy for dipping in guac and salsa!

The food here is amazing!
I came here for lunch with 2 friends and all of our dishes were delicious. Everything is organic and super fresh, I would definetly come back and probably one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Definetly going to come back here again to try some other dishes =)

Bön resto. Bonne ambiance le soir. Du mexicain style fusion sophistiqué.

Dinner review. Second visit.
Huaraches — ³⁄₅
Queso — ³⁄₅
Quesadilla — ⁵⁄₅
Carnitas — ⁵⁄₅
Flan — ⁴⁄₅
Overall, carnitas and quesadilla are «as good as it gets.»

Nothing but good things about Nopalito! We don’t go out and choose Mexican food often but I’m glad we checked out this place. We have been to a mom and pop place near Sac State called Nopalitos but they are not related. This place is a quaint little restaurant next to a Peet’s coffee. They have a indoor sunroom type patio, and they welcomed dogs! During our stay we saw several other dogs dining in as well.
We started off with the almond horchata, of course. If I’m gonna have Mexican food, I’ve got to have horchata. We had the totopos con chile as a starter, per recommendation. They were delicious! I thought they would be soggy because of all of the toppings, but they were far from soggy… very crispy, topped with onions, cotija cheese, cilantro, lime, and a side of sour cream.
For my entrée I decided on their ceviche, since it sounded refreshing and light. It wasn’t quite your typical ceviche — no shrimp — but it had calamari and fish, with apples, corn, avocado, red onion, and cilantro, meant to be eaten with their blue corn chips. It was the perfect serving size with enough to share with others too.
Great stop in the city if you’re looking for some tasty Mexican food with bold flavors!

Decided to come here to celebrate a friend’s birthday, and it was delicious and majority of the food selection are gluten-​free (friend is allergic to gluten). I recommend the seasonal sangria, as it comes in a large glass. I wasn’t too much a fan of the almond horchata, it was really grainy.
We shared about 4 dishes: queso flameado con chorizo nopales (tastes like Mexican pizza at Taco Bell but with better quality products); empanadas con deshebrada de res (not my favorite but flavorful); ceviche de temporada (really tasty and fresh); and on to my ultimate favorite of the night: quesadilla con calabaza y elote tierno (basically, a vegetarian quesadilla). The selection of veggies and cheese was very well paired in this dish. You only get one too!

Great was food but the service sucks. It wasn’t that busy and we were seated pretty late or should I say last. I felt that the server had a little attitude and it took forever for the drinks and water to come to the table. They actually forgot the beer so we just ended up canceling it. I wasn’t a fan of their bloody marry. maybe its because they add too much tequila to it. Didn’t have that taste I was looking for.
Things I ordered:
— Taco Arabe estilo Puebla (it was okay — should’ve ordered the fish tacos)
— Quesadilla Roja con Chicharrón (SOO GOOD)

My friend and I came here on a Sunday at 6PM. The hostess told us that we would be seated in 45 minutes. A long wait, but to be expected at a popular restaurant. It’s now 7PM and I ask the hostess when we will be seated. She replies by saying that she underestimated how long it would take other customers to finish their dinners and that it could take another 30 minutes before we were seated.
I was really floored by this «mistake» in large part because the hostess didn’t take the time to let us know that it would take MUCH LONGER for us to be seated than she’d estimated. I had to inquire about this myself and was given an attitude to top it off. It seemed like other people were being given priority seating over my group. Several times I saw that the hostess was taking in people who had just arrived.
Finally, we decided to walk over to Green Chile Kitchen because, let’s be real, no one has time to sit around waiting for a table for 1.5 hours. We got a text message from Nopalito 2 HOURS LATER saying that they had a table ready for us. Really? Who would wait for 2 hours for a table.
Management needs to better train their hostesses, and the hostess should not be in charge of cleaning tables and setting up utensils. We noticed several times that the hostess was running around doing things that normally a busser would do.
I’m definitely not coming back here. There are a lot of other options in the city for good Mexican food.

loving this place more and more. I’ve been 4 times and counting :)
amazing dishes in my opinion: Taco de Pescado al Pastor, Ceviche Verde de Pescado y Calamare, Gazpacho Estilo Morelia, and the rice & beans.
My fav drink is the El Diablo. yumz!
every waitress i’ve had is great & on top of things.