Cocina Mamá Cholita

I am first generation Mexican descent; this mole reminds me of my mom’s cooking. It might be the best mole in sf. I usually scan the names of google reviews to see if mexicans have reviewed the place; in this google review section, everyone is right: this place is tasty and authentic.

Went last year and I rarely write reviews but this was so good. I dream about that mole. Staff were very sweet, had us sample different sauces, and we were stuffed from a late lunch but still finished our entire plates. Probably in my top 5 meals I’ve ever had, vibes were awesome. We were actually there when they got their sign installed! That mole is made with love and you can tell. Actually have a picture of my meal hanging above my stove so I can see that plate every day. Much love to Cocina Mama Cholita❤️

The mole here is incredible. I had the mole enchiladas with chicken and it blew my mind. The sopes and burrito were also really tasty. They gave us a free horchata flan because they were trying out a new recipe — it was delicious and thick. It’s a quiet, very clean, and super homey relaxed atmosphere. Definitely not a hole in a wall place, it feels very nicely put together and the owners care a lot about their food. The servers were super nice and helpful. Small family owned restaurant with great food that they put a lot of love into.

Such high quality food. Gave us a free sample of the mole and chicken and some sauces w chips. The chicken was SO GOOD im a big fan, I don’t really even like meat, loved the green enchiladas some of the best I’ve had. The cheese on the beans were also great. Everything just tasted fresh and homemade. The staff was very inviting and kind as well. The mole was more of the earthy type, which according to preference can be good or bad, I personally liked it While the prices were high ish (18 for my enchilada) the quality of the food made it worth it I recommend the enchiladas divorciadas bc u get to taste lots of flavors Birria tacos were great but enchiladas were better

The quesadilla was delicious and the employees and atmosphere were very authentic and inviting. The service was great and the food came out quick, hot, and delicious.

Mama Cholita's Kitchen is my favorite Mexican restaurant in all of SF, bar none. And that's saying a lot, considering the number of Mexican restaurants in this city. The food is delicious and sophisticated. You can clearly see the love that went into each dish and recipe. My favorites are the super nachos and chicken wrap (very light yet filling). The owners are incredibly friendly and welcome feedback. There's a secret too. It's not on the menu, but they will make tamales to go. It's a once a week thing and you'll have to order about a dozen at a time. Great for a dinner party in the backyard. If you haven't tried Mama Cholita's Kitchen, I recommend you check them out! Edit: a year later and the food here's only getting better! The tri colored wet burrito is delectable, and the mole enchilada is out of this world. They've also improved the ordering system, so it's easy to get takeout or send down your delivery guy.

Tiny place, huge flavor. We grabbed our food to go and were absolutely blown away - everything was fresh, authentic, and packed with flavor. You can tell they care about what they’re making. One of those hidden gems where every bite makes you wish you’d ordered more. If you’re craving real Mexican food, this spot delivers - no fuss, just incredible food!!

A true hidden gem in San Francisco. Thought we would try a new place for dinner, and found one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in the Bay Area. From the housemade Mole to the flavorful salsa's and the delicate flan, not one note was missed. Freshly made chips are served as you are seated with three delicious salsa options. All three are great, but the blended Mango Habanero Salsa is both spicy and flavorful. We tried the Steak and Cheese empanadas which were tender with just the right cook on the dough. The Sopes were spot on, we tried Steak and Chorizo which really hit the spot. But the best part of the meal was the Enchiladas Divorciadas which came with one green and one mole enchilada. We also added a full Chile Relleno to the dish, which was complimented with refried beans and rice, which were not heavy or overflavored and complimented the whole dish very well. I can't believe I ate the entirety of this enormous dish, but the flavor was just so wonderful... I almost wanted to lick the plate. We finished off by trying the Chorizos and the Flan. The Flan was creamy and delicious. Even the housemade Horchata and Jamaica were stand up drinks that were refreshing compliments to the delicious meal. If you are looking for fantastic, and authentic Mexican cuisine, you cannot go wrong with this place. We will be back again, and again, and again I am certain.

Very good food. We had the California burrito, the carne asada plate and chips with guacamole. All very good. Hard to find a parking spot but worth it. Service was excellent. We brought our kids and they offered them to sample the Orchata in case they didn't like it. Server Paulina was very attentive and kind.

My experience at this restaurant was great. I went with my two kids, and we got seated really fast. The menu was huge, so plenty of options to choose from. I ended up getting two sopes, a kids' burrito with Asada, and a chicken taco. While we waited for our table, the staff brought us chips and salsa, which was a nice touch. They also kindly brought over some enchilada sauces for me to try over rice thought that was really sweet. I felt truly welcomed there, like they wanted me to try their food and enjoy it. I definitely felt at home and appreciated how fast and friendly the service was. The food was super fresh, and everyone was super attentive and nice. It honestly felt like being at a friend's house warm, inviting, and cozy. I also really liked the picture they had on display that looked like it was of their grandparents it added a lovely, homey vibe. Oh and i'm definitely coming back! with help to devour that big ass sope they have! only place in the city that does this! can't wait to come back and try

As a SoCal native who recently moved to the Bay Area, this place is the BOMB. We ordered the California burrito (which is a newer item), and the green chicken enchilada plate. Both were amazing but our favorite was the burrito that melted in our mouths!!! Incredible. The service was so attentive, the owner gave us samples of each sauce and some birria to try- SO GOOD. Definitely taking visiting friends and family here! Don't be like my husband and judge on whether or not it's busy inside, just take advantage!! P.S. It's a 15 min walk to Mitchell's ice cream!! Perfect date night imo

I recently had dinner here for the first time with a group of friends, and I had a truly exceptional experience! Both the food and service were fantastic. I wanted to order the enchiladas here, but I was debating between the mole vs green. Without hesitation, the staff offered to give me a sampler plate so I can sample a bit of each sauce. The mole was tasty, although I ended up going with the green enchiladas due to personal preference. I absolutely loved my green enchiladas! Because we were dining so late, the staff even offered to give us tons of guac and kept refilling our chips. I'll definitely come back for more!

10/10 Food 10/10 Customer Service It's been a very long time since the family and I have found a restaurant as good as this. We live in San Jose and happened to be in the area and was looking for something to eat. Came across this location from the Yelp reviews and you guys delivered. We already want to go back.

Amazing service bilingual speakers and prices are worth it i love the service quality top tier thank you

Authentic family owned Mexican restaurant! This place has great food with the homemade feel. They're open for dinner Tuesdays to Sunday and for lunch too on the weekends. Perfect place for a casual and delicious meal! They give you some homemade tortilla chips with 3 different appetizers to start your meal. The tortilla chips were fresh and warm and I really enjoyed the green and orange salsas. I ordered the enchiladas divorciadas which came with chicken enchiladas, one with a green sauce and the other with mole. It also came with rice, beans, pico and some salad. They don't skimp on the portions here! This was a great meal, both sauces were flavorful and the enchiladas had a good amount of chicken. The beans and rice were also solid. I was so full but kept eating because it was so good. The service was also great, very attentive and kind. Would definitely come back!

Homey comfort food in a more local-trodden part of the Mission. I am fond of their sopes, where the masa dough is always extremely fresh and not overbearing. It manages to be both light and filling at the same time. This time, I opted for the chicken tinga and chile relleno. The former was good, but the latter was the star. All of their ingredients are fresh and well-seasoned. I also tried the Birria burrito, which is a unique twist on a meat that typically performs well in taco form. The meat again is the highlight, very tender and fresh, and be sure to ask for consommé to dip! The latter is like a soupy broth that also goes down great on its own on a cool autumn evening. I think everything here is fairly priced. The super burrito is $16.50 and the sopes were $5.25 each. It's not a "screaming" deal, but it's definitely good value as one of the fresher, less heavy Mexican options in the area. They also serve complimentary chips with delicious salsas that also pair well with all of the above. The habanero in particular is a standout.

The service was perfect, very attentive. The restaurant was very clean including...the restroom! A great plus, strangely. I got the green grilled chicken enchiladas with rice and beans. So, so, good!

So excited for this new restaurant in SF! Incredible Mexican food - your favorites, family recipes and new delights. Everything was so fresh and flavorful! Menu accommodates vegans to meat eaters. Dine in or take out - family friendly too! The owners and staff are super sweet, knowledgeable and accommodating. This has become a favorite spot!

Food is amazing! Their service is wonderful. I casually asked about their Mole while I waited for my order and they brought me a sample of their mole and chicken tings! Both were great! Can't wait to go back for some mole.

Cocina Mama Cholita is one of my new favorite restaurants in San Francisco! Even though they are busy with so many customers the staff still had my food out fast and always checked on us! I love how we got complimentary chips and salsa while we waiting for our food. All the meats had so much flavor from the carne asada to the Birria and their homemade chorizo was all 10 out of 10! My family and I felt so at home my kids finished their food and drinks! Definitely recommend to check out! There's plenty of seating enough for your whole family to enjoy comfortably!

We drive here on Sunday for lunch and when we walked in the restaurant was pretty empty which there's nothing wrong with that since it was nice to have a quieter lunch. Service was okay, everyone was super nice but for a restaurant that had only 2 tables to serve with us being 1 of them we found ourselves looking for someone to either give us napkins or give us more water and also to get our check. Food prices were fair for SF specially since the portions were pretty big unfortunately that's all I can say in terms of good things. The mole enchiladas had one of the worst moles I've had in a while. It tasted burnt and the enchiladas didn't compliment the dish in terms of taste. The quesabirrias didn't have much taste either and very oily but the consome also lacked flavor, you're better off going to Tacos El Patron for anything birria. We finished our meal with a flan and it was so dense that our spoon had a hard time going through it- it was overly sweet and just hard to get down. I'm very surprised at the meal we had and experience overall since this place has a great rating but I guess we can't really trust that nowadays. I don't think I'll be coming back or sending friends over to try them but at least now I know.

Came in with a party of 4 for dinner. I got the enchilada divorciado and they were so good. They did mess up our order, but they comped one of our items and gave us some chips. They were super nice and had quick service with great food.

Cute place with indoor seating. Excellent service. Delicious salsas. I come here when I have a mole craving. Don't sleep on the birria tacos either. Parking is a bit difficult but worth the circling.

Came in here last Sunday because my boyfriend really wanted some chilaquiles. Parking easy street parking in front. Upon arrival the host let us know the steam table was having issues so some items may be limited. We asked if the Chilaquiles and quesabirria was still available and they said yes. The downside is was hoping to having a nice refreshing michelada to go with it, but it's ok. We sat in one of the few tables in the back and everyone looked happy finishing their food. It wasn't long til they offered complimentary salsa, guacamole, and chips for the inconvenience. The chips tasted homemade and the guac was chunky and creamy just how I like it. Shortly after our food came. Let me tell you, if this is how food tastes without steam table not working, I want to try it when it is working. The chilaquiles were perfectly seasoned. The refried beans were the best I have ever tasted. And the chips and sauce was chefs kiss. I tried not to eat too much of it as my boyfriend is the one who ordered it. My quesabirria was amazing too! I think it is better than my typical go to spot because the ratio of meat to cheese is even, the taco shell crunchy, and super flavorful. It has pieces of melt in your mouth meats, like how!? We cleaned our plates. The service was impeccable with the host and server checking in on us. On top of that, offering churros! We got one cream filled and one plain. Both were the costco size and we could've probably shared because we were full. They were both hot, crunchy, sweet but not too sweet. Definitely the perfect ending to the meal. We have to come back and try more on the menu.

After trying mole in Mexico City recently, I'm glad to have found a great spot for it in SF! The mole enchiladas were incredible. It had notes of smoky, bitter, spicy, and a little sweetness. If you don't like bitter food, don't get it but it's definitely grown on me! The mole has so many nuances and flavors! The corn tortillas and chicken inside were also really good. The rice and beans were flavorful, and the salad was fresh. The chips were great too. Little thicker size and the salsas were delicious. I loved the creamy mango habanero salsa and the red salsa. The green salsa had a spicy kick too. Great attentive service from the waiter and decent amount of seating inside. Clean cute interior.

Amazing food and family owned! Chips and salsa are fresh, the guac is fire too. I usually get the burrito bowl(healthy), packed with quality carne asada, rice salsa and guacamole.

This spot has the best mole I've ever had in my life. The other dishes we tried were great too, like the birria burrito and chicken tinga, but the mole is the reason we'll keep coming back. Their guacamole is super chunky which I love. This restaurant is a sweet and simple family owned spot and the service is excellent.

Clean place with plenty of seating, excellent service, great tortilla chips and was a big fan of the mole!

FOOD: I got the chicken tacos and the mole plate. The chicken tacos were packed with meat, with the chicken being juicy and perfectly cooked. I would have preferred a bit more flavor for the tacos though, but overall the tacos were delicious and very satisfying. The mole plate was great as well, the sauce had a spicy kicked and the dish was packed with flavor. The restaurant gives free salsa and chips, one of my favorite salsas was the mango salsa. It was spicy and sweet, with a nice fresh mango taste. SERVICE: The servers were very nice and attentive. AMBIANCE: There is a cozy interior with a more casual ambiance. Overall I was very pleasantly surprised with this place and would come back here. The prices are fair and the food is great.

Excellent food! Mole was just perfect and servings were a lot! Staff were friendly and accommodating! Clean and beautiful set-up inside! This awesome Mexican restaurant is highly recommended!

I found this place thanks to a Yelp event! And I'm soo glad I did because this place is a Gem! The staff is super friendly, I got to meet the owner and his mom and they are just the nicest, they told us that they have their traditional recipes. When we tried the place during the event they gave us a variety of things which I enjoyed (specially their birria, that birria is something else) . I had a family gathering just two days after the event, had no time to cook but needed to bring something to share with the family, those empanadas were sooo good that I needed to share them with the people I love. I called ahead and placed an order of 18 empanadas, also got my self some Carne asada bowl for lunch an horchata and some flan to share. They packed everything very nicely, I ate my bowl in between meetings in my car and it was very fulfilling, their portions of protein are generous and I enjoyed it a lot, but couldn't finish it all alone . I also love that their horchata isn't super sweet. That was my second impression. Then, later that day was time for the gathering with the fam and let me tell you!! Those empanadas flew out of the table, they overshadowed the things that my other family members brought and were made at home. They didn't last and people kept asking for more when the table was full of other delicious things to share. They said that I should have doubled my order, they sent enough salsas that people used their salsa for the other food . And last for no least I need to tell you about their flan it's really good, it's not super sweet and it was a good consistency more like a leche asada which I love!! And everyone else that tried the flan that night agreed. I could have said that I made it my self and they wouldn't believe me I'm definitely coming back and keep trying things on their menu, I'm obsessed by now

Happy accident ending up here. All I have to say is SUPER AUTHENTIC & ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! We got the super nachos & super quesadilla with rice & beans. The nachos are extremely cheesy, balanced well with sauce and guac. The quesadilla we got with chicken & it was super juicyyyyy! I think they dipped the meat in Birria or something because it's super flavorful & juicy in the quesadilla. Would highly recommend & the staff + service was great. Really sweet and attentive!

We're big fans of Mexican cuisine and have tried countless Mexican restaurants across San Francisco--but Mama Cholita stands out as our absolute favorite! Not only is the food consistently superb--bursting with authentic flavors and made with care--but the service is truly top-notch. I want to give a special shout-out to Polina, who went above and beyond to make our dining experience exceptional. Her warmth and attentiveness made us feel like family. From the kitchen crew to the front desk, every single team member exudes kindness and professionalism. You can feel the passion behind everything they do. Highly recommended for anyone craving genuine, soul-satisfying Mexican food!

We live pretty close to Cocina Mama Cholita, so one Saturday morning we just to happen to have a babysitter and decided to go for brunch, just me and my guy. He saw an Instagram post about these stuffed chilequiles rellenos, which are masa dough filled with cheese and then cut into chips, then fried served with an egg on top. The plate was absolutely beautiful and so tasty. Very inventive too. Yelp tells me a lot of my reviews are about tacos, which is true. I love all types of tacos and always try new ones wherever I go. I had the birria tacos which were so good. Probably better than most places I've been and birra tacos are everywhere now. The consume was so savory and I ate the entire plate, 3 tacos is a lot but they were delicious. One of my favorite things though was the orange habanero salsa. It was mouthwatering good! The owner gave me a little container of it to take home and ate it all right up. It's addicting.

I came here for a Yelp Elite event a year ago, and have been wanting to come back after the amazing event. I came today for lunch and ordered the birria burrito bowl. This seems like an authentic item since I don't see birria at Chipotle. It was really yummy but doesn't have any veggies included. I appreciate how he recommended me to eat it with onions and cilantro instead of pico de gallo, since I chose birria as the meat option. I forgot to say I want to eat here, so they packed it to go. I didn't mind since I wanted to save half for later anyway. Instead, he apologized and said they give free chips with 3 salsas for people who eat here. He also gave me horchata to make it up which I felt like was going above and beyond and caused me to want to write this 5 stars review. I'm planning to come back again to try the empanadas and other menu options.

Been wanting to eat here. Had a breakfast special, it had chorizo with eggs and ham with eggs and then there was some bacon involved. The staff were very friendly. The place is still on the new side, so very nice clean and orderly. A few TV's showing the Futbol. Not bad, give it a try!

Delicious Mexican food! I love that they have vegan and vegetarian options! The green and red enchiladas were freshly made

Delicious food that gives you feeling of being at home. Service is good and friendly and the ambience is quaint and cozy. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for that homemade Mexican food.

Man, I really liked this place. The quality is great and they have lower prices than most Mexican restaurants in the Bay. As other posters said, they offered a small sample of their birria, chicken tinga, and mole as new customers. Birria Burrito: I'm no birria expert, but it was flavorful and tender. On the side, they offer a bowl of consommé that you can use to dip, green salsa, onions, and cilantro. This is the perfect portion size when you want to feel satisfied, but not bloated. Mole Plate: It's dark meat chicken with a mole that has a deep, roasted flavor. Salad, rice, and beans on the side. Chips and Salsa: Honorable mention for these. The chips are salty which I love. The green salsa is yummy and fresh, the orange is rich and spicy, and the red is deceptively complex with lots of oregano. Flan: This is a cream cheese style flan. It's even called cheesecake on the menu. So creamy and awesome! My ratings are usually 95% for food and 5% service, good or bad. BUT gotta say the young guy who was our server was remarkably welcoming and so was the owner who came by our table (even though I don't think she speaks tons of English!). Sometimes restaurant staff can overdo it, but these folks were just really nice yet professional. It's a homey, low key place.

I didn't get into the Yelp event here, but I bookmarked it anyway because it looked so appealing. I wasn't sure if it could live up to the hype and high rating, but it sure did. Now it's one of my favorite Mexican restaurants! The mole enchiladas are my favorite. I can be picky about mole and even refried beans, but Cocina Mama Cholita's really hit the spot. The chicken inside the enchiladas were also super juicy. I've also tried the green enchiladas, but I ended up just missing the mole. I've only gotten takeout so far since parking is tough, but service is nice. They even give drink trays when we order 2 aguas frescas. The only downside is sometimes I find myself craving them when they're closed (like Monday and Tuesday), but they deserve a break after all the good work they're doing the other days of the week!

Super Sope with birria is one of my favorites dishes in the city. This might be my favorite restaurant in an area with a lot of great restaurants. A+ Green enchiladas, mole, veggie breakfast burrito have all been fantastic as well. Bravo, Mama. Keep it up!

Came here on a Friday night with my partner. I was really wanting my mom's food but also didn't want to cook it at home so I did my search for a tasty Mexican restaurant that would "hit the spot" and I found Cocina Mamá Cholita! I was indecisive between coming here and another spot, but am so happy that we came here because I loved everything. I ordered the sopes plate that came with rice and beans and had the flan for dessert. And an horchata. My partner got the birria tacos and a churro for dessert. The owner recommend that I get the chorizo with steak and it was absolutely delicious. They make their own chorizo! I have never gone to a restaurant that does that so I was impressed. Everything really tasted homemade and that made me happy. Owner was very polite and sweet! They have the cleanest restaurant and bathroom that I've been to in the Mission! Would I go back? Absolutely. I'm addicted to their mango habanero salsa.

Great service. The food is amazing!! You got to try the quesadillas birria!! Easy to get there but public transportation. Friendly, clean environment.

W.O.W. This place did not disappoint.. Ordered the birria burrito, green chicken enchiladas and empanadas. You can definitely taste the home cooked love in the dishes. Green chicken enchiladas are hard to come by in the city and man this dish was amazing.. chicken was super flavorful and moist. Topped with Mexican cheese, sour cream and orange salsa *chefs kiss* super tasty. (Beware orange salsa dangerously good but also dangerously spicy) Birria burrito with consume ?!! Wow by far the best birria burrito I've yet to come by. The moistness, tenderness, and blast of flavor you get from the consume will definitely leave you wanting more. Empanadas were also delicious. Crispy outer shell and inside is filled with cheese and steak. Also went really well with the salsas. I will definitely be back for more! :)

WHAT A GEM IN THE OUTER MISSION - I hope word gets out. This is a new-ish place. And my fav Yelper Cherylynn gave it 5 stars, so I had to check it out. The owner was super sweet, and came over and asked if it was our first time and brought us over "samples" of the sauces. Also free chips with 3 sauces. His story is that he learned to cook from his Grandmother as he was taking care of her, she would say - "no good , do it again" until she was satisfied that he was getting her recipes perfect. We started with a Lime/Cucumber/Chia Aqua Fresca. Very refreshing. Hubbs ordered the chicken mole enchiladas but they brought him Chicken Mole plate - no big deal. I ordered the empanadas, which was only $10 - in some photos there are 2, but he said he upped the qty to 3 recently. All super fresh and delicious, you can tell these are old family recipes. This place is just finding its footing, the owner said he is maybe gonna add, sampler plates and breakfast int he future. The food was authentic, delicious and fresh. the place is very clean, service was great. ALSO - there is apparently TAMALES made by his mom on Thursdays - I wanna come back!!

I chose Cocina Mama Cholita to do date night with my husband before baby comes and it did not disappoint! As soon as we walked in, they welcomed us and offered us food samples, since it was our first time. They also gave us chips & salsa. The orange colored salsa was addicting but also very spicy. TMI - I definitely got firebutt the next day haha! For starters, we got the empanadas. It comes in three and they were delicious. For drinks, we got horchata and cucumber chia (which was not on the menu). Definitely get the cucumber chia - it was sooo good and refreshing!! For entrees, we got chicken enchiladas and quesabirria tacos. The chicken enchiladas were comforting. The quesabirria tacos were stuffed with meat, but I do wish the tortilla shells were crispy (vs soggy). Service was top notch. All the staff members were very friendly and accommodating. Would recommend :)

Visited on a Wednesday night around 6pm. The restaurant had a few other guests but still plenty of open tables. Food: Chips & Salsa: chips were light and crispy without being greasy. Green salsa was pretty good herbaceous with an oniony note. Red salsa had a slight creaminess, note of bell pepper, kinda reminded me of enchilada sauce. Orange salsa was spicy, creamy, with a hint of sweetness and a delicate citrus note. Super Veggie Taco : delicious, loaded with toppings, the chunks of cheese were such a great touch, nice textural contrast and layered in flavor, the guacamole and crema added richness, would highly recommend giving the veggies tacos a try Steak Taco: good, nice amount of steak, topped with loads of diced onion and cilantro, needed a little sprinkle of salt but otherwise a tasty taco Service was good, prompt and friendly. Loved the little sampler of dishes the mole was complex and rich, the chicken ting was tender and saucy, birria was slow simmer and flavorful Overall I really enjoyed the tacos here, particularly the super veggie one. Dishes were layered in flavor with great depth and complexity. Would definitely come back to try other dishes on the menu.

I wanted to eat something Mexican, I decided to order from Doordash, I must say it was the best decision, flavor 10/10 presentation 10/10 safety of food in delivery 10/10! I really recommend this place!

1st at all.. I wanted to try this restaurant many times but always I had something to do.. so I've booked here @Yelp for Tuesday.. but it's closed. Actually Monday and Tuesday's are closed. I've finally tried their Quesabirrias... AMAZING!. They taste delicious. I've also order Jamaica water and is perfect. The place is NEAT, good relaxed ambiance with very low noise levels, which for me it's a must. Also, the waitress is super sweet. I'll be back for more food bc I had a late breakfast so my stomach got full with 2 (of 3) Quesabirrias and I'm saving space for the flan!. Flan: it was all my kind because it's in the side of more consistent and thick desert. Really tasty. One more update!.. So, I came back bc I really wanted to try the empanadas & super taco with birria. Absolutely delicious. This items were enough food for me and save a little space on my stomach for the amazing flan.

I was not impressed with the food. I felt like it lacked flavor. The portions were great. The service was good but they kept on coming to our table every few minutes to ask if we needed anything else. There's only street parking and sometimes hard to find.

Birria-yeah! In the 80's there were these Care Bears that kids of all ages seemed to have. This place should have a Birria Bear. From the minute we walked in we could feel the warmth, like we were walking into someone's home and they were about to serve us a home cooked meal from the heart. This place genuinely felt like we were eating a meal prepared with lots of love and care. I requested an off the menu item, and they graciously made the enchiladas mole to my liking. I really appreciated it. The mole tasted like a generational recipe, one that's been perfected over the years. One that's made with warmth, flavor, and tradition. You know me and Horchata. I'm so picky about my favorite drink. Their Horchata was so good that I ended up drinking 2 glasses and got one to go. The homemade salsa with their chips was amazing. Their tomatillo sauce was amazing and so was their spicier habenero one. Their guacamole was fresh and had just the right amount of flavor and texture. My coworker loved her birria burrito. Just like my enchilada plate it was filled with fresh ingredients and fluffy tasty rice. The service was outstanding. Warm and friendly and full of pride for their new restaurant as they should be. We'll be back, and I hope that this restaurant continues with its amazing food and service and that they become millionaires and open up more locations.

Delicious food and even better staff! Used to always get enchiladas but recently discovered the burritos are elite too

With an extremely clean and spacious interior, friendly and accommodating service, and the most fresh and delicious food, I now declare Cocina Mama Cholita my new favorite Mexican restaurant! The restaurant is in a good location and parking was not too hard to find on a Tuesday afternoon. There was only one other table eating when we arrived. We could tell the owner was super busy because he had a packed weekend and he still tried to give great service despite that. I'm happy that the restaurant is getting more well known because the owner had mentioned that there were barely any customers in the beginning. We ordered the mole enchiladas and the green enchiladas. The owner gave us empanadas to make up for a short wait for tinga chicken in the green enchiladas. Additionally, he gave us free samples of a cucumber lemon chia drink that was very refreshing. - Empanadas ($10): 5/5 must try I think this may have been my first time trying empanadas because I didn't know they could be so crispy and delicious. The outside was crispy while the inside had melted cheese and juicy steak. I would definitely get this again. - Mole Enchiladas ($14.99): 5/5 The mole was extremely flavorful-- a bit smoky and chocolatey, with a slight tang and bitterness to it. The rice and refried beans helped absorb the sauce and provide a bit of a nutty flavor. I loved this dish. - Green Enchiladas ($14.99): 5/5 my favorite The green enchiladas were tangy and cheesy, and the tinga chicken was juicy. The owner even offered to give us extra green sauce which we accepted. I preferred this over the mole enchiladas personally but I thought both were extremely well made. - Churros ($2.50 each): 5/5 must try How could I not get churros to finish off a good meal? They have regular, cream filled, and caramel filled churros. We got the cream filled churros by the owner's recommendation as those are his favorite. The churros came out piping hot in a few minutes and we couldn't wait to bite into one even after a warning that it was extremely hot. The churros were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with what seemed to me to be a custard filling. "Better than Disneyland", was said after we had finished one of two churros. I would definitely get these again. I can't wait to come back and try their other dishes. The prices are reasonable for such fresh and delicious food. I've been telling my friends about this place as I hope they do get more and more business over time!

Found a gem in the city near Bernal Heights. As soon as you step foot into this establishment, you are greeted by their staff and they are welcoming. They heard its our first time and from there, they gave us samples of their signature dishes along with a warm seasonal drink (forgive me, I forgot the name!). We ordered the mole and the green enchiladas and they were both so flavorful, juicy, and filling. We ordered the horchata and that was ok, now we wished we ordered more of that seasonal drink instead! If you're looking for a more traditional spot, look no further! Highly recommend this place!

GREAT lunch. Small Mom and Pop place with lots of heart. Jose gave me some chips with their homemade salsa. Super tasty and a bit spicy. Had the birrio burrito. Super yummy ultra tender beef with a tasty consume. Came with some chopped onions and some cilantro. Jose came over with some mango habanero salsa to try. Then, he offered for me to try two of their empanadas which were also super tasty. Lastly, he also offered for me to try their mole on some rice. ALL were super yum. Try this place - you won't be sorry.

What a great new find! We ordered the green enchilada with chicken tinga. Amazing homemade everything. The owner and his mom are so welcoming and sweet. Very clean restaurant, clean ingredients and homey vibe.

When a new restaurant opens and wants to get feedback, you sometimes luck out being a guinea pig. More on that later BUT I'm always happy to be anyone's foodie guinea pig - just call me! =D Opening in late February is Cocina Mamá Cholita in Bernal Heights. They took over the long time Angkor Borei space (two other restaurants opened in the space but only lasted several months each). Cocina Mamá Cholita is a family-owned and operated restaurant (son and mother) that's dedicated to the owner's grandmother. They're open for takeout, delivery, and dine-in, all day for lunch and dinner. No outdoor dining. M E N U Mexican cuisine using the owner's grandmother's recipes. F O O D * Complimentary Chips & Salsa: https://tinyurl.com/5ckp4a96 Fresh, thin, and crispy chips served with a spicy red salsa. * Enmoladas de Pollo: Chicken Mole Enchiladas w/ refried beans, rice, salad ($14.99): https://tinyurl.com/2ktbxm6p The mole sauce was deliciously rich and velvety, chocolate forward with warming spices. A generous amount was ladled over the chicken enchiladas. The corn tortillas were soft and chewy, soaking up all the saucy goodness. This was my first time having enchiladas with diced grilled chicken. The char added a smoky element which I liked. The accompanying refried beans were creamy, the rice was tender and well-seasoned, and the crisp shredded iceberg lettuce provided freshness. * Birria Sample: https://tinyurl.com/2p98tb2m The owner kindly brought out a sample of the birra that he just made and it was BOMB! It was meltingly soft and tender, and lightly seasoned so you can taste all the natural beefiness. Sometimes I find birria too stringy and/or hella salty but this was perfect in flavor and texture. * Atole Sample The atole is a hot and creamy drink made from hominy with comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. I saved it for dessert; a great sweet ending to lunch. S E R V I C E The owner, José is very hospitable. It's like going to a friend's family home. He's also the chef, server, busboy, and dishwasher. He does it all! During lunch, it was quiet and my food was promptly delivered. The samples were a welcome surprise and a great idea to get customer feedback during a restaurant's infancy stage. A M B I A N C E Casual and cozy with about 10 tables and several TVs. The space has really brightened up from its Angkor Borei days. P A R K I N G Street parking is rough but it's the city. Overall, Cocina Mamá Cholita serves up delicious food with warm hospitality. Def hit up this new business if you're in the area!