On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Latin American, Mexican [Edit]
Neighborhood: Potrero HillLunch Review:
I decided to come here when I passed by one day to my beloved Kitchenette and saw how busy it was. Checking the yelp reviews I decided on the pupusas with the watermelon agua fresca.
The pupusas were good but not great. I made the classic girl mistake and ordered too little not knowing what to expect. For that I had to salivate over all the delicious food being brought to tables around me. The tortilla soup and chile relanos looked to die for though, so I figured I made the ordering mistake. Always a next time
Two stars for the watermelon aqua fresca. My jaded butt figured it was going to be a small 8oz drink, as I'm use to the overpriced Mission burritos spots. However, I was pleasantly surprised when he handed me a 20oz beautiful, not too icy serving of "deflate your floatie, summers over" heart wrenching watermelon goodness. Delicious!
Two stars for the awesome prices...Two pupusas and a 20oz fresca for $6.45? Amazing. I will definitely be back.
Honorable mention for the T line coming as I was leaving. I love it when that happens!
Date & Time: Thursday July 23, 2009 @ 6:45pm To Go Since they Close @ 7pm
Company: Michael
Crowd: Packed w/ Bay City Bikers
Vibe: Chill
Decor: Small Space w/ Tables for Dos & Quattro
Service: Efficient
Imbibe: Canteloupe & Watermelon Agua Fresca
Devour: Plantanos Con Crema, Pupusas, Chile Relleno, Flan
Skip: Yucca Frita Con Chicharon
Total: $33.47
People thought this was:
Awesome pupusas! Of the various places I've tried around the city, these are my favorite so far. They don't offer rice flour as an option (which I would normally go for), but they're light enough as it is so it doesn't matter -- yay! Nice not feeling like I have a brick in my stomach after lunch, though I am nonetheless extremely stuffed.
Had one with chicken, beans, & cheese and a daily special with jalapeno & cheese, both delicious. Also sampled my dining companion's steak & cheese (more like mince, yum) and pork, beans, & cheese. We shared a panucho, and it had huge chunks of chicken, big slices of pickled onion, and lots of chopped romaine on a very crispy bean-stuffed shell. It was quite impressive compared with other panuchos I've had before, but it was a bit difficult to eat because of all the large components. I felt more like I was trying to eat a chicken salad with the shattered pieces of shell playing the part of croutons.
The only thing I probably wouldn't bother ordering again is the shrimp taco, and even then only because of the price: $4.25 for a taqueria-style taco that had four seasoned shrimp on it and a smattering of whole black beans. According to the menu, it was also supposed to have salsa and guacamole on it, but I forgot about that part until we had already finished it. Still, though -- for that much money, I'd rather kick down another quarter and get two more pupusas!
People thought this was:
I have been wanting to check The New Spot out for awhile. I don't know why it took so long. I am kicking myself for all of the yummy-ass food I could have been eating all this time.
We started with chips, salsa and guacamole. These items are important and tell a lot about a place. The chips were perfect, crispy homemade vehicles for the super fresh and perfectly seasoned salsa and guacamole. (I mean fresh- even the oregano was fresh!)
The aguas frescas were phenomenal. They actually tasted like the fruits they were named after and were not too sweet. There was actually fruit in the drink, like they had just crushed the fruit and not done much else. Super refreshing and not cloying sweet as they so often are.
Although we came for the Yucatecan food we had heard the Pupusas were not to be missed. The more the merrier, right? So I ordered 2 (one cheese/spinach and one cheese/bean) They were super light and delicious. The ratio of more filling to less masa was perfect in my opinion - perhaps a little less traditional or perhaps they are just more generous with the good bits (ie the filling). Either way they make for less of a masa gut bomb.
My fiance ordered one of the platos fuertes. It looked like grilled, achiote marinated chicken. It was super juicy, good meat and a very respectable size with rice, beans and tortillas.
Now to what we were really there for --
My fiance is from the Yucatan and we are both huge fans of Panuchos - a Yucatecan delight.
I have eaten them everywhere from hole in the wall restaurants, to underground kitchens, to my fiances families' kitchens, to my own kitchen. I am a total fanatic.
Having read the other reviews here I have a feeling that panuchos are not that well known - people are missing out!
They are hand made tortillas that are patted on the comal (griddle) so that they puff up like a pita. The pocket is filled with pureed black beans and then shallow fried till nice and crispy. This tasty bean filled crispy goodness is then topped with shredded achiote roasted chicken, seasoned cabbage (cabbage is way better than lettuce), tomato, pickled onions and a really generous amount of fresh green avocado. It is very important to add some of their xxxxxtra hot habanero salsa. but beware the x's don't lie.
Every time I eat panuchos I say "I think these are my favorite ones" but this time I may have really meant it and wasn't just saying it because I was happy to be eating panuchos period.
What makes The New Spot different is in the details. The super fresh ingredients (right down to the herbs), the homey preparation (crushed fruit bits in the aguas frescas), the perfect execution of all the accouterment (perfect pink pickled onions, xxxxxtra hot sauce etc) the super sweet staff and the love they put into the food.
You can tell they are proud of the food they serve, and they should be.
I never know what the special of the day is going to be and I don't care because it will good---it's solid happy warmth will permeate my beaten down body after a morning of bureaucratic hand to hand combat and revitalize my spirit for further combat. Last week, it was a pureed plantain soup with shredding chicken---notes of rich starchy sweet potato, mixed with umame from the chicken and elegant, fragrant spicing notes when I take the lid off in the lunch room with my carry out---the smell wafting in the hallway, my coworkers leaving their desks and coming over to find out what is creating a sudden reminder in their own stomach that they are hungry...
I wish this restaurant was in my neighborhood and would replace any one of 5 utterly fraudulent Mexican places with its authentic Central American goodness.
As a friend who actually HAS a Central American grandmother says---"that lady in back---she can cook".
Indeed she can.
(other notes; small place, crowded at lunch, friendly counter staff, they will take call in orders for take out at lunch---and there's no where to park. Oh well, it's all worth it).
Damn, talk about a good day. Lunch at Il Cane Rosso followed by dinner at The New Spot.
I had heard a thing or two about this place and having recently hit up their sandwich spot Oralia's just over on 3rd I wanted to give this place a go.
I had read a glowing 2nd chance review from Tablehopper and was dying to get over and try the pupusas (Quesadilla you've got some serious competition).
The pupusas are $2.25 each with a min order of 2 and take about 10 mins or so to come out.
And they come out hot and tasty! with a salsa and heavy vinegar based cowl slaw.
I had the pork & cheese, bean & cheese and chicken & cheese and they all were really good, but the bean & cheese and pork & cheese were the standouts.
I also had to try the super taco (hard shell) with carne asada. The was the best hard shell I have had thus far in San Francisco. And I have been trying and hunting all over the place for good hard shell tacos.
I thought the carne asada was good, but have had better. All in all this baby was a really good taco. Fully covered with beans and sour cream spilling out of the taco joined by a tasty side of guac, this taco was so unexpectedly good I can't even tell you.
Very solid eatery. Food is very tasty, and reasonably priced. Small restaurant, but with a fair number of tables and chairs.
I've gone there twice now, and have been very happy both times.
The first time I went, I got chicken enchiladas with red sauce at the discretion of the cashier. They were very good enchiladas. I got beans and rice as my sides, and they were solid. I think my friend got fish tacos (grilled fish, not fried); whatever he got, he said it was good.
The last time I went, I got a beef chimichanga. I very big and I was stuffed to the brim after finishing it off. The steak was well flavored, but a little more cooked than I'd like. Still it was very good and the chimichanga was very crispy and not greasy. This time I got rice and fried yucca as sides. The rice was a little dry but once I added a couple spoons of salsa and mixed it in, it was great. This was my first time eating fried yucca; it's a like a very starchy potato without much taste and it came with this ketchup salsa hybrid dipping sauce. It was interesting and like the chimichanga was crispy and not greasy. My friends got a chicken chimichanga and fish tacos, both were satisfied with their meals.
Price is reasonable running about $10 for a very filling lunch meal that will make you really want to take nap around 2-3. They charge you $1 for a small basket of chips and salsa. Though not a big deal, I'm used to just getting chips with my meal without having to order them, but maybe that's just me. The only other thing that I could wish for is that they were more generous with the salsa, but that might be because I could drink salsa if given the opportunity. Next thing on the menu for me pupusas, which seem to be a popular choice after looking through the reviews.
Let me tell you about this new spot I found for lunch.
My coworker and I drove all the way down 3rd from Bayshore which is through the heart of Hunters Point looking for a new spot to eat. Pickins are slim, let me tell you.
This new spot is a block away from Hard Knox and gets way much less pub. Add in the warm colored pastel walls, Latin folk art, and you got yourself a real homely place for lunch.
This new spot has some really good authentic grub. My buddy Clarence ordered up the chile relleno, his wife is El Salvadorean and he said it's really close to what he eats when he's at the in-laws. A huge green chili filled with ground beef and cheese, then smothered in some red sauce. He even said the rice was authentic El Salvadorean style with the vegetables and it being a different red color and flavor from Mexican rice. Huge plus in his book and he said he would be taking his wife here sometime soon.
I went with the daily Friday special - crab enchiladas ($8)
http://static.px.yelp....
Oh dude, they weren't shady with the crab either. A good amount of real crab, none of that florescent red dye #23 imitation crab meat here. No sir.
Also had to try their pupusas, they are #2.25 each with a minimum order of two. Ordered up up a reveulta (pork, refried beans, and cheese) and a cheese/chicken one.
http://static.px.yelp....
The best thing about these pupusas is that they came out piping hot, tons of flavor, and they weren't greasy at all. Their homemade salsa was delicious as well, interesting part was that the salsa came out warm like they had just roasted the salsa ingredients and then salsa'd it up. I think I want to try their chicharrón pupusa next.
Oh, they also serve brown nice as this new spot.
People thought this was:
This place rocks!
I had everyone of the pupusas and I cant wait to go back. I WILL eat everything on the menu. I look forward to having room for dessert!
Viva the NEW SPOT!!!
People thought this was:
This place is great. The pupusas were a great change of pace and pretty good. But the banana dessert (I forget the name of it) was amazing!!!
Service is nice and friendly.
People thought this was:
A very small restaurant, the owners and limited staff work really hard to make the dining experience enjoyable. Their use of space is really well thought out considering and the lunch line can be a long one if not timed right. I recommend ordering ahead for pick up if you have the option.
They even have an oversize McCaw mural painting inside, so what more do you need? Oh yeah... maybe the option of a Pupusa or a Burrito with all of the fixings. Yum!
Thank god for great MexAmer close to home, especially bc they have THE best hot salsa and side salsas I have had in months, maybe years!
The salsa I refer to is I believe, their 'habanero' which is served in ketchup squeezies upon request. It is mild orange in color but will ROCK your mouth. Very hot but the good hot that enhances flavors and has a short burn.
Pupusas, minimum order two, $2.25 each. Had the two veggie options and was delighted. Not floating in cooked a while ago grease. The enchilada style sauce they serve them with could use a do-over, but with the small cabbage slaw condiment, the pupusas are a hearty snack or lite meal. YUM.
Second time I got a burrito to see how they did. Got the Super without meat and cream and it was about $5 plus some change, total. WOW, that was a great recession buster! Big size for sure. BUT, well, SF is a burrito snob town, and everyone has their favorites, but here are my thoughts.
Love the Brown Rice option but I tried the red rice to see how they did the traditional. It is red and fluffy, but has virtually no stand alone seasoning. The amount of pinto beans was very small esp. in contrast to the mountain of rice. Next time I will request equal or bean heavy.
Certainly not gooey with cheese, sadly, but enough to satisfy.
Their chips are free of charge but seriously lacking. Ended up throwing mine away. Still like the chips at Cactus Tacqueria in Rockridge the best.
Take away side salsas were super swell and actually, I will come back bc of the salsa. The aforementioned HOT ORANGE seems truly homemade, but that could be good preparation.
The staff is very friendly and helpful, eats their own food and the two times I have been there, it has been very clean.
Delicious and an amazing value! Came here for lunch and was blown away by the generous pupusas ($2.25 each comes with a slaw and salsa). I got a simple bean and cheese but it was delicious. I also had the taco salad (a disappointment elsewhere) and it was super fresh - romaine lettuce with grilled chicken and great salsa dressing.
Owners are super friendly and it is very clean inside. Great for lunch!
People thought this was:
I was in the area and I passed on a burrito truck because I figured I'd find some local flavor.
Finally found a restaurant--The New Spot.
Service was quick and attentive. Ordered from the counter and they served me my burrito fast. (This was after lunch time). (Table was dirty where I sat even though there was a knife and fork setting on it...???)
Hungry as heck but as I started eating it I thought, hmm...this ain't a burrito I'm used to. Finished it. Didn't think it tasted the greatest (had the al pastor).
Should have got the burrito from the truck.
P.S. Didn't feel so great in the morning if you know what I mean.
I work in the Dogpatch, and finding good food in that area is sometimes difficult.
This place has a clever name (although I don't know how people will feel about their name once they've been around for a couple years). I got a couple tacos here and I really liked them; it wasn't anything amazing but they were definitely good. The food was ready quickly after ordering, and service was friendly.
These guys are doing great so far in my book! It's really nice to have a new place to eat in the Dogpatch.
This is a review by a vegetarian
Ok, we're now up to $6 in SF for a veggie burrito sans cheese & avocado. Meh. Have no idea if it's "authentic" but I don't like zucchini in my veggie burrito. The separate bowl of spicy sauce saves this from being 2 stars.
People thought this was:
The New Spot has decent Mexican/Salvadorian Food. That's right, decent-solid, not amazing as some people claim.
New Spot has many pluses. The first is the price range. This place is a steal, so if you are in the 'hood and need a hot spot with out breaking the bank, hit up New Spot in the quickness. Also they have huge portions, so for six or seven dolla's you can practically eat for a day. The space is small, and the decor minimal, but I would still say its a very cute little hole in the wall restaurant.
Whats no so hot at New Spot-the wait and the crowds. During lunch this place can be a real bitch to get some grub.
The food is A-OK as well. Its far from being on of the best burrito places in the city, but its not half bad either.
People thought this was:
This small establishment means business. I am in love with the down-home service, the food is super affordable, flavorful, fresh & delicious. The New Spot is a favorite dining spot in Dogpatch. If you're in the area, only have a few bucks, but a mean appetite - The New Spot is The spot.
the pupsas are great, but you know, I have not had anything at the new spot which I did not really like. The people who work there are great too. Please save room for a piece of flan-it is exceptional
Had more pupusas (only $2 each) and had some of my niece's chicken enchiladas, and everything was still good! The service was still really friendly. The horchata was refreshing. The bathroom was clean.
I need to bring some friends here...
I didn't see the champurrado on the menu this time.
People thought this was:
Just happened to walk by this place with my niece, and I'm glad we walked in.
I've only had the…
Read more »
My al pastor super burrito was one step up from merely edible; this is a rounded-up 2.5 star review based solely on the guacamole.
Hits:
Guac. Lots of guac. Lots of really tasty guac, this burrito had.
Size -- about 8 out of 10, with apologies to the good folks at http://burritoeater.com.
Chips - a mix of decent flour and corn tortilla chips and salsa whet my appetite.
Misses:
Meat. The al pastor tasted like bland roasted pork in blander barbecue sauce. The portion was reasonable, but the New Spot will never be a member of Steve K.'s Pork Products Hall of Fame. Never.
Rice. While rice is often unremarkable, this took the scenic route down Flavor Removal Lane. Seriously, it was like someone genetically engineered all the taste of iceberg lettuce into large-grained white rice.
Black Beans: see Rice.
Despite this mediocre burrito, I may return to try the pupusas, 'cause I'm a pupusa fiend like that.
People thought this was:
You can taste the CostCo in every bite!
The sliced white gub'ment cheese on my chicken quesadilla wasn't even melted! The chicken mole was canned mole poured on top of lightly warmed chicken!
I'm nauseated! Thanks, New Spot!
People thought this was:
Oh my Breakfast Burrito goodness!
Just half of the substantial breakfast burrito was more than sufficient to fill my belly. I requested guacamole instead of a meat option and the result was delicious. The eggs were cooked very well, firm but not overdone, and the hot sauce (in a bottle in the fridge) had a peppery, just-spicy-enough flavor.
Very friendly service and a peaceful atmosphere in which to dine. This place has definite potential for a few outdoor tables. I really wanted to sit in the sunshine on this beautiful morning... but I didn't wanted to create havoc by attempting to drag chairs outside.
**NOTE: This is a perfect spot to sit and eat while looking out the window and waiting for the 48 bus. Which is slow in coming. Very. Slow.
People thought this was:
The New Spot is across the street from my work so I eat there a lot since there isn't much choice in the neighborhood. I have had just about everything on the menu.
Everything on the breakfast menu is excellent. For lunch my favorite has to be the Taco Salad, especially if they have made Chipotle Chicken that day. You also can't go wrong with the papusas, soup or most of the specials.
If you are looking for a good authentic Mexican burrito these might not be the best in SF, it is an Ecuadorian restaurant, but there are the best on this side of town.
People thought this was:
My review for the New Spot has been a long time coming.
I'm working just up the street for the summer, so I frequent the New Spot often.
My first impression was a lousy one. I ordered their enchiladas and was thoroughly disgusted. In fact, most of their items don't look that appetizing.
Then I met their taco salads and their burritos. These two items are delicious enough to make this place a regular staple in my lunchtime spots.
Throw in the fact that service is speedy, quality of their good items is consistent and that a decent-sized burrito is $6 after tax and you've got yourself a 4-star lunch spot.
People thought this was:
After a half-dozen visits, I've reached the conclusion that The New Spot makes the best torta I've ever had in my life. My analysis is based on years of research conducted mainly in west Chicago restaurants, LA taco trucks, and the Mission.
It's $5. I used to pay $4.50 for a much, much lesser torta, even that served from the legendary La Oaxacena taco truck in LA.
Your Average Torta is usually very unbalanced, with the bread-to-everything-else ratio completely off the charts. Not this one. Perfection.
They also use good quality meats here. You're not getting the dregs of the asada like you might elsewhere. Power to the torta raza.
And even the places I'd consider to be Torta Titans often fall short of consistent perfection because of horrendous bread that was crap in the first place - even before they bought it from Almost Stale Bread That Will Rip Your Customers Soft Palates Apart R Us last night for half price. Not this place. The bread is AWESOME - soft and yummy with just the perfect amount of toasting.
They serve it to you piping hot. I recommend carne asada or chicken for the first torta you get here, both with the salsa verde, then check out the other meats next time. I like that they don't surmise to know which salsa you'll prefer (if any) and leave it up to you. A small touch, but it's exactly this sort of thoughtfulness that makes me feel like a place thinks about its food rather than just doing what everyone else does.
I've been impressed with everything I've had here - I did a couple breakfasts (can't remember which), tacos, and a dinner plate (dunno) and everything has been impressive. Homemade salsas are on point, as is the homemade horchata (which is sweet but not sickly sweet like most of the popular Mission spots).
Definitely check this place out when you are in Tha DoggPizzatch. And keep it as a Plan B if you can't stand waiting around for an hour to eat at Just For You.
Some of the cheapest, most delicious, and most creative Mexican food to ever smack you in the face.
Yo I had a soup here with plaintains in it, what???
I didn't even know you could put plaintains in a soup.
That's like having banana soup, but it's sooo good
It's crazy!!
Chicken Pozole for all my Jews and Muslims, who don't put pork on that fork
Fruit salad with jicama, craziness!!
People thought this was:
This great little place just opened up next door to Retox at 3rd & 20th. The papusas are absolutely to die for! I've been there twice now. My favorite is the Revueltas (chicken, pork & cheese) but they're all good. Minimum order is two papusas ($1.60/ea) and they come with chips, two kinds of home made salsas, and a *yummy* spicy fresh cabbage salad.
So what if the decor is sparse and the curtains are tied back with rubber bands? The staff is warm and friendly and for $3.60, you get a delicious, home cooked, sit-down dinner big enough to go home with leftovers.
Best of luck to the owners. I hope their business does well. I can't wait to go back there!
People thought this was:
The New Spot has the best chicken enchiladas in town. Not only is there sauce delish but their chicken is moist and tender, not dry and stale like most restaurants. I also highly recommend their Salvadoran breakfast. Another fave.
I had the rip snorting Chicken Tortilla Soup. Yuuuum.
And all their to-go packaging is BIODEGRADABLE!!! Beat that!
People thought this was:
I am addicted.
The bean pupusas are amazing. The salsa is so good. All the beans are vegetarian. The staff are friendly and quick. The location is great.
I love the New Spot!
People thought this was:
My office recently moved to near New Spot and it has quickly become an office favorite.
The Mexican Hot Chocolate is a wonderfully rich and creamy and cinnamon infused cup of decadence. We send some one over to get them for the whole office to go on cold mornings.
If you get there by 11:45 you can get table service easily. Later than that and the long line for pick up, a huge part of the lunch business for this little hole in the wall, will make it about impossible for the waitress who also works the counter to take good care of you. Just be prepared to stand in line during the rush and take your food to a table when it's ready.
Everything I have ordered here makes me happy.
Their soups are really delicious homemade concoctions chock full of good stuff, and served in such huge bowls you can totally make a meal of it.
The Chicken Mole is subtle and flavourful and all I could muster up as a criticism is a wish for even more of that good mole sauce to soak up in the rice. They offer a selection of beans so I am happy getting my favorite black beans.
Tacos are good too. not perhaps *QUITE* as yummy as the roach coach by Best Buy, but close, very close.
My mom swears the Chile Rellenos are the bomb, and she has had enough comparisons to make her a good judge.
The Agua Fresca is fresh and fruity and they often have unusual flavours.
The Chilequilles are awesome too; lightly coated with sauce and wonderful salsa.
They have a sign saying the chips have to be purchased if you get a baby burrito. We have been served an abundance of chips every time we have been there.
Coke in the bottle for the sweet soda fans.
Really this place makes me happy.
One note; The credit card set up does not do the usual *option to add a tip* so if you plan to tip on the card, not with cash tell the waitress how much to add when you give her your card. She's really nice and never said a word until I asked her about it one day. Our service was always just as friendly as you could ask for even without a tip, so I have trained her up to *remind me* about the tip because I never have cash.
Love the bird on the wall.
and the 5 star could be based solely on the hot cocoa, but it isn't.
People thought this was:
This place officially is the worst "mexican" food I've experienced in the Bay Area. Now, this is just one observation; however, I will not be returning, it was that bad.
The house specialty is "pupusas", which I did not have. Their second house specialty are carnitas. I did go ahead and order this.
Now, I am a bit of a carnitas snob, but it is fair to say, this was not carnitas. What I did get, what meat was there, was simply cooked, diced/cubed pork (may have been baked or boiled). The chunks of fat adhering to the meat attests to the fact the carnitas were not prepared in the traditional method. This was not barbecued/grilled pork.
We also ordered a burrito, a "super" burrito that is (cheese, salsa, guacamole, sour cream) included. The composition of the burrito we received was as follows: Rice 60%, Beans 15%, Sour Cream 15%, Meat 10%.
We talked to the manager about the burrito composition. It was supposed to be "super", however, there was no guacamole nor cheese apparent. They kindly made us another burrito. However, the subsequent burrito had the same problem -- bottom line, this is simply their version of a "burrito": rice-heavy laden with sour cream.
It's really too bad the legacy of this location was not preserved. The previous owner (Jose) had been here for over 40 years, he went into retirement earlier this year. Jose's establishment provided authentic Mexican specialties - the new management/owners have not retained that commitment.
By the way, despite expressing dissatisfaction with the burrito the second time around -- the owner was unwilling to fix or correct the problem with a substitute offering.
People thought this was:
I saw this place in SFGate today (http://www.sfgate.com/... d) and thought I'd give it a try since the 'out of the way' location of 3rd st and 20th st happens to be on my drive home. This place is right next to Retox, a pretty cool bar/lounge in case you want to pop in for a pre or post-meal drink.
I'm always conflicted when I go into a place that claims to serve two cuisines (They serve Mexican & El Salvadorean), because I always suspect that only one of them is going to be done well. Despite all indications that this place excels at the El Salvadorean, I just wasn't feeling like pupusas, so I went the burrito route instead.
Having no idea what to order, I asked the counter person what the best kind of meat was, and she promptly listed off everything on the menu. Huh, not helpful, so I instead asked for a recommendation, to which she replied 'chicken'. So chicken it was, w/ spicy salsa and black beans.
As soon as I'd placed my order, another glance at the menu revealed something I'd never seen before: A drink called Champurra(sp?) described as a chocolate and corn drink. Hmm, definitely worth a try.
After a couple of minutes the food came out, and I was on my way home, enjoying the steaming hot Champurra on the drive home. I would best describe this dish as a cross between hot chocolate and corn chowder. It's really yummy, and would be even better on a cold, foggy winter day.
OK, finally get home, and dig into the burrito. Damn it's good. First of all, the chicken tastes like it's been smoked then grilled. Yum! Secondly the salsa is really spicy, which matches the smokiness of the chicken perfectly. Mmm...
Finally, the burrito is perfectly constructed so that every bite provides a mix of rice, beans, meat and salsa. There are no pockets of one ingredient, and it is so tightly rolled that structural integrity is upheld to the last bite.
I went back the other night to try the Salvadorean food, and was not quite as impressed as I was with the burritos. The papusas were not as crispy and freshly made as El Zocale, but the fillings were good. the plate of fried plantains and refried beans was solid, with bananas being just slightly burned to give them a nice caramely flavor and extra crispiness.
People thought this was:
It's right around the corner from my office, so I go about once a week (I like variety and LOVE Mexican food). The Right Spot is pretty good. Their Salvadorean fare is better than the Mexican (or San Franciscan). In other words, the papusas (as everyone has said here) are excellent, the carnitas are less-than.
I really like the chips and salsa (always a good sign), but the nachos actually use "nacho cheese" sauce (that perma-melted substance you get on ballpark nachos. While fine at the ballpark (I like getting heinous once in a while) this is unacceptable for anything of a purportedly "authentic" nature.
My favorite thing so far, however, is a traditional Mexican item: the enchiladas en mole. Bangin'.
The other issue here is that they haven't completely figured out their systems (who takes the orders, who fills them, whether all the dishes at a table are served concurrently, etc.). I really like all the folks who work here, so I wish them the best (and it's nice to have another option).
People thought this was:
I ran into this spot walking home from the Caltrain stop at 22nd. Totally excellent. At first I was just buying their burritos but I have expanded. They take no short cuts on meat quality which is my #1 decider on a good burrito spot. The Carne asada is thick, cooked through, juicy and tasty. Their Hibiscus drink is also hand made and the perfect consistency and sweetness. We're lucky to have such a great spot near by.
The one failing is the cheese slices which are just melted package sliced cheese.
People thought this was:
Holy Mole!
Wow, I just got back from lunch and the meal I had at The New Spot was so good I just had to write something up.
I got the enchilada plate with steak and mole sauce. The enchiladas were served open face with a side of guacamole and pico. After my first bite, I decided to come back on Monday...and get the same thing!
I've eaten here before and been less impressed so I guess it all depends on what you order.
People thought this was:
I can work with this.
First, they need to open a window or turn on a fan or get a ventilation system, SOMETHING!! Its a combination of hot, stuffy, and an almost unpleasant smell. I can't actually stay inside very long so I get my food to go. Ordering ahead is nice so that you can go in and out quickly and not have to suffocate.
The papusas are pretty damn good. My favorite is the chicken and cheese. However, I like to pick them up before I go to work and the lady who makes them isn't there until 9 or later so - not entirely possible.
The only other thing I've had were the empanadas. I ordered the bean ones and they gave me custard - unforgivable mistake because I hate custard. I think they would have been good otherwise but I also thought they were overpriced for the size and composition.
Everything else on the menu is very fairly priced if not downright cheap. Its got potential.
The food is ok. I had the super nachos and they used the cheese that comes in a can. Even when we call in 30-45 minutes early for lunch, we still have to wait in a long, chaotic line during lunch. They need more organization during busy times.
After a lengthy discussion with my girlfriend about whether it's "Salvadorian cuisine" or "El Salvadorian cuisine" upon seeing this restaurant open, we finally decided to settle the debate by asking the owner...
Several mouthfuls of interesting food and a full stomach later, we realized we'd forgotten to ask.
The point of this anecdote? Call the food whatever you want: The New Spot is tasty.
New Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Financial District
Happy Hour
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Neighborhood: Dogpatch
Category: Delis
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: Chinese
Neighborhood: Dogpatch
Category: Delis
Neighborhood: Bayview/Hunters Point
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: Bakeries
These are some of the places I go during my lunch…
Places I've frequented many times or only once…
Loading...
