Gola Restaurant SF

Tunisian restaurant · Mission

Gola Restaurant SF

Tunisian restaurant · Mission

819 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Highlights

"Modern Tunisian cuisine with a twist of Mediterranean flavors and local SF ingredients."

819 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110 Get directions

golarestaurantsf.com

@golarestaurantsf

Reserve

@eater

"Gola serves modern Tunisian cuisine in the Mission, and now the restaurant has added brunch to its repertoire. There are four different types of Benedicts on the menu, including a Dungeness crab option, but more importantly, there are four styles of shakshukas to choose from, such as a merguez version featuring lamb and beef sausage." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

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@infatuation

"Olivia Tote ($15) One of our favorite spots for fried chicken sandwiches has a super cute graphic on their tote. It’s a nod to the Mission (where SF Chickenbox is located), their mochi muffins, and, of course, the chicken." - julia chen 1

The Infatuation SF’s Holiday Gift Guide

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@eater

"A Tunisian restaurant that opened in spring 2023 has yet to get clearance for the use of its namesake North African cooking vessel. The Chronicle reports Gola, Rafik Bouzidi’s newest restaurant, is under scrutiny from San Francisco’s Department of Public Health. That’s because Bouzidi wants to use clay pots, called golas, to prepare his cuisine. Due to concerns about the ability to clean the vessels properly and questions about whether or not the glaze used on the golas is safe for cooking, officials continue to deny the entrepreneur the use of his cookware." - Paolo Bicchieri

Fire Destroys Historic Boat Shack at Nick’s Cove in Tomales Bay - Eater SF

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@infatuation

"One of our favorite spots for fried chicken sandwiches has a super cute graphic on their tote. It’s a nod to the Mission (where SF Chickenbox is located), their mochi muffins, and, of course, the chicken. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation

SF Chickenbox - Review - San Francisco - The Infatuation

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Ahmed Amad

Google

A Hidden Gem in San Francisco Gola is a must-visit! The Tunisian-inspired dishes are bursting with flavor, and the gola clay pot presentation is so unique. The ambiance is cozy, and the staff are incredibly welcoming. Highly recommend for a one of a kind dining experience

Sylvie Constance

Google

We had the most delicious meal at Gola. Every single dish was a feast to the eye as well a tickle our taste buds. The sauces were all very different in every dish, beautifully balanced with Tunisian spices. As a main, I would recommend the lamb tajine, the chicken tajine and the stuffed eggplant if you’re vegetarian or not. For appetizers, the scallops in turmeric sauce were delicious as well as the Kromb (cabbage) and of course, the Brika. Service was very quick and very kind. This might become our regular restaurant in the mission. It felt like a one night trip to Tunisia. Thanks Chef.

Noëlle Tiana R.

Google

Authentic traditional Tunisian dishes that taste just like the food you get in Tunis or Sfax. You should definitely try it if you want to experience the tasty cuisine and friendliness of Tunisia. We had the Houryia, and brika for appetizers, the grilled branzino for entree. And couldn’t resist to add the Lamb tagine as take out. All delicious 🤤 That baklava was definitely one that succeeded in its life. It was huge and so well presented! The owner and waiters are all very friendly. The whole ambiance reminded us of a night out in downtown Tunis. Thank you Rafik and team for having us :)))

JEONGBUM SEO

Google

Tunisian people know how to remove strong smell of the chicken. Chicken tagine is very similiar with Ddakgomtang or Samgyetang in Korea. Compared to those, it has a lot of complex flavor components to it like sourness, acidity of preserved lemon, freshness, tartness from tomato, earthy peppery tumeric, spiciness from chili pepper, lots of spices going on etc,. It is so perfectly balanced meal in terms of flavor, nutrition. They said it boils for 7-8 hours in clay vessel called “Tagine”. Slow cooked foods are always GOOD! It will make your belly get warm as soon as you start eating. Felfel mehchi is tunisian stuffed peppers. You don’t need any cutlery to chew this. So melt-in-your-mouth tender! House-made bread is baked to order, some fennel seed inside. So authentic! Couscous is so fluffy, going well with spicy harissa sauce, roasted eggplants.

safa el kefi

Google

The food is just amazing! Very authentic and refined food.. we tried the brika, bronzini with kafteji, houria and felfel mehchi.. The food takes you on a trip to Tunisia and back .. The vibes, the plates presentation, the service, the taste .. all of it is amazing! I highly recommend it .. you won’t regret it.. PS: the food is halal as well for people with restrictions..

Olivier Cali

Google

Authentic Tunisian restaurant. Get some grilled octopus or a "bricka au thon", a lamb tagine or a vegetarian Kromb, some eggplants with harissa on the side with their delicious homemade bread, and a baklava to conclude this culinary trip to North Africa. And don't forget to try their national drink, a date spirit called Boukha.

Ben Beirut

Google

To me, this is the best restaurant in town. Whenever we have visitors, this is where we take them first. The cuisine strikes a perfect balance between international and exotic. It is the elevated Mediterranean cuisine with core Mediterranean ingredients that I would describe as an unpretentious marriage of fancy French dishes and the Italian staples that everyone enjoys that happens to be prepared in a traditional Tunisian fashion. I have been to this restaurant countless times and the quality of the food and the welcome does not vary. Top notch food and excellent staff!

Azita E

Google

I had the pleasure of dining at an exceptional Tunisian restaurant and I cannot recommend it highly enough! From the moment we walked in, the warmth of the staff made us feel right at home. Everyone was incredibly friendly, attentive, and genuinely invested in ensuring we had a memorable experience. The food was absolutely fantastic! Every dish was bursting with authentic Tunisian flavors, beautifully presented and perfectly seasoned. It's clear that the chefs pour their heart into every plate. The highlight of the evening was meeting the owner, a kind and generous gentleman who made us feel like honored guests.He took the time to chat with us about the cuisine and culture, adding a personal touch to our visits. To our surprise, he even sent us two additional dishes for free, allowing us to sample more of their incredible offerings. This gesture truly showcased his passion for hospitality and his commitment to sharing Tunisian culinary traditions.If you 're looking for an unforgettable dining experience with outstanding food, welcoming staff and a personal touch, this is the place to go. I can't wait to return and try more of their delicious menu!