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Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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What can I say, huge portions, down home style chinese/american cooking. It is what it is, and it taste so good, you get so much, and pay so little. The roast pork and oxtails are the best.
The only downside is they use MSG, but so do all chinese places...
A bunch of people at my office RAVED about the roasted pork. Oh it's so good! Oh it's so much food! Cheap, Cheap you have to try it!....
My coworker and I SPLIT 1 roasted pork plate.
Bite 1: Yum this is pretty good!
Bite 3: I'm going to need a cup of water!
Bite 4: Screw the cup, give me a gallon sized jug!
Bite 7: ughhhhh
10 minutes later.. full on pork coma, much worse than a mexican food coma. Seriously, nothing was accomplished for the rest of the day. If you think you can handle it, go for it. I prefer not to eat my salt with a little pork & have to nap on my desk.
For what it is, a hole in the wall establishment, it is very good. The roast pork is a little too salty for my taste but I can see the allure of coming here. The portions are ginormous. You can feed a family with one order. This place is like a buca di bepo of Chinese restaurants. I kid you not.
The price of this dish is 8 dollars which is really reasonable but this place is a total dive. Flies everywhere, plates laying all over the tables, it's sorta remind me of a soup kitchen.
The only reason why this place gets a four star is because of their roast pork and their portions. I don't think you should come here for anything else. I recommend ordering it to go. This is one of those type of restaurants where you have to experience at least once in your life. This might be the only time I will rate a restaurant 4 stars and not come back.
This cafe is a total hole in the wall. Not enough workers, so plates are left on the table. haha
I ordered the ox tail stew...the taste was okay but the portions were huge! If you are looking for cheap and good Chinese food, I definately would recommend HRD over Mariposa Cafe.
If you're a true foodie, you gotta go here. It's not a pretty place but the food is really good.
My buddy came by and picked me to head over there. I've been there before, but it's out of the way from my work Downtown SF.
All types of workers go there, postal, construction workers, cops and some office workers like myself make our way out there.
Oxtail stew is good, and of course the roast pork. Roast pork is awesome and the portions are HUGE!!! It's a bit salty like some of the Yelpers say, but man. It's still good stuff!
Not a pretty place, but good food and huge portions is a plus.
ROAST PORK ! ! !
Your mother tried to teach you better
Your girlfriend will think you're nasty (Unless she's cool)
And, you may become obese enough to be roasted yourself, and placed on the menu. Wait a minute, I thought that 'Pig,' tasted suspiciously farmiliar...and I haven't seen the fat guy next door in a few days !!!!???
Who cares, if they roasted off a saint here, it'd taste devilishly good, and i'd still go!
This is a small restaurant situated in the industrial area off 280 and 101. The location is somewhat out of the way if you don't work in the area and the place feels just like its name implies, a cafeteria.
But if you are a big meat eater and like your pork juicy, tender, flavorful, and absolutely cholestrol rising, then you have to visit Mariposa and order its daily special, Roast Pork with Rice for $8. What you get is a big plate with rice enough for 2 and a big heap of peppery roast pork. Your doctor probably has warned you about places and food like this.
Enter and enjoy at your own risk.
Huge portions for a very reasonable price. Everytime I've gone there I've gotten their roast pork "daily" special, which is actually available every day, and have been very satisfied every time.
If you're looking for place with romantic atmosphere or just anything other than a place to get a good hearty meal for a good price, you're at the wrong place. Go there and you'll see what I mean.
Oooh I wanted to like this place less than I did, even after giving them three stars last time. The lady "helping" me was dismissive - no egg whites, no french toast (even though the menu listed it) and when my pancakes eventually arrived, she didn't even get up to give them to me. I had to grab them off the counter myself.
But.
They adhered to my request for no butter, and for $2.75, I got two generously large pancakes. I know the gentleman in need of food at the corner, who was the recipient of the second one, would have wanted me to give a third star.
Not really a cafeteria...more like a chinese joint left from the 70s. Such an odd location, and I… Read more »
In reading about Euge's PigEatfest event (buy your tickets now) and not being able to attend, I've recently felt the need to fill this craving. For those "other white meat" lovers, this is the real deal. Don't try to compare it with Spruce's Pork tenderloin as this ain't a tablecloth kind of place. Don't think about bringing a date here or your reputation will forever be as cheapskate. Think of going into a time machine to the early 1970's and eating at a cafeteria (appropriately named) with furniture from your elementary school (heck, I think the plates and silverware are from there too). When you arrive, you'll see an immediate bustle of people rushing in and out as the cars and trucks (plumbers and contractors) double park outside. Inside, you'll see a mix of Muni drivers, deputies, and senior men ordering or dining; this place is no secret to most city employees. When you walk up to the counter, probably what Panda Express would have looked like in the 1960's, you order your food. Some people order from the variety of cooked foods (fried chicken, brocolli, stir fried chicken, deep fried dim sum, fried rice, chow mein, etc.), but most in the know just say, "Roast pork, please". The lady then instructs me to pass the rest of the line and advance to "Go" (the cashier); meanwhile, another lady stacks order after order on the side counter of ... guess what, Roast Pork.
In describing this dish in a finer restaurant, it would probably be described as Black Pepper Crusted Roast Loin of Pork served with Texas Long-grain rice and Stir fried cabbage ($8.00)... but don't order it this way or you'll just be slowing the line; if you are not fond of black pepper, you probably won't enjoy this as it is seasoned generously. I've also tried their wonton (only okay as pork filled and bland - $5.50) and ox tail (fatty pieces and not fall-off-the bone good).
All you need to know when you come here is two words... roast pork.
man! the roast pork, its off the hook !!!! the to go container must weigh at least 6 lbs. the first time i tried the roast pork, i felt like running up to the cashier and slap the hell out of her because it was so damn delicious !!!! its so damn good, it makes me angry !!! now i am pissed off because i want it now !!!
Eek! Save yourself. I tried this place when a coworker wanted to try a new cheap chinese place out. I didn't know what I was getting into. I'll give you the lowdown.
You pull up - I'm not worried about the neighborhood there are other decent spots near by but this place looks like a dump! There is plywood in the adjoining dining room window - I think they keep that part closed off. Inside no ambience whatsoever.
The food is a small selection of pre-cooked items similar to what you would find at a panda express but with only a few options and much less appealing or appetizing and your in that disgusting dining hole.
The cost is also outrageous. I was wishing I had gone to my old standby Eliza's near by where I can get a made to order plate of lunch food for $6 and be very satisfied - and pick from a full menu. Instead I got the $6, (2) item combo plate only to find out that rice was one of the items!!! WTF. If I didn't hate it from the outside (I did), and wasn't despising it from the interior (I was), I was pissed when I found that out. So I could either get broccoli (the only 'fresh' thing on the menu or some minced chicken with over saturated corn starch dressing that I think was supposed to be Kung Pao chicken.
BLECH. Save yourself and leave it to the highway patroll and DPT workers that fill the joint.
Gnar Gnar.
OK, I'm Asian, but I have a weakness for junky, greasy Chinese food. I've been jonesing for some junky Chinese food for weeks, so I was excited to stumble upon this place on a walk around my neighborhood.
Hubby and I (both vegetarians) ordered veggie chow mein and tofu/mixed veggies. When the total with drinks came to $18, I was a little pissed off . . . that is, until the food showed up.
DAMN! That's HELLA food, yo!
I've never seen so much freaking food on a plate. Seriously. You could feed 2 big guys with one plate . . . so the fact that it's $8 is besides the point. I ate less than 1/2 of my plate, had some for dinner, and still have more leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.
The veggies were tasty and fresh. Noodles were average quality - although, for junky Chinese, it was pretty damn good.
I'm definitely coming back.
I've been going here for atleast 10 years. Great place for cheap, tasty food. Portions are huge (they used to be even bigger), service is fast, prices are very reasonable.
May not be the best place for a lunch or dinner date. Everyone I have had try the ROAST PORK OVER RICE has loved it (even my wife) but I probably would not bring them there, they might feel differently the next time I ask them if they want to eat the yummy roast pork.
If you're going on a first date with a hot chick that you need to impress in order for her to go out with you again because girls don't usually go out with you a second time......this isn't the place for you. UNLESS, this first date of yours that you need to impress is in love with nice juicy pork goodness or loves to lick her fingers after using them to eat the stewy oxtails! Choose wisely.
I've been meaning to check this place out for awhile now and finally got the chance while heading out of the city on 280 at lunch time. The area is changing quite a bit but there are still a lot of warehouses and construction companies around so this place is jam packed with the workers. It's a no frills place with bench seating that looks really old but the place is surprisingly clean.
When you get in line, you have to look over at the front of the line for the specials of the day. Luckily today was roast pork and oxtails stew...just what I came for!
I was with my wife and we got one of each. Some of the other stuff in the cafe-style serving warmers looked pretty good too, but that will have to wait for next time. We didnt eat there because I didnt want my wife to feel eyeball-raped by the construction workers while eating so we got it to go. For two orders, the to-go bag weighed like 10lbs!! And the thing about it is that most places give you more rice than goodness, but this place is the opposite! Way more goodness than filler!
The pork is moist with peppery seasoning on the outside with a nice gravy. The oxtails are not bad, and also with a nice brown gravy. Both were satisfying and definitely way too much for the two of us. Those two orders probably could have fed 4 adults easily.
If you're in the area, or passing by on 280 like most people, and you're in the mood for a hefty portion of comfort food, I would definitely recommend it!
This is truly a hidden gem of San Francisco. Not a really well known place due to it's location. The really cater to the blue collar lunch crowd (my type of restaurant). Those guys always know the best places to eat. I used to come here once or twice a week when I worked in the city.
Their specialty and about the only thing I ever order from here is the roast pork. They slow roast it to perfection and add a heaping scoop of a tasty gravy. They serve it on a bed of cabbage with your choice of fried rice or steam rice. The cabbage is a perfect pair for the pork. If you're not a big eater, it's probably enough to feed you for lunch AND dinner. You know it's bad for you, but it's just so delicious you can't help but come back. I can't speak for the other dishes they offer pre-cooked, but it looks like your typical Chinese fast food.
Holy Crap. This is the best heart attack waiting to happen.
Prior to my visit here, my girlfriends father always let me, the human garbage compactor, eat the leftover roast pork. I always thought, man, this stuff is freaking great!
Fast forward 3 years, and I finally get my lazy butt out to try it fresh from the "cafeteria". OMG. One order was meant to feed 2 families for lunch and dinner. I'm exaggerating, a little, but my girlfriend, her mom, and dad shared 3 orders for lunch, dinner and lunch the next day. And that was after having Prime Rib for dinner the night before the first lunch. If that sounds gross, it probably was. It was worth it.
Four stars... but you need to read into this review.
A dive? No. More like a truck stop that specializes in exactly two things: roast pork and their oxtail stew. OK sure there is other stuff there too... but you only really go there for the roast pork and oxtail. Each rice plate was about $9 BUT... there is enough food in one of them to feed two average people. Big eaters might try to eat the whole thing, it's that good.
Don't be scurd. It's the best roast pork in the area!
It passed my dad test. He's a sucker for truck stop diners, and he was impressed by this one.
I laugh whenever I think about this place. How hidden-gem status is this? My dad took me here after his coworker took him here. And I was like...
WTF. There's a Muni street bus parked in the street-alleyway.
Apparently that Muni bus driver lovers "Mariposa Cafeteria", as do tons of other blue collar workers. And hey, I didn't mind. Obviously we're here to grub out with amazingly cheap food.
And so you don't pay for the service, or the server's paitence.
Black Guy: "Could I get a little bit more rice with that?"
Irrited Chinese Lady Server: "WHA AT!?"
Black Guy points to the rice. "Just a little more."
She scoops a bigass pile onto his plate.
Black Guy: "Oh no, ma'am, not that much..."
Lady: "SAAH! Why you make me mean?"
Uhhh...
Well, anyway, they have barely legible daily specials, but the roast pork is always a good bet (and it's their specialty, apparently). For an $8 plate you can certainly feed 2, a huge portion dumped onto your plate. I would also recommend the ox-tail which is de-lish.
I wrote a review a year ago about this place, just kidding it was only 2 months ago. All I have to say, is that since then. I've been back numerous times that I don't even remember how many times I went. I even told my friend about it and he enjoys the roast pork here as well. Everytime I come to this place I always seem to see one person at least in the dining area as a possible friend that was recommended this joint. I must say it never seems to fail me, but the roast pork is pretty consistant tasting from all the times I've been back.
I wanted to step out of the box and try some other things out. So one day I ordered up the Oxtail Special. To my surprise, I was thinking that this might be some good eats, but to my dismay it was just okay. It was nothing to rave about. The leftovers that were brought home just tasted fatty and just not good, but I don't know if that's how it's supposed to taste then great. I'm not an oxtail connoisseur, but I've only had several pieces of it in Chinese claypots, but not in great quantities that they give you here.
However, I recently went there two days ago and I ordered up some Chow Mein, Roast Pork, and Sweet and Sour Pork for only $6.75. Not only can I get more variety by ordering this way, but it's a buck cheaper. The special order of the roast pork at $7.75 is no doubt worth it, but you only get plain rice and cabbage. Ordering through the deli style counter allows you to pick and choose different things so that when you come here numerous times, you can have a little variety.
There is a whole chalkboard menu that you can choose from, but in my overall experience one must have the roast pork once or twice or what the heck 10 times.
Overall, this place is worth telling your friends about. Parking can be difficult to find at times when it's peak lunch time since everyone and their mommas comes here. Also be sure to get here early, because one time my friend and I came at 1pm and they were all sold out of the roast pork.
***I posted pics of what the oxtail dish looks like if you are wondering what it looks like***
Ok this is my first official Yelp review, but hopefully I will Yelp the rest of my favorite joints… Read more »
Thanks to Yelp for adding the updated feature to bring up to date my older reviews. Whenever I needed to work in the industrial area of Third Street, this is definitely one of my "go to" lunch spots.
Many of you know me and know I love to eat in high-volumes. And this place indeed does just that. One of my favorite lunch plates and one of the restaurant's most popular dishes is the Roast-Pork. For $7.95, you get a heaping scoop of charred Roast Pork with large scoops of steamed white rice and cabbage served in a platter-like plate. This is not any roast pork dish you get in anywhere. The pig's meat is very tender and the crusty outer-layer has a burst of crunch. This meal can easily feed two people (as long as one of them is not Matt G). To get your moneys worth, eat your meal in-house instead of taking "to go", because you get more of everything and your plate will be piled "mountain-high" plus the friendly Cantonese-speaking ladies behind the kitchen-counter are not shy to give you more.
The restaurant also serves Chinese food and has a 1-3 item combo lunch plates ranging from $5-$7.00. My second favorite item from here is the mini Garlic Chicken Wings. You get a six-pack of these babies; you will be one happy-puppy for lunch.
This place is "cash only" and only opens for breakfast and lunch. It is also open on Saturdays for those of you who would like to check this place out. If you're hungry and ready to eat, then this is your place. This place is not suitable for diet-freaks
MUST READ AND GO THERE!!!
The smokey Roast pork over rice for lunch is the meal of choice at this…
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A firefighter took me here and the food was delicious. The portions are OOC (out of control) large! We split a bbq pork dish and we couldn't finish. The meat is cooked perfectly. It's fatty and the skin is bbq crisp!
Not open for dinner
This place sucks... My can of Coke was the best part of the meal.
You wanna get fat and hang out blue collar folks, this is your spot.
4.5
( o o ) OINK OINK!!
i say "ma ree bbo ssa"
he says "mariposa ... "
mariposa is a spanish word for butterfly ...
i'm from LA ... and i appreciate and acknowledge one's culture. for ie, for the word KIMCHI, i ain't gonna say "KIMCHI" when it's really "GIMCHI" and/or for the word "TORTA" i ain't gonna say "TORTA" when it's really "DDORRR DDA" like the way you're supposed to say it .. ya know, roll the T and the R ... ya kno what i mean?!?
i ain't gonna speak "all white and shit" when it's really supposed to be pronounced "ma ree bbosa" *shrugs*
man, this be some good shit, the best of the best hole in the wall of sf EVER ... and the dingiest place EVER YET... you'd NEVER see me eat and chill here, just simply eat and get the heck out ...
most of the farts who were there were literally construction workers within the area ...
it literally blew me over the top tho... THE FOOD THAT IS... he even said, "ill give you everything i own if you could finish your plate ... " given that im the biggest pig alive, i was surprised that i had eaten forevers and i still had leftovers, and i'm the queen of eating ... rawr! i kid you not, this place is not even IN sf ... well it is, but it's kinda in the boondocks, near these construction places ... you pick your plate and you be like, "the heck? is this 10 lbs of food or somethin?"
the juiciest oxtail i've ever had ...
if he hadn't taken me, i'd probably have ordered the typical, the usuals but this isn't your everyday chinese joint. not only were the women friendly and smiling, but if you're absolutely clueless, check out their daily specials but i insist their oxtail was to die for ... their roast pork was quite good too but a bit salty for me tastebuds.
i literally ate animal style, eating with my hands at times... the oxtail was seriously dripping with so much juice and OH, WAS IT EVER SO YUMMY AND TENDER...
.5 for the oddest hours ... this is ONE place i'd be coming for sure if it was within walkin distance ... =D
OINK
( o o ) (my piggy nose)
OINK OINK!!
*burrrp* (wow, that was GOOOOOOD)
(rubs belly)
Oink Oink, need I say more? The Roast pork is delicious and huge order, must be half of Pork Butte in every order. I am just a little worry that this much cholesterol might give me a heart attack.
Update: Went back yesterday lateR in the afternoon and the woman gave me grease soaked roast pork and small quantity. I really think this place is not worth the grease and it is filthy.
Good...the Poooooork is da bomb. The lunch plate will easily feed two, although judging by the blue collar crowd, that would be frowned upon. This is truck stop meets chinese fast food. The abiance leaves quite a bit to be desired however it is ALWAYS ABOUT THE FOOD, if you want art the SFMOMA is about a mile and half away. Leave the women folk at home and drag the boyz down here.
When I desire something less than 10000 calories on a plate PORK. I go for the fried chicken drummets, 50 cents a piece and rice is a buck. Thick battered with just the right touch of crispiness and spice. Just finished a six pack and I am a happy camper.
Bad...your cardiologist will hate you, but hey the new UCSF Coronary facility is just down the street on 3rd, I bet they'll take good care of you.
You should only order one thing here, no matter what it says on the board of specials or what's on the steam table- the roast pork. You have not had roast pork unless you've had the roast pork from here, which isn't quite Chinese in style nor American. I guess you could say its Chinese-America, but whatever you decide to call it, its just amazing, tender and delicious.
It's a freaking miracle that they have such just great pork because Mariposa Cafeteria is kind of a cross between a dump and a hole in the wall. From the outside, you can barely tell that the place is open, considering a lack of signs, but the giveaway at the height of the lunch hour are the huge number of cars parked in front. The windows are so dingy that I could not see in and things don't improve much once you get in through the door. Things don't look like they've been changed since the early 80's, but whatever the proprietors saved by not improving the decor goes into giving you a massive meal. They will pile on the pork, which is fairly lean, on a huge bed of rice and cabbage. They then dump on a peppery, brown gravy sauce- no idea what's in it, but so, so good.
Each meal is about $8 and change. If you're a hungry, burly blue-collar worker (the vast majority of diners here), there's a very good chance you'll finish the entire meal, but for most "normal" people, there's more than enough food to feed two people per dish.
Make sure that you get there before 12:30 pm because they do run out of roast pork pretty quickly. There's nothing worse than craving the roast pork here, going in and smelling it, and then having them sell the last plate of pork to the person in front of you. Arrgghh! Apparently the ox tails are good as well, but its always the roast pork for me.
Alrighty, look....here are the facts:
ROAST PORK = CRACK for my kids
PRICE: $7.75 out the door CASH ONLY!
HOURS AND AVAILABILITY: Place opens at 8am for breakfast?, but Roast Pork generally not ready until 9:30-10:00am and frequently sells out by 1:00-1:30pm. Yep, it's THAT GOOD!
SERVINGS: 1 order of Roast Pork so huge, can feed 3 hungry kids or 2 adults (and my little carnivores can EAT!!) We usually get 2 orders for the 4 of us and literally have leftovers. I'm so nice I take a 3rd order to my ex and her hubby every time....their salivating and drooling are all the thanks I need!!
AMBIANCE: Yep, it's dingy and dated in there, but it's clean. Board of Health report on the wall by the register says so, too. Not the fancy spot you'd take a client or your in-laws to if you want to impress, however.
CLIENTELE: Blue collar mostly. You'll see Muni bus drivers, truck drivers, City construction workers, police officers, Highway Patrol, firefighters mostly.
STAFF: Stern and terse, but not disrespectfully so....it's by design methinks...to keep you from having to wait too long in line. Good food and fast service...we usually take it to go. ** BONUS: Visit often enough and you'll even earn a smile from one or two of the cute Asian gals behind the counter. :)
OTHER FAVORITES: Potstickers are smallish, but YUMMY! You can't beat $3.00 for a dozen.
IN SUMMARY: Don't pass up the Roast Pork Special. There's a reason it's been their best seller daily for over 2 decades!!
Not the kind of the usual Chinese roast pork but it is flavorful, and lots of it. It does not have the usually crackling skin and fat, more like pulled pork without the sauce. The oxtail is good. And they charge more for it. It has a very good flavor and is tender and moist. They cut it thinner so it is easier to bite and get all the flavorful meat. I'd like the recipe for the hot sauce they have in a plastic pitcher you help yourself with. It's so flavorful I thought there was pig fat in it but it didn't gel so it couldn't be it. This is not a place one would stumble into and it is definitely not a first-date place. You won't go hungry for sure.
Roast Pork over rice with brown gravy... get anything else and your on your own. The portions are big enough to serve two. I was sceptical on reviewing this spot.. as it is one of my secret lunch hole in the walls. Get there early because they sell out of the pork fast. Don't eat there unless you like to sit next to... well, you'll see.
You come here for the Roast Pork. Everything else is okay. Yeah, of course, its a greasy dive. What do you expect being out in the middle of nowhere?
The Roast Pork is their biggest seller. It is succulent and always cooked just right with just enough black pepper and gravy. It comes with cabbage and rice. The dish is about 7 bucks and is enough for a small family.
Im telling you...its all about the Roast Pork at this place.
We heard about this place from several people, so we decided to give it a try. It's your typical hole in the wall, need to know it's there to go, type of place. Fast food Chinese really.
I ordered the chicken chow mein and hubby ordered the Chinese pork fried rice and a bottle of water. After we paid, we found a sticky table and patiently waited for our food. The jokes I had heard about one of the employees sweeping under the tables, even if you're sitting there, were all true.
My chicken chow mein came out pretty quickly. It was good (which earned this one star I'm giving), but nothing to rave about. Not much I can say about a typical chicken chow mein dish. It would be pretty bad if anyone screwed that up.
So, we wait. And we wait. And we wait. Finally my husband goes to the counter to inquire about his fried rice and the bottle of water. The two women behind the counter rudely banter with each other about the order and whether or not my husband had paid. They were doing this in Chinese. Surprise on them, the girl waiting patiently with her husband understood all of it and tells them loudly that we did pay and we want our fried rice - back at them in Chinese. Shocked that I understood every rude thing they said - we got our rice within 5 minutes. We just packed it to-go and left.
Been there, done that. Never again. I guess certain things are good, because the place had a fair amount of people there. And I must admit, we were warned about the bad service. But still...
This place is a shit hole. Seriously, like a HARDCORE shit hole. I ain't denying that. Let's call a spade a spade. Huh? What does that mean? Like the Ace of Spades is supposed to be the Ace of Clubs? WHY DO PEOPLE SAY SUCH NONSENSICAL THINGS?!?! I don't get it. I digress. On with the review.
First off, it's in a low one-story converted industrial building, with the front area set up with rickety tables and plastic chairs like a cafeteria (a *real* cafeteria) and the back with with signs of Pepsi logos from the 70s, which is clearly the last time the interior of this place has been remodeled. The walls are decorated with Victorian-esque wallpaper with flowers, and wood paneling that at times is painted red, and at other times is not painted at all.
Second off, the ladies who work here (they're all Chinese) aren't the friendliest, nor the most attentive, nor really the most ept people you've come across. They're there to do their job and that's what they do - scoop you inexpensive and low-quality Chinese food and take your money. And grudgingly give you water when you ask for it.
Third off, it's located smack-dab in what could essentially be the middle of nowhere in San Francisco, just east of the Potrero Hill projects and south of the charming part of the Dogpatch in an industrial zone off Third Street. No Yelpers randomly end up here because they "heard about it on Yelp," I guarantee that. We're not going to get a barrage of reviews that start off with "I was in the neighborhood and I remember reading about all the great reviews so I just decided to drop in." No, you come here with a purpose.
That purpose is, if you read the other reviews, the Roast Pork Special. They have other offerings in the form of a Chinese food steam table and noodle soup and whatnot, but probably 8 out of 10 customers (and the customers are construction workers, industrial employees, Caltrans employees, i.e the EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE SF YELP YUPPIE) at this lunchtime joint were gnoshing on this DELECTABLE AND SALTY MOUNTAIN OF ROASTED BARBECUE PORK MEAT STACKED MAYBE 6 INCHES OFF THE TABLE served over a bed of cabbage and a large serving of rice and poured with gravy (see here: http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I mean, when the sign on the left next to the cash register says
Monday Special: Roast Pork
Tuesday Special: Roast Pork
Wednesday Special: Roast Pork
etc.
And when signs all point to the roast pork, well, I think I'm going to go with the Roast Pork. After all, I am incapable of any original thought and I am but an open wallet consumer to the power of subtle suggestion and underground marketing. Which is why I LOVE YELP!
The Roast Pork Special Meat Stack was tender, flavorful, fatty but not gristly, and balanced perfectly with the cabbage and rice. Might this be the best SOUTHERN BARBECUE STYLE ROASTED PORK in the City? I declare it so.
And you might very well agree but well, you probably will never know, because this place is a shit hole out in the boonies of San Francisco. But it's my shit hole. And it's everyone else's who couldn't give a fuck about decor or ambiance or service or scenes or trends, because at the end of the day, this shit hole will give you a MOUNTAIN OF DELICIOUS STACKED ROASTED PORK for 7 bucks. And that's really all that matters in this case - me and my pork mountain.
clenching my pockets and walking humbly in, i felt completely outta place; there i stood at the doorway with my nice jeans and tshirt while being surrounded by a rough crowd of bikers, construction workers, social workers with their "parolee" and the occasional vagabond.
Fearing that a single false move, a wrong look or even my presence next to the wrong person would create an event that could easily break into an all out bar brawl at this asian establishment, i quickley shuffled to the line so i could order and get the hell out and then brag to all friends about how much of a "G" i was entering a rough place like that (of course with a few exaggerated details).
When i arrived at the front, i ordered the roast pork and forgot to say to-go....fearing that this would be my last meal, i sat down and began eating.....
This would have been the best last meal EVER!!!! There was a mountain of food!!! i wanted to yodle from the top of it!!! THE PORTIONS AND TASTE ARE HUGE!!!!
SOO EFFINGG GOOODD!!!
as for the people around me, all were really nice, never judge a book by its covers, this cafeteria style place brings people together; black with asians, asians with whites, blue-collared workers with white collared workers, white-collared workers with no-collar workers
its sorta like the olympics, it brings people together in peace and FOOD!
That was my first impression, now i go all the time!!
GO THERE!!
According to my friends, my original rating was too harsh. I DO eat here pretty regularly, but it is still filthy, rude, and really poor ambience. It gets another star (3), instead of my original 2, because it's got really huge portions.
Here's the ORIGINAL review, though.
DON"T bring; first dates, significant others, nice clothing, but, bring your APPETITE. There is a dress code, so don't exceed it! A blue collar crowd that needs hearty meals. The "suits" that sometimes "slum it" down here really look like dorks.
This place serves some of the largest portions in town. Skip the traditional Chinese food; chow mien, fried rice, etc. The fried egg rolls (good) are almost as large as a Mission Street burrito. The attraction is the Chinese "soul food"; roast pork or oxtail stew w/gravy on rice. It takes a large appetite to finish one of these plates.
This place is filthy, the service can be rude, but check out the long lines during lunch time. If you're picky about such things, try take out.
Sorry, only 2 stars because it would be only one, if the food wasn't so plentiful. Quantity over quality. My wife wouldn't eat here, after seeing the OUTSIDE of the place - she didn't even see the inside, yet.
incredible roast pork and cabbage over rice. but there is no way any sane person should use the restroom here BEFORE lunch or your appetite is zeroed out. Dept Public Health inspectors must get free roast pork over rice lunch plates for looking the other way.
but back to the roast pork.
you go to Santa for the ramen
you go to Fat Apple's for cheese puffs
you go here for the roast pork. it is well seasoned, has great texture and is piled on in mounds.
one dish will serve two people.
there is a chalkboard with two items on the special board - roast pork and oxtail stew. funny thing is the monday special is the same as tuesday and so on...
it must be special.
and it is.
either way you can't lose to flavor and quantity on both of these dishes.
I have this strange love for cafeteria style restaurants. Brennan's in Berkeley, Tad's Steakhouse, Veloce, etc. So when I did a casual search for restaurants in the Potrero Hill area and saw the words "Mariposa Cafeteria" and "Roast Pork," I knew I had found a winner.
One of my co-workers said she wanted to get a salad but I said "Fuck that, no one is getting in the way of my sweet sweet roast pork." We almost didn't go because we kept getting lost (note: turn onto 26th, you can't turn onto 25th and get there). This place is GHETTO and the DIVIEST OF DIVES. It's definitely catered towards the working folk. I shudder to think what their health inspection rating is but goddamn, that doesn't matter because..
THE ROAST PORK OVER RICE IS SO GODDAMN DELICIOUS IT ALMOST MAKES ME CRY!
The dish is a bit pricey ($7.75) but it could seriously feed two (or three) people. The chunks of pork are huge, flavorful, and covered in spices and gravy. There's also a layer of cabbage to help push the pork through. The Chinese ladies behind the counter looked pissed off and were probably talking about us but I don't really care cause that's how my people roll.
Hate to shift away from my typical Marina/FiDi rants, but this Asian plate lunch joint is worth a mention.
Think Hawaii meets dive bar meets Chinese restaurant meets truck stop. The place is dingy and on the lines of a hole in the wall BBQ joint. It's like, order, eat, burp, and get the hell out.
Like a poor man's Cheesecake Factory, the size of the portions are almost unbelievable. It's one of those places where I feel like I'm robbing THEM money. The prices were cheap - average $5-7 dollars for regular orders and maybe $7 for the daily specials, depending on the item.
I got the roast pork over rice. It was like 'what part of the pig did you NOT give me?' I mean, easily 2 to 3 lbs of good rib meat. No bones. Sliced against the grain like a sushi chef. Poured over another pound of steamed rice. I kid you not, my leftovers today are equal to two servings elsewhere. And if you think I flirted with the expediter, think again - she was pretty. Pretty decrepit.
But the meat was flavorful. Musta been BBQ'ed on a rack. Because each over-sized piece was succulent and juicy. Seasoned with fine Chinese spices and then rubbed with coarse black pepper, the exterior was SO tasty. Thrown on a bed of steamy rice and boiled cabbage, sloshed with special Chinese BBQ sauce, this was definitely one of the more fun eating experiences I've had in a long time in regards to divey Chinese food.
We also ordered the prawn with [wet] egg over rice. That was pretty good too. Same BBQ drippings on top. Maybe 8 or 9 pieces of shrimp on another brick of steamed rice. If y'all don't know, don't let 'wet egg' fool ya. It sounds a little gross, but if you had runny eggs like in an eggs benedict, you'll love this wet egg.
Definitely going back to this place. If it's worth anything, we actually saw David Louie from Channel 7 news come in for take out. You know if his news castin' ass is in here, it's gotta be at least decent.
Minus one star for the cashier winking at me with her good eye. jk
My coworkers all liked this place. For me, i don't think i enjoy as much. I had one of their specialties: the roast pig w/ cabbage lunch over rice. For $8 the portion were huge. i can eat this order for lunch and dinner, if you split the cost for two meals, i guess it is cheap enough. But The pork is way too salty and way too much black pepper. I like strong taste and i can handle a lot more salty food than most of my friends. For me to say it is too salty, you can imagine what i mean by that. I also tried another of their specialty: Ox tail. compare to the roast pork, this is a bit plain in taste. Despite my feeling toward this place, the whole time we were there, the line never ended, i guess ppl liked the food a lot more than i do. It has been more than 2hrs since i had the lunch, i still have this after taste of salt left in my mouth, as a matter of fact... i think i need more water now....... again........
Whenever i'm at my parent's office, i always have to stop by here for lunch. They're cheap, huge portions, and the food is actually pretty damn good for the industrial district. The number one item to get at the place is the roast pork over rice. They give you a MOUNTAIN size portion of both rice and pork. I'm a big guy and i can usually only eat about 1/2 to 3/4 of it. The chicken is really good as well...along with the fried rice.
This place is always packed at lunch time. Don't eat at this place to often though, might be a bit too greasy for an everyday meal.
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