Cha-Cha-Cha, San Francisco

This Upper Haight restaurant has a lot going on, serving killer sangria and being a party people-watchin'- happenin' kinda place. Having arrived around 6:30 pm, it was quite subdued and relaxed while we were there, and we had a very nice dinner for our first night in San Francisco.

The place is decorated in bright colors, with loads of tropical plants, and as you guessed by the name, the food is latin-themed. The service was excellent; but with all of San Francisco's restaurants beckoning, we just somehow never made it back there.

Favorite Dish: The portions are BIG; so make sure you are hungry when you go, or someone is willing to share. We only ate there once, so I don't have a favorite dish, but I thought the food there was really good. I never had fried plantains before, but I fell in love with them!

They do not take reservations. Our waiter did inform us that later in the evening it gets very noisy and crowded with long waits. So if you're into that, arrive after 8:00 pm.

We ate here for lunch and the ambience was very casual. I had warm spinach salad that had lots of bacon in it. Don had chicken with black beans and rice. It was sufficient for what it was. The sangria went well with the food. Quaint.

***ing great Cuban food and atmosphere to wait in line for a hour for! They do not, I repeat, DO NOT take reservations...... and it's a mad house all the time.

Lunch served everyday from:
11:30am- 4:00pm
Dinner served from:
5:00pm- 11:00pm Sun- Thurs
5:00pm-11:30pm Fri-Sat

Favorite Dish: Some web thingie: "This wildly popular Caribbean-style eatery won't disappoint if you're looking for great food at great prices in a funky atmosphere. The bright oilcloths, palm trees and friendly staff set the stage for hearty tapas, spicy sandwiches and Cuban black bean soup. The shrimp sauteed in Cajun spices alone is worth coming for; with a side of their fried new potatoes with pasilla chile aioli and a glass of house-made sangria, you've reached heaven in the heart of the Haight. This café offers Caribbean and Cuban cooking. Expect the average entrée to cost roughly $12 to $20."

That was recommended by my guide and for sure it was a good choice! If you wish to eat cheap but delicious hispanic food (tapas) in a funny atmosphere, this is the place to go.
Situated in Haight street, the flower power area, the inside is highly influenced by the surroundings ;-)

Cuban restaurant, very cozy, can get very crowded, and long line-ups at times, but well worth the wait. The food is reasonable priced, and really good. Everytime I'm in San Francisco I visit this restaurant.

You don't need to reserve a table, but simply wait at the bar area while they have a free table for you. While waiting, order Sangria. They have the best Sangria I've ever had with real tasty fruits in it.
So by the time you get to your table, you're a bit tipsy and can enjoy your food even better!

Favorite Dish: any kind of seafood is great

A great place for lunch. Spanish spicy food and great Sangeria. Great atmosphere and unusual decor (see photo). Not the place for an intimate dinner, always buzzing with poeple.

Favorite Dish: Skillet Cajun Shrimp