Tropisueno, San Francisco

It was to be our first meal stateside over the course of the roadtrip-of-a-lifetime (which we now plan to repeat!) and I wanted to make sure it was good. Really good.  Particularly after having to endure plane food for the previous two meals (yes, you guessed it - I got risotto!). It was with this in mind and that it was going to be a Thursday night; the start of the weekend, that I booked ahead at the fabulous Mexican taqueria Tropisueno.


We arrived, excited to finally be starting our holiday, a little bit tired, but hungry. We found the restaurant fairly easily after asking directions from a police officer as it is down a pedestrianised side street. We spotted it before we arrived as the lively music and cool vibe spilled out from inside to the courtyard tables in front.


The Opentable booking had worked and we were shown to our seats in the bustling and bursting to the rafters interior. This was clearly the place to be on a Thursday night.

We were immediately brought tortilla chips, the best I have tasted, fried fresh and warm, along with three bowls of chilli sauce. We began by dipping the tortillas into each of these. One was extremelly hot, one was 'danger Will Robinson', with the last one conjuring up a cartoon image of flames spontaneously combusting out of a mouth and the cranium being flipped. Needless to say - they were all awesome. It was only when the waiter came back and asked us if we wanted guacamole that we understood the sauces were for our main dishes. So, it was yes to the guacamole, a favourite of mine. It was fresh, creamy and crisp, hot (spicy), and tangy with lime. It was delicious. Particularly on the side of the house margaritas.

For our main courses were spoilt for choice, but having filled up on the chips and guacamole (school-boy error), we could only go for small plates. Even so, I had the old school combo plate and opted for a vegetarian taco, aswell as a tamale (my first ever). Gipsy Spread had the starter as main of De Elote Y Barbacoa corn masa "cigars" filled with mexican bbq beef, corn and cotija cheese. black bean sauce and crema. We managed to make some good headway into these between the two of us. They were all large (massive!), but fresh and well designed and cooked.

Too full for anything else, we paid the very reasonable bill and had our first night-time walk through San Francisco back to our Hotel; clearly we looked like locals as an American traveller asked us for directions.


I had wanted to try and fit in another visit to the restaurant to sample more of their dishes, however, as always, it was a case of too much to try and not enough time. However, I highly recommend this ongoing award winning restaurant and would pop by again if ever in San Francisco for its fun and lively atmosphere, relaxed and efficient staff. The margaritas, guacamole and chips alone are worth visiting for. This really is the only place to go in San Francisco for Mexican food!