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Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
I try to come here at once a week. It is an extended lunch kind of joint, not a quick get in and get out lunch spot.
As the other reviewers said, the location is a little wacky. Despite that, I've never seen them empty! I love sitting outside on sunny days and just relaxing. We almost always get the same waitress and she is soooo sweet!
The food is awesome - that said, I don't get the meat items. My go-to is either the chipotle pupusas, veggie flauta with potatoes or the enchiladas with the mole. Every time I go it's soooo good.
I get cravings for the flautas in the night - it's kind of freakish.
When you say "Hidden Gem" you're usually referring to a place not many people know about. This is one of those places and it's also hidden from view - like no signage so you just have to know where it is. When you arrive at the address enter the courtyard for the medical centre where there will be outdoor tables of Golden Girls enjoying lunch in the sun. This is it!
I am a regular at the one in Fairfax run by Josiah. This is his mother's place so expect the same great creative menu. The food quality was just as good and the place is generally a cleaner but has a little less of the Hippi offbeat vibe we so love about the Fairfax local. Totally worth checking this out.
If you are looking for some greasy mexican joint, keep on looking... But if you are down for some great home cooked mexican food with central american flare sin manteca made with love, then this is the place for you.
The D street location is a little unexpected gem in the middle of offices, but the courtyard allows for an enjoyable outdoor setting and the inside is colorful with plastic floral table cloths and extremely friendly staff.
While the chips and salsa are not the pride of the show, they are enjoyable with some of the fantastic fresh lemonade and horchata ($2 each). We tried the chicken mole ($10.95) -decent- and the chile verde carnitas enchilada ($7.95)- fantastic!!! The salsa verde was only outdone by the homemade corn tortillas- truly the highlight of the visit!
Tried it out on a friends recommendation and it was pretty good. Very different than most restaurants, strange location, but the ladies who work there are super nice. I had the pork fajitas and they were very tasty.
Not my number one favorite Mexican place but the atmosphere is pretty funny so I go there sometimes for something different. I like to sit outside because it's in the outdoor patio of this office complex of mostly dental offices.
When I had my wisdom teeth out my follow-up appointment was at one of the offices, and I was sorry my mouth still hurt so much or I probably would have stopped by.
It's not that I don't like the food, I just never order anything good (I guess). Usually the person I'm eating with enjoys their meal.
And again, location is pretty funny. I get a kick out of taking people here and watching the look on their face while we park.
Really fantastic food with good prices and service!
I love the location it is so strange to eat in the middle of a 50's Medical bldg outside. This is my favorite Mexican El Salvadorian restaurant.
What I real like is the food is fresh, healthy and not greasy.
When in need of a burrito in the San Rafael area, look no further!
This place makes fresh, unique, and authentic mexican dishes.
I highly recommend the veggie burrito with plantains... I am not vegetarian, but it is ohhhhhhhh sooooooo goooood.
If I cannot make it to my Snapper fix at Taco Janes, this is certainly my second favorite mexican restaurant in Marin.
The service is usually great, though if you come when the newer lady is there, she acts... well.. newer. You'll know.
The location is not easy to find. Go to D st in San Rafael. Find the Arco Station. Find Parking. Go to building behind Arco. It's in the middle. An eye sour from outside.. nice and cozy inside.
I highly recommend this joint.
Thanks to all the other postive reviews, we decided to visit Casa Mañana this evening. We were not disappointed -- the food was wonderful, and very affordable. There's ample parking too, because the medical offices are not used at night.
What a find!!!
I really can't recommend this place enough. The food is delicious and the ladies who run it are always very nice. They make a mean molé.
One note: They can only accommodate a large group outdoors, so if it's cold or rainy, you might want to think twice before showing up with more than 4-5 people.
This place is such a state of turmoil for me!
I love the food, they have a plantains dish!?! Puerta Vallarta (I believe) is the name of it and it is mole plantains served with rice and beans. FABULOUS! They have home made tortillas which are also delicious. They serve hibiscus tea which is not always found in Mexican restaurants and I love it so another plus.
My cons, there are a few:
1. SLOW SLOW SLOW service. Don't come here in a hurry, seriously.
2. Be really clear on your order, they are notorious for forgetting things or slightly messing details of an order. To make it easy, try and stick to the menu. Improv's get tricky for them.
3. They understand and can speak English but function better if you do speak Spanish. Just keep that in mind.
Overall though, this is a fabulous little gem in the middle of San Rafael. I love their food, the women are always nice and they have delicious salsa and chips.
Whenever I go, I accept the sub-par service for face value, know it is isn't personal and things are sweet. Just gotta take it all in with a grain of salt.
This place is really hidden away in the middle of a medical complex on D Street in San Rafael. I would never have noticed it if it wasn't pointed out to me.
The women who run this place are so sweet. It almost feels like you're going over to a friend's house to eat...almost like they're making every dish especially for you.
Get the cheese pupusas mojadas...delicious! And they come with yucca root or plaintains. It's tiny and homey and the food is great. Plus, they have an outdoor eating area for when the sun's out, right smack dab in the middle of a bunch of medcial offices! Hilarious.
If I ever need a chili relleno fix, this is where I go. A side of fried plantains is just icing.
The mole is beyond good.
I love that this place is hidden. I love the casual atmosphere. The food is good, more solidly so than delicious. Pretty authentic Mexicano. I would give it another star but my burrito was VERY light on the chicken. It was tasty though. Also, don't get the ceviche, mostly onions and only one kind of fish.
I'll definitely go back to sit outside and try more of the menu at such an affordable price.
A small hometown favorite eatery tucked away almost secretly in a discrete building full of Chiropractors offices. Been here for many years, has a loyal following of Gerstle Park neighborhood regulars.
Ignore the Yelp listing for the 2nd outlet on Del Ganado in Terra Linda as it closed in 2004. At Casa Manana you get the empanandas, tamales, sopes, fried platanos that you see in Southern Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. Flavors are a bit more refined than in the native countries, been Anglo'ed up a bit.. Huevos ranchero are a good bet. The room is small, clean, unremarkable, service is casual. I've had lunch here 3 times over the past ten years. I don't go more often just because it's not on my usual route. Prices are low. If you can find the place under the lush cover of trees next to the creek, give it a try.
I love casa manana! The food is great, the women running it are even more AMAZING! I used to go here a lot when I lived in San Rafael, and the women still remember me even after 5 years!
My favorite, the tamale salvadoreno is amazing. I also love that it is hidden. You feel like you have discovered a porthole to Latin America!
Anyways, i always hit this place up when I am in town. Although well worth the drive! I ate an hour ago...and i am starving for some rice and beans...damn you yelp!
This place is a true hidden gem! It's inside a medical building, and you wouldn't even know it existed unless you've been inside. The food is delicious, and you feel very "in the know" when you're there.
It's like going to your aunt's place.
The service is attentive, and very much like being at your aunt's place, really. Try the excellent Enchilada Vallarta, and pupusas.
This is a restaurant for hard core foodies who are in "the know." You pretty much need someone to show you where it is because you will never find it otherwise. It is inside a medical office building... yeah, wierd... but the food is so outstanding you quickly don't care. Two sisters from Mexico own and run the place with its twelve or so tables. Sometimes they have a daughter making tortillas or frying chips. They serve the kind of Mexican food I haven't had since I lived and traveled through Mexico. They serve Mushroom enchiladas with homemade tomatillo sauce. They have out of this world rotating specials with inventive delicacies like walnut sauce chicken enchiladas with pomengranite and cojito cheese. They have a baked eggplant dish on the menu smothered with a tomato based enchilada sauce with melted cheese and served with home made black beans. They make their own aguas frescas and they have genuine hibiscus tea- the real deal. The food and the lazy energy reminds me very much of the lifestyle in the Yucatan. If you can find someone to show you where it is... GO! JUST GO!
The service here was awful! When I tried to call over the phone I was left on hold for over 4 minutes and then who ever forgot I was even waiting to order. When I showed up and was able to order they got my order wrong and forgot to include the rice and beans. I ended up paying for food I did not receive. They do not use gloves when handling any of the food or chips in fact it looks like they possible recycle their left over eaten chips? their to-go packaging was a disaster! They use flimsy dixie plates that ended up spilling all over the inside of the bag. The portions too small for what they charge. I can go anywhere in San Francisco and place the same order and receive a good sized meal, complete with what I actually ordered, take it home with out any spills, and rest assured that it can feed a regular adult. I am Salvadoran and I would never take anyone there for Salvadoran food! Ever!!!
This is one of the true foodie jewels in the Bay Area. I use to live in the neighborhood and I still go there when ever I'm in Marin. It's unpretentious and casual. It's about the food. They have a unique blend of El Salvadorean and native Mexican food. Their menu is diverse. I've never had a bad meal here in the 6 years I've eater here. The moles are really amazing. My favorite is the plantain enchiladas with mole sause. Everything is home made, fresh, and gives you the feeling of having a welcoming meal at a good friends home. To top it all off, the service is great and the prices are very modest. Can't beat that!
My husband and I love this place. Great food, Great service. We usually sit outside so that our son can run around the courtyard. We are usually out there by ourselves. I swear they never charge us for our son's food either.
I've eaten here dozens of times and never been disappointed. The place has a casual feeling, the food gets the attention of home cooking. Fancy it's not, but the mole sauce is very good, and as k .. said, excellent enchilada Vallarta and papusas. Friendly owner and staff, and for a relaxed neighborhood place to eat you can't beat the atmosphere.
Wow. So good! It is truly hidden away in the courtyard of a medical building. Very small and unpretentious... only 8 tables inside and 5 or 6 outside. We had the chili relleno and it was so good we ordered another. Also had the enchilada vallarta... my husband LOVED it. Their mole is awesome. The ladies who work there are so warm and accommodating. They made a special plate of chicken, rice and beans for my 3 year old son. Go there.... it's a gem.
San Rafael, CA
Category: Restaurants
San Rafael, CA
Category: Grocery
San Rafael, CA
Category: Mexican
San Rafael, CA
Category: Grocery
San Rafael, CA
Category: Mexican
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