Barrera's Cocina

My husband and I decided to try this place on a whim after walking by. It’s super cute inside, we got there on the earlier side so we can to sit at a really nice window facing table. We were seated right away. The ambience is nice with a warm, cozy feeling. The menu isn’t overwhelming with tons of choices, we got the enchiladas with the verde sauce and the sopes. They serve chips and salsa as a starter with your own bottle of still water. The food was average. The enchiladas were good (chicken was a bit dry), but I felt the sopes lacked flavor. The service was also just okay, the man taking our order seemed impatient and didn’t smile once. I also had to ask the other waitress who working for more water. Nobody came and asked how the food was or anything. I was thinking about rating this restaurant 3 stars but I know they’re newer and maybe are just working out some kinks. Overall the experience was pleasant because nothing was outright “bad”, and my husband and I got a nice spontaneous date out of it 😇

The portions are super tiny, almost microscopic. The food is disappointing and lacks flavor. The very fat corn chips served with bland tiny cups of salsa are the filler. The corn chips were thick and crunchy but left me with a very deep-fried oily aftertaste. The portions of the VEGANAS ($15) and the BAJA TACOS ($16 ) were very, very small. The VEGANAS vegetables were practically raw and had no taste. There were cauliflower florets, thin slices of onion and carrots - all crunchy, in a mayonnaise like sauce. The shrimp was drowned in mayonnaise-which tasted odd and not what I expected as a Mexican flavor. I am still hungry at the end.

The food was fine, but not good enough to come back for again. The restaurant itself is really cozy and cute though, and I think it’s a good option if you are nearby, want some tacos, and need to catch up with a friend over some drinks

I really recommend this restaurant, Cozy place, with a 2nd floor with a nice outside view. The atmosphere is really nice. Once you are inside eating, talking and enjoying you will not feel time, how fast it flies. ✅️Food is great, really good seasoning❤️ ✅️Prices are very affordable✅️ ✅️Great customer service 👏 👌 You should try it. And you will see 👀 and have a great experience..

The food in general was very good. The only thing was that the complimentary tortilla chips were saltier than I am used to. However, they paired well with the guacamole which was amazing. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting. I recommend this place for lunch.

Barrera’s Cocina Mexicana is a fantastic new addition to the neighborhood, taking over the old Creola space with warmth, charm, and seriously good food. From the same team behind InoVino, this place brings elevated Mexican flavors with thoughtful presentation and great ingredients. We tried a few tacos, and they were delicious—especially the Baja fish, which was perfectly crisp and light, served with fresh toppings on handmade tortillas. Everything tasted fresh and well-balanced. Prices are very reasonable for the quality, and although they’re still waiting on their liquor license, the vibe and attention to detail suggest the cocktails will be just as impressive. The owner was there, and the staff were friendly and clearly invested in the restaurant’s success. It’s exciting to have such a well-executed spot just down the street. Can’t wait to come back!

I really wanted to like this place since it just opened up nearby, and there are some positives — everything tasted fresh and the ingredients seemed good quality. I’ve been here now a few times to give it a chance and the food just feels a bit bland to me, especially the meats and the salsa. The birria was underwhelming and lacked depth of flavor and spice for the price. The menu leans more toward a tapas-style approach, which I understand, but I really wish they offered something more substantial for me to want to return regularly for dinner, like a classic burrito. I’d honestly be here all the time if they had one. For a spot that promotes homestyle Mexican food, I was hoping for flavors that felt more authentic and comforting. At around $15 a plate (minimum $30+ per person when it’d all said and done) it just doesn’t quite hit the value mark for me. I find myself driving farther to other Mexican places for more traditional dishes at a better price point. Fresh food, nice idea — just not quite there yet for my taste. I’ll continue to give this place a chance occasionally, as I’ve never had a bad experience here I’ve just never had one that’s worth telling people about

I wish I took photos of the food I just ate. I was too hungry to so I apologize. UPDATE: I went back home and made myself a taco to fill me up and cleanse from Barrera’s. I uploaded it here. 2nd UPDATE: Just get your tacos at the great highway, have a new taco truck with bomb Al pastor, called Leo’s!! Let me start and say these were the smallest portioned tacos for $14 I ever ate. The photos on google led me to think they were decent sized, but no!!! I finished both in 4 bites!! The birria and pastor tacos fell flat on taste. I had to ask for any hot sauce to spice it up, which in turn the gave me CHILI OIL. Chili oil on Mexican food was a first for me. The 3rd dish we ordered was a $19 augachile, and let’s say we only tasted a shrimpy taste that seems like it’s been sitting out for a hot minute. Maybe it just wasn’t marinated long enough? The shrimp was rubbery at the end of each bite. Very flavorless dish. This place posts ai voiceovers on Instagram claiming there are bold, fresh flavors. Nope! Tostadas were not provided. A drive to Hayward for aguachile is a far better option. If you are looking for flavor in Mexican food, this ain’t the place. I left disappointed, $60 spent bad. They had such an opportunity to hit the mark here but nope. Please I hope the restaurant sees this review and knows that we felt so underwhelmed with the food. The atmosphere was really nice, it reminded me of the time I spent in Mexico City. The severs were really nice, but that’s where everything stops. They focused on more of the beautiful atmosphere than they did on the actual food.

I had the loveliest dinner in Barrera last week. A great take over from the folks that brought us Inovino. Friendly service and a charming makeover of the old creole space. Delicious chips and guacamole, agua Fresca and the new tacos. But for me the biggest standout was the Pozole. I am not usually a fan but this had pork falling off the bone in a really clean flavorful broth. Consider me converted!

Haven't had a chance in awhile to do a sit down. Ordered takeout today and it was an easy process for pickup. Got the calimari and ceviche. Server was super nice and also got to order aqua fresca onsite before leaving. Dropped by close to 2pm so it wasn't packed and plenty of seating.

The interior of the restaurant is very cozy and has decorative colors and a comfy feeling. We were seated at the first floor near the entrance and it didn't look like there was much seating available. The food itself was decent, but as I have experienced SoCal food, I feel there's a lacking in the flavor department for the birria, the tacos were good, but not the same level as what I'm used to, the horchata was fine, and the enchiladas were good, but I also had an allergic reaction because there were peanuts in the sauce. I would like for the establishment to list all ingredients to make sure that there aren't any similar events that occurred for my visit.

Food was unique and flavorful. Great bar and dinner menu. Looking forward to trying more options on the menu. N

Stopped here after a race at Golden Gate Park. We were seated immediately and the chips salsa hit the spot. The margaritas were good. The birria is tender but needing more depth of flavor as was the carnitas. The meat was tender and served on delish tortillas. I would love to come back and have their brunch menus.

Took a chance and tried Barrera's Cocina Mexicana for lunch. Casual and chill vibe upon entering. They even have a couch in front where you can relax and even eat your lunch or dinner there. The guy who served us was one of the owners. He told us they just opened a month ago, so no liquor license yet, but he said we could buy some at the corner grocery store across the street, if we'd like something with our meal. My guy bought a large can of Pacifico for $4. ***OUR PICKS*** COMPLIMENTARY TORTILLA CHIPS & DIP ~ You can tell these are not store bought chips. Either they made the tortillas or bought tortillas and deep fried them. Not thin and a bit oily, but still good for dipping. Salsa wasn't spicy and it was more runny than chunky. 3.5/5 TADEO'S CEVICHE ~ This was good, though there was more mango than fish. Flavor wasn't punchy and a bit too mellow for me. The mango was sweet and I'm used to tart mango in ceviche and salsa. We used the comp chips to finish it, since the amount of chips given for the ceviche wasn't much. Though the chips were held in a cute fryer basket. 3.5/5 TADEO'S AL PASTOR ~ the corn tortillas were handmade, but small in size. Yet they were flavorful and tasty. 3.5/5 CARLA'S BIRRIA BRISKET ~ this was really salty. The meat was a bit too lean that it tasted stringy. And you build your own taco, so it's not your typical birria taco already assembled with consume' on the side. We were given a small bowl of birria brisket and 3 small corn tortillas. If we wanted more tortillas, it would cost us an extra $4. So we used up what remaining chips that were left for the rest of the birria. This made us quite thirsty! 3/5 Each dish was an expensive tapa. For 3 people, it was about $75 with tip. Pretty expensive lunch when you walk away not feeling full or satisfied. I'm assuming as a new restaurant, they're still working out the kinks. Hopefully they will take my review as a way to improve, so they would have more repeat customers. Good luck!

We have never had a chance to go there and eat dinner because the proprietors keeps saying they're going to provide outside tables but never do. They told another patron they would bring a table outside if we want it. But every time we ask, they say they are not able to do it. Others of our friends who do not eat indoors I've had the same experience. If they're not going to be able to accommodate outdoor dining, they should just say so. Stop promising people they will be happy to move the table outside for us to do it. We thought this would be a great addition to the neighborhood and we're so looking forward to eating there, but they promised things they can't deliver.

The vibe was fun, I enjoyed the guac, and the red enchilada sauce was tasty. Minus 1 star because the salsa that comes with chips was very bland, food didn't wow me.

Barrera's Taqueria really said "flavor and vibes only." The tacos were so good -- juicy, flavorful, and gone in seconds. Chips and salsa? Fresh and addicting. The service was super sweet, and the ambiance was cozy and colorful -- perfect for a chill lunch spot. Definitely coming back (and probably ordering double).

visited barrera's twice now and each time has been great! first visit, we sat upstairs and it was nice being able to really see the whole restaurant from that perspective. immediately i noticed the amount of detail and effort they put into creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. from the pictures on the wall to the dishes they chose, everything was carefully curated. they give complimentary chips and salsa, both of which are delicious. the first time i got the fish tacos (battered fish). they were very tasty and i thoroughly enjoyed them. the next time i came, they had shrimp tacos, and since im not a huge fan, i opted for the veggie tacos. the veggies were seasoned well and piping hot. both times the service has been friendly and i would definitely recommend coming to this new spot for good vibes and good food. also i believe they have a happy hour before 5, they give 25% off!

Stopped by for their taco Tuesday happy hour, loved the food, ambience, and service. I hope they keep the taco Tuesday deal, I will definitely be back!

Some of the best Mexican food I have had in the US. The fried fish tacos are what I got. Do it!

Really wanted to like this place as i live in the area! In short- mediocre food, terrible service, and sufficient ambience. We love eating at upscale restaurants but this definitely wasn't that. Food wasn't fancy by any means despite the pricing. There were seats downstairs (where most of the white patrons were) but we were asked to sit upstairs. The servers were rude and we noticed tables around us (as well as read in reviews) got complimentary chips and salsa. We definitely don't need that but it felt odd. Overall, I wouldn't come back and I would not recommend

Still waiting on the liquor license but they have a delicious selection of agua frescas and chilly bottles of Topo Chico. A liquor store is directly across the street if you prefer to bring your own beverage. From what I can tell, they are making their own tortillas. You'll taste the difference in any of your dishes. It's that level of food here. The kind of place I'd bring my parents, if they were in town. We've eaten our way through probably half the menu so far and will keep going. Standout favorites so far have been the sopes, the birra bowl (can't remember what it was exactly), and mole enchiladas. Honestly, when in doubt, any of the tacos are also pretty solid too. The restaurant itself can get pretty loud and the upper levels can get a bit stuffy (though, it helps when they angle the upstairs window a bit open.) But I love it! Sit me anywhere and hand me the rest of the menu because I'm always open to new favorites.

Dishes were delicious: brisket tacos, beef tongue tacos, ceviche. The fresco was fresh & refreshing: melon. Dessert was sweet, creamy, delicious: pana cotta. Service was excellent. Music and decor was charming and delightful

This restaurant was great for a weeknight meal but also had untapped potential. Great interior decor with the two floored seating. Food was good and had a homecooked vibe. The service was great as well. I think they could benefit from a liquor license(cocktails) and bar which would do service to the nice interior decor but thats also very nitpicky and up to personal preference.

Beyond amazing food and experience!! My friend and I stumbled across Barrera's on what was their opening night and wow, best decision ever. All of the staff were incredibly helpful and caring. We sat downstairs and it was the cutest little vibe, perfect for a date night or just catching up with friends. The food was absolutely amazing!! My friend is from New Mexico and she declared that that was the best taco she had ever had in her life (a very big statement). She's not the type for sharing but she gave me a bite so I could understand how amazing it was and it just melted in my mouth the house made tortillas were perfect and the asada was so tender. I had the Mahi Mahi ceviche and it was so delicious, fresh, fruity, and the perfect size. We're so glad we crossed paths and can't wait for our next meal at Barrera's!!

Brand new authentic Mexican restaurant in Haight-Ashbury. This is certainly a hidden gem that will not stay hidden for long. Vibes immaculate - we sat upstairs and the music was traditional Mexican music. Service impeccable. Food to die for. It's tough when you want to order everything but are limited by silly things like money and stomach space. Absolutely going to be a regular here. Don't sleep on the Cantaloupe Agua Fresca!

great ambiance + service & the food is delicious. I've had quite a few things off the menu & havent been disappointed once. Got the birria tacos tonight + the flavor was fantastic. Really happy this place is in the neighborhood now.

Really great addition to the Cole Valley neighborhood! The food is very fresh. Great guacamole, hand crafted tortilla trips & sweet atmosphere. They're getting pretty popular so go early & bring your big appetite!

As Cole Valley natives we were really excited to see this new restaurant opening in the neighborhood. We went for lunch on a Thursday, was completely empty, staff was very kind, interior is colorful but super cozy. Exterior is beautiful. Most importantly the food was fantastic. Al Pastor tacos were so flavorful and tender, Baja Tacos were crispy, extremely flavorful and not greasy at all. Birria tacos were wonderful too! All tacos were served on fresh handmade tortillas, they were thick and soft, so yummy. We will be back to try more! Prices are alittle steep for tacos but 100% worth it for a fancier date spot. They don't serve alcohol but hopefully they will soon, margaritas would pair perfect with the Baja tacos.

Lovely spot with really delicious food and some insane homemade habanero sauce! You can tell they make their tortillas and chips by hand and there is so much care that goes into both the food and the presentation. I'm so happy we've got another local Mexican spot, and one of this caliber. We've been a couple of times now and everything we've tried - meat, seafood, and vegetarian - has been delicious.

I walked 40 minutes to get here and every step was worth it. The baja fish tacos might be the best tacos I've ever had in my life... crispy, smooth, warm, and an explosion of sauce and flavor. The chips were also crunchy and perfect, and the cantaloupe agua fresca was delicious. Also, the space was pretty! I got to sit in one of the two upstairs areas, so I got to look over the restaurant and see outside. Lovely place, close to GGP, delicious food. Will def return next time I'm in SF!

What a great addition to the Cole Valley neighborhood! Great service, fun ambiance, and the food was delicious. We shared the ceviche (amazing!) and both got the Baja fish tacos, which were fantastic. Portion sizes were ideal and really fairly priced. We also tried the cucumber and mint agua fresca - yum - and got the coconut panna cotta for dessert, which was light and delicious. We're super excited about this new spot and will definitely be coming back.

Chips are top notch. Truly. The carne asada was also really really good, and everyone else loved the beans (I thought they were solid). Birria is a good sized portion but only comes with a few tortillas. Wonderful handmade tortillas, though I wish there were more. Really good meal, and I'd describe it as upscale Mexican food. I'd compare it more closely to a nice Italian restaurant vs a taco joint, and the price point follows. Wish they threw some photos, paintings, or memorabilia on the walls to help elevate the atmosphere into something unique. Feels like they still need to build a identity around a signature dish, drink, vibe, etc.

I am super grateful that this fantastic, new, sit down, fresh, traditional kitchen, Mexican restaurant has landed in my hood! The space is spectacular. The birria tacos are to die for! The sopes are some of the best I've had. The quac is top notch! The have some spicy salsas, for fiery tongues like mine, that crave the heat. The tacos and enchiladas are gluten free. They house make their tortillas, and chips. The ceviche is super fresh. My preference is the shrimp, but the red snapper with mango appeals to the sweetheart palette. The liquor license is coming asap. They will offer Mexican wines, and I hear good stuff about the margaritas to come! Up to 5 different kinds! They'll offer a spicy one for peeps like me! They are open for lunch and dinner. Great happy hour with 25% off of already incredibly reasonable prices.. David, one of the owners, is hospitality forward, and steeped in food and wine knowledge. Swing through if you're in the neighborhood, and it is definitely worth the stop after your Golden gate Park adventures. Enjoy!

Great food, quick service and lovely setting. The pozole was great and the tacos were very generous. Definitely will go back!

Came to try this brand new spot and was immediately impressed with both the aromas that filled the space but also the cozy layout which felt like a multi tier living room somewhere in a bustiling Mexican city. We sat at the cozy leather couch on the bottom floor which gave us a great view of the beautiful scenery and made us feel relaxed and very much at home. Currently the restaurant does not have a liquor license (for now) , however we brought in our own bottle of wine (liquor store across the street) and we're not charged a corkage fee. For starters we were given a plate of chips with a delicious chunky red salsa. The chips were crispy, flaky and perfectly salted. We shared lengua tacos (5 hour braised, expertly diced in uniform cubes that held together but melted in your mouth on homemade blue corn tortillas. We tried the Birria tacos which were deeply rich with flavor and loaded with meat. We also tried the shrimp ceviche with was refreshing in between bites of tacos. The salsa match was addicting. The tomato and Arbol salsa was a lovely co star. Our server Damiano was attentive and took great care of us. We'll be back!

Its the mark of a great chef when everything you order is really good. There were no misses. They seat you with some really tasty housemade chips and light salsa. We ordered the guacamole which was simply but superbly executed - noteworthy because as we know the bar for good guac is really high in the City. The real magic happened with the shrimp ceviche. Abundant flavor+ jumbo shrimp is a great combo. Plus the chips come in handy with the juice. We then followed up with the birria plate, which also stands out in a now birria rich town. The serving is generous and the taste was delicious.. We also ordered the chicken enchilada with rojo sauce. This was an underrated gem. The sauce was exquisite - nectar of the Gods type stuff if you like red sauce - it featured a perfect balance of heat and flavors. And unlike most soggy enchiladas at even good restaurants these days, the chef at BCM clearly cares about quality. It was a perfect portion, the tortillas were solid enough to hold the seasoned pollo filling and they nailed the right amount of cheese. Finally if you are reading this far this place feels fairly new as you may see them ironing out some service issues and they don't have a liquor license yet. Don't let it deter you - go now. Maybe this is wrong but I think BCM going to blow up soon. Its tasty AF

Extremely nice staff, food feels homemade (in the best way possible) and tastes of quality. So glad they opened up this spot! Enchiladas and sopas were delicious!

I just had an amazing meal here tonight. They had pozole as a special and it was sooo good. The broth was on the lighter side but with incredible depth, and the meat was amazing. I also ordered a side of tortillas which were homemade and fantastic. The frijoles and chips are excellent too. Each of the frijoles (black and pinto) are puréed, which was surprising in a good way; and the flavors were excellent. Really fresh chips too. They also brought me a little side of their salsa molcajete to taste. Yum! I finished with their coconut desert which was a light coconut custard topped with a fruit puree. Very light and tasty. Last but far from least, the staff was incredible. I was dining solo on a whim and they went out of their way to make me feel welcome and took great care of me. Go here; it's fantastic!!!

Great new addition to Cole Valley. Very authentic and delicious Mexican fare. Will be back!

Possibly the closest food I've ever eaten stateside that actually emulates food from Roma in Mexico City. We will certainly be regulars. Absolutely fantastic service and we definitely recommend sitting upstairs. Loved the music as well, perfect chill ambiance.

Fantastic new restaurant. The ambiance, menu, food and service were all exemplary. We came in for lunch, each had different taco plates which were delicious but definitely more upscale menu with creativity. It is not a "taco joint" which I also appreciate, but a nice place for a small business meal, date or just a really nice meal.

Intimate, relaxed, authentic food. Feels like home cooking, in the best way. Service was timely, even when busy.

Food was delicious, The food came in fast, very beautiful ambiance and interior experience was great.

We had an amazing dinner during the open by night at Barrera's Cocina Mexicana. The ambience is great, staff are amazing, and the food reminds me of some of my fondest Padrecito memories. I am so glad they are in the neighborhood!

10/10 service, 10/10 food, 10/10 atmosphere. Music and table settings are beautiful, food is great. Wish the taco plates had three instead of two or beans/rice on the side. The Chicken Enchilada Vierde plate is incredible. Would return, would recommend. Date night vibes or lunch with friends spot. No liquor license yet, but will be getting one- they have a lot of drink options & let you grab drinks from the market across the street if you'd like! So good. Go.

So excited to have this nearby! We live right near this corner and decided to join them on their opening day. Warm and friendly decor, well renovated space. We ate the mole chicken enchiladas, mahi mahi ceviche, Baja fish tacos, and chips and salsa. All fresh and delicious but the mole in particular was so rich and flavorful. Glad we decided to take a risk on their first day open.

I don't normally take out time to do these reviews but Barrera's deserves a major shout out. First off we went in as a big group for the first Lunch they had available to the Public. We stepped in and were seated quickly and greeted as friends. We had 6 ppl so each one ordered different things, Lengua Tacos, Enchiladas Mole and Enchiladas Rojas and more. Fresh color tortillas were served along with Chips and Salsa. It felt like we were in a Cocina in Mexico. The Sauce on my Enchilada was perfect, good portion and great tastes on everyone's plate. Ambiance was great with some Authentic music going with upbeat vibes. This turned from a quick stop for lunch to an entire experience. Our waiter was awesome and described the upcoming Spirit and Wine list/Tequila and had some of the best service in SF. I will definitely be back and this is on our new Lunch rotation. For that True taste of Authentic Mexican check this place out.. Also some cool hidden seating upstairs! Buen appetito!