Chao Pescao

"Three-course lunch, five-course dinner with champagne $35 for lunch, $75 for dinner The dinner menu comes with a ton of food, including empanadas, tostones rellenos, and their fantastic Tajín fried chicken Pan de bono, empanadas, Tajín fried chicken, lechon cubano" - julia chen 1

"The Colombian-Cuban restaurant in Civic Center is big, bright, and always bumping—so if clinking frosty mojitos over loud music is your thing, you've found your spot. Salsa throwbacks blast over the speakers, the walls are teal and pink, and pan de bono is plentiful. Tajín-fried chicken, hearty chicharrones, and simple yet phenomenal rice and bean plates should all be on your table. Portions are also big enough to overfeed everyone in the party. So round up two minivans’ worth of people and get here." - julia chen 1, patrick wong

"Next door to the Tenderloin’s community garden is Rene Denis’ blend of his Cuban and Colombian identities and histories. This ultra-colorful restaurant offers a variety of options like ropa vieja, arepas de puerco, and well-fried empanadas. Cocktails are on the menu, too, and no less explosive in flavor and heritage; the xocolatl maize is a combination of bourbon, nixta licor de elote, aztec chocolate bitters, and roasted cinnamon stick." - Paolo Bicchieri

"When: Tuesday-Friday, 3-6pm The Columbian-Cuban restaurant in Civic Center is big, bright, and always bumping—so if decompression over loud music is your thing, get here. This place sucks us in with $6 draft beers, $8 cocktails, and discounts on empanadas, yucca fries, and more during Happy Hour. There’s also a special of the day, and 75-cent wings on Wednesdays. But just a heads up, Happy Hour is at the bar only. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

"We ordered ropa vieja, tostones with avocado-pistachio salsa verde, yuca frita, and more. What stood out was the Tajin fried chicken; it takes a bit longer for the dish to come out, as the server warned us, but it was worth it. The tender chicken pieces were still moist and juicy, encased inside the crisp-skinned exterior. The spices took the chicken past the typical Kentucky Fried Chicken fare, while still maintaining those bits of KFC everyone enjoys (namely, that aforementioned crunchy skin). Plus, it comes with hot sauce, a side of black beans, rice, and plantains." - Dianne de Guzman