One day, we happened to be down in Ghirardelli Square, and we needed a quick lunch before an event we were headed to. There’s a plethora of food to eat around there, but Pico seemed like a place to try out and hope for something fast! Sadly, when we arrived, there was a small queue for ordering (about three people), and it took what felt like forever for their orders to get taken.
I decided to try their pupusa plate filled with pork, cheese and beans with a side of coleslaw. The other half chose to get the fish tacos (which were my second choice, so it was good for me as I got to try them too). Of course, we also wanted the chips and guacamole to start.
The chips and guac were, I’m sorry to say, the worst I’ve ever eaten. The chips were incredibly stale, and the guacamole was fairly flavorless, filled with tomatoes, and definitely felt like something that wasn’t made on the premises. I was growing very concerned as it made me feel like, perhaps, we had made a very poor choice in coming here. When the rest of the food arrived, it did look quite a bit better.
And thankfully, it tasted so much better as well. The pupusas were absolutely delicious, with a great sauce and gooey cheese. The coleslaw was full of flavor and had a real kick to it, so I was very happy to eat the dish before having a lot of wine. The fish tacos were also really tasty, although the rice and beans definitely looked like they were also out of a pre-made container.
So would I go back? Yes, if I needed a quick meal and was in the area. I definitely would not order anything involving chips though, as they were really the worst I’ve had. It’s definitely not the best Mexican I’ve ever eaten, but for a quick choice in a touristy part of town, it’s fairly decent.
Score: 3.5/5
Recommendation: Get the pupusas!
Pico Latin Street Food
900 North Point St
San Francisco, CA 94109
