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¡Chao Pescao!, San Francisco, CA

¡Chao Pescao!

4.4
4.4
661 Reviews
$30 and under
Latin American
272 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 PM
Booked 6 times today

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for groups
Chao Pescao is a new casual Latin Caribbean restaurant from longtime San Francisco restaurateur Rene Denis inspired by his Cuban-Colombian heritage. The name, translating roughly to “see you later alligator,” captures the friendly and fun spirit of the restaurant. Cocktails are inspired by many of the traditional drinks from Latin America, while the food pulls from the comforting Cuban and Colombian home cooking of Denis’s childhood. The menu is rounded out with other Latin American favorites with particular emphasis on dishes designed for delivery. Chao Pescao is located in the Civic Center Plaza at the heart of the city, across from City Hall.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Latin American, Colombian, Cuban
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 11:30 am–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Chef Rene Denis
  • Catering
    Please visit our website at www.chaopescaosf.com and view our Events Menu for details.
  • Private party facilities
    Chao Pescao's mid-town location and latin-caribbean menu makes this city favorite a winning choice for private group dining, and Chao's plentiful array of Latin-themed cocktails and fine wine list will please every guest.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Cross street
    Larkin
  • Parking details
    $5 Parking Mon-Fri after 5pm and all day Saturday with validation at the the Hastings Parking Garage.The UC Hastings Parking Garage is located at 376 Larkin St between McAllister and Golden Gate. The Civic Center Garage entrance is located at 355 McAllister. Street parking is also available and is free after 6pm.
  • Public transit
    Public Transit Stops: Civic Center Bart & Muni Stations - 2 blocks MUNI 5 Fulton - .5 blocks 19 Polk - .5 blocks 47 Van Ness - 2 blocks 49 Mission/Van Ness - 2 blocks Golden Gate Transit - .5 blocks
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 661 people are saying

¡Chao Pescao! reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
¡Chao Pescao! offers "amazing food" with a "spacious and luxurious" dining area. The atmosphere is "fun and vibrant," ideal for pre-theater dining. Despite occasional service delays, the staff is generally "friendly and attentive." The "unique cocktails" and variety of "delicious empanadas" are highlights. Located conveniently near Civic Center venues.

661 Reviews
  1. Marilen VIP

    San Francisco32 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a nice dinner before the symphony. This place has a great ambiance, good food and service, and I definitely want to return to try other dishes.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Cynthia VIP

    San Francisco110 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    They were not prepared for a pre-concert crowd. Took forever to get food/drinks. Service was inattentive. Sound was deafening. We had to shout at each other. Food was good when it came. I recommend the fried chicken and the empanadas.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Jon

    Berkshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went for a birthday for 10 people. The staff were incredibly accommodating and very friendly. They were attentive enough to keep everyone stocked with food and drink, but not overbearing. The food was lovely, the cocktails interesting and tasty!

    Is this helpful?

  4. John

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The restaurant was great. It was our first time dining here. From the appetizer to the main menu it was visually appealing and tasty. Will definitely return to dine and enjoy the great atmosphere.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Arielle

    Seattle1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and cocktails were AMAZING. I was in town on business and was looking for South American cuisine and this did not disappoint! Honestly I could have eaten there every day of my trip and it still wouldn't have been enough. The dining area is spacious and luxurious and the staff were incredibly attentive, friendly, and helpful. Will definitely go again next time I'm in town.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Dawn

    Tampa2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a lovely meal at Chao Pescao. The food was great, waitstaff were very attentive and the decor is welcoming. A great experience. I highly recommend it.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Amber

    San Francisco1 review

    1.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Made reservations ahead of time because had an appointment. Waited an hour before the even appetizers arrived, asked for the check that because couldn’t wait any longer for the entrees and no one checked in at any point. Maybe they were backed up, or understaffed? Giving the benefit of the doubt but not thrilled.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Judie

    San Francisco88 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    So happy to see Chao Pesco back and lively - interesting appetizer and meal options are great for couples or friends dining options. Location is perfect for close performance dinner or after work gatherings. I like that the restaurant is able to accomodate 2 to many diners!

    Is this helpful?

  9. William

    San Francisco20 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 7, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    The noise level is incredible. It is difficult to have a conversation with your dining partner. Food was great. I would like to see a larger font size on the menus to make them a bit easier to read. Restaurant is conveniently located to the Orpheum Theater.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Sarah VIP

    Milwaukee2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Went for the first time a few weeks ago and took myself right back. The food is addicting the drinks are unique and the vibe is so fun. Also for the gf/celiac people it has many options

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

¡Chao Pescao! offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 621-2200.

¡Chao Pescao! is rated 4.4 stars by 661 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 PM
Booked 6 times today
Google Map for ¡Chao Pescao!

272 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Larkin
  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 11:30 am–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Latin American, Colombian, Cuban
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    $5 Parking Mon-Fri after 5pm and all day Saturday with validation at the the Hastings Parking Garage.The UC Hastings Parking Garage is located at 376 Larkin St between McAllister and Golden Gate. The Civic Center Garage entrance is located at 355 McAllister. Street parking is also available and is free after 6pm.
  • Public transit
    Public Transit Stops: Civic Center Bart & Muni Stations - 2 blocks MUNI 5 Fulton - .5 blocks 19 Polk - .5 blocks 47 Van Ness - 2 blocks 49 Mission/Van Ness - 2 blocks Golden Gate Transit - .5 blocks
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Chef Rene Denis
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Please visit our website at www.chaopescaosf.com and view our Events Menu for details.
  • Private party facilities
    Chao Pescao's mid-town location and latin-caribbean menu makes this city favorite a winning choice for private group dining, and Chao's plentiful array of Latin-themed cocktails and fine wine list will please every guest.
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