Casa Borinqueña
Vegan restaurant · South of Market ·
Vegan Puerto Rican food like mofongo cups and pastelillos
Vegan Puerto Rican food like mofongo cups and pastelillos
"An opening tenant at Saluhall in the Civic Center, this spot is closing on Thursday, January 1, with co-owner Wenlock Nau citing “slow sales, high turnover, and street conditions in the area.” Their struggles were compounded after Saluhall operator Kerb Food left the food hall and the restaurant’s contract terms changed, requiring “more hours and higher labor costs” they couldn’t cover." - Dianne de Guzman
"Casa Borinqueña is one of our favorite food stalls in Saluhall thanks to their plant-based Puerto Rican staples. The pinchos are the clear standout on the menu. They’re deep-fried until crispy while still having a satisfying amount of bounce, and are lacquered in a sweet sauce that borders on caramel. And don't skip the Bori Fries with vegan chicken—the snappy wedges of yuca are perfect for sopping up every last bit of the Thousand Island-adjacant Mama Sauce." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"Casa Borinqueña is one of our favorite food stalls on the second floor of the Saluhall food court near Union Square, thanks to its delicious lineup of plant-based renditions of Puerto Rican staples. The Sampler Plate is the only entree on the menu, and it's a fantastic way to get the best dishes, including the pinchos, made with a deep-fried soy protein glazed in a caramel-y barbecue sauce, and the arroz con gandules. But, you’re in a food court after all, so for something that leaves enough room to try some other stalls, get a side of the yuca Bori Fries with vegan chicken and a heavy drizzle of a Thousand Island-esque Mama Sauce. There’s always free seats and plenty of table space even during prime lunch hours. Plus, the entrance to Ikea is right across the way if you need a showroom couch to nap off all that food. Food Rundown Sampler Plate Comes with savory arroz con gandules, plantains, and your choice of protein. The right choice is always the pinchos. The thick coating of barbecue sauce is a bit too sweet, but eating it with a mouthful of the rice balances it out. Our only gripes are that the plantains are often burnt and the accompanying salad feels like an afterthought with a fistful of greens and a few dabs of a lifeless vinaigrette. photo credit: Patrick Wong Bori Fries Our favorite appetizer. The fries have a snappy crunch to complement the tender cubes of soy chicken, and everything is covered with vegan cheese and a tangy and slightly sweet house sauce. photo credit: Patrick Wong Relleno De Papa A crispy shell, airy potatoes, and ground Impossible beef that’s soft without crossing over into soggy. It could use more seasoning, but it’s still a solid starter. photo credit: Patrick Wong" - Patrick Wong
"Lourdes Marquez-Nau’s vegan Puerto Rican restaurant has made waves for years in the Bay Area. The city got lucky when the chef took the opportunity to expand her operation into mid-Market as a tenant inside the food hall Saluhall. The vibe here is laidback, bring a group for co-working or meeting up before an event downtown, and get a few orders of the mofongo and fries." - Paolo Bicchieri
"The vegan Puerto Rican spot remains one of the tenants that continues to follow the food hall’s original plant-based model." - Paolo Bicchieri
