Il Pollaio

Cozy and warm place with simple yet perfectly executed food. The chicken and lamb were amazing—I’m not sure how they achieved that level of crispiness while keeping the meat so juicy, but they nailed it. Be sure to try the grilled onions and squash—they elevate the main dish to the next level. The owner often serves customers herself and is a very friendly and pleasant person. :)

I’ve been here a few times with my family and every time the service and atmosphere is great, but the food doesn’t match. We usually do family style with pork chops and chicken, eggplant and peppers, but I’m continually disappointed by these dishes, so I decided to get the burger instead. The patty, though I asked for medium rare, was well done, I had to pay extra for a thin slice of cheddar cheese, and the fillings left something to be desired. I kept thinking that I could have gotten a better burger at a backyard bbq, rather than this $17 one. The fries were pretty tasteless and thick. The eggplant and peppers had a lot of garlic and oil, and not much else. I’m left wanting more with this food. That said, the waitstaff are incredible at their jobs. Very nice people.

Il Pollaio: 27 Years and Going Strong! I first walked into Il Pollaio 27 years ago, shortly after moving to San Francisco. Since that day, I have enjoyed their food, and my fondness for it has never waned. The standout dish here is the grilled chicken. They truly know how to do chicken right! I always recommend ordering the half-grilled chicken and salad special. It remains a fantastic deal. If grilled chicken isn't your favorite, you can't go wrong with their lamb chops or burgers, either. Their salads are simple but satisfying. My top pick is the Combination Salad, which comes with beans. When it comes to soups, my favorite is the split pea soup, though their minestrone is also excellent! The staff at Il Pollaio is wonderful. Over the years, I've seen many great people work there, but a few have been around for a long time, and they are exceptional. Il Pollaio has been a constant in my life in the North Beach food scene for over two decades, and I can't recommend it highly enough for anyone seeking delicious and reliable meals in North Beach, San Francisco.

Il Pollaio the legendary “henhouse” in North Beach [The City’s “Little Italy”] established in 1984 specializes in grilled chicken cooked with both Italian and Argentinian flavor that is moist inside with the crispy skin outside. {Hint: “El Pollo Supremo” of Cuban Mexican flavors.} However, my favorite plate is Half Coniglio (Rabbit) with lots of lemon over one Peroni. Why? ❶Rabbit meat is rare in The City where else can you find a plate?❷ Rabbit meat is heathy nutritious with a lean protein, which means that it's good for your heart eliminating high cholesterol in your body. ❸Steamed potatoes with sprinkle of parsley are delicious {reminds me of the Portuguese Club in Newark.} ❹Peroni: Nastro Azzurro. Chin! Chin! But I wish their menu would add on "coniglio alla cacciatora,” a comforting “Hunters Rabbit Stew” with onions, garlic, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and herbs over some white wine from the Castellucci Collections, which would be “heaven on earth!” Having said that, most importantly, the Castelluccis whose family roots are of San Sosti who are the owners have an amazing story to tell in pursuing their “American Dream” if you Google it. In a nutshell, the parents who were in the same preschool eventually miraculously ran into each other in The City and got married right across street at the Saints Peter & Paul….Bravo! Evviva! Salute! PS Muni buses line 8, 30, 30S, 39, 45 will take you right on the corner. Muni bus #12 [Broadway & Stockton] is within two and half blocks walking distance.

Little spot for a quick lunch or dinner. The food is decent - simple, fresh, and reasonably priced. It’s a good place to grab a sandwich or salad if you’re in the area and need something fast.

It's such an amazing restaurant. The food is always delicious and fresh. The prices are very reasonable. Every dish is a winner.

I'm on Columbus street because my old Army pal Joe Schlong needed some help installing a Crystatillian Retarder on a Beachfrat Balifoon he picked up from the Philharmonic, so I offered my help. It required the precision of a surgeon with skinny fingers and the ability to work between heartbeats, and that left me out so I enlisted the help of Mary-Joe Chipinski the retired Bomb Deactivater for the NYPD Bomb Squad who just happened to be in town for this weekend's Large Munitions Trade Show at the Cow Palace.. What luck! The Schlong was so happy he walked the half block over to Il Pillaio Restaurant and brought back some pretty amazing chicken dinners! 5 ☆☆☆☆☆

We was at China town and crave for some steak. Normally we would eat at Tad's but we wanted to try somewhere new, and we were not disappointed. The restaurant was not big, but cozy. The waitress was super friendly and professional. We ordered more than we could eat but the food was really good. 2 soups, 1 salad, 1 fried, 1 medium rare steak, half of grilled chicken. They were served along with some bread and salted butter. I'm glad we found out about this place. They have rabbit and lamb, maybe we would try them the next time we go there. Overal, cozy, good services, good food, price is quite fair for everything. Definitely would come back for more. Also I learned Italian during covid, so sitting in a Italian restaurant in Italian town hearing Italian was a very nice experience for me.

We wanted to get another spot nearby, but it was too crowded and the wait was too long so we settled on Il Pollaio. Their specialty is chicken but it looks like they have other Italian items. We came as a group of 3 and ordered the Italian sausage, whole chicken, and fries. It looks like they cook their chicken to order. I wasn't sure what to expect, but our whole group walked out pretty satisfied. The chicken was very flavorful and moist. The Italian sausage was just OK in my opinion. My other friends liked it. The fries were good, but be warned it comes with no salt. I used their salsa which was really good. I couldn't get enough of that stuff on the chicken and fries. The servers were chill and the space was clean. I'd come back!

The reviews for this place have been excellent for years, so we decided to stop by for a light lunch before a heavy dinner later. My husband and I split a half chicken with fries, and we asked for the chicken well done. Do not expect a Costco-sized bird here. These are smaller chickens, but they are well seasoned and flavorful. The fries came out exactly as requested, very crispy and satisfying. Overall, it was a good meal, and I am glad we had the chance to try it.

Recently came for lunch with my friend. She lives in Noe Valley and never been in a Waymo before, so as a fun "experience", I did a RT from her house and got us to North Beach's Il Pollaio. As an experienced W rider, I have to admit that it wasn't the smoothest ride as we were unfortunately behind an ambulance at one point when we got near North Beach which required calling in to rider support for help, and she was overall annoyed by the scenic route Waymo took. In the end, she was gracious for the "new experience" but prefers to drive her own car next time. As for the restaurant itself, simple and earnest with great food. I had the half chicken with fries and my friend got the chicken sandwich. Both delicious. The chicken was delicious with some squeezed lemon juice. Perfecto! This place has been here for many years, so a bit nostalgic. Cash only. Located on Columbus and Union.

This restaurant has been around since 1984! Now, that's saying something to be in business for that long. They're doing something right! I've been meaning to try this spot for their grilled chicken, and finally got to try it. The waitstaff were welcoming, attentive, and accommodating. The place is cozy and intimate with some tables along side the windows for a street view of Columbus Avenue. ***OUR PICKS*** WHOLE CHICKEN ~ A small, but moist and tender chicken with crispy skin seasoned perfectly! Tasty chicken that's finger licking and bone sucking good!!! Loved this! 5/5 LARGE COMBO SALAD ~ Romaine, cabbage/slaw and bean salad. The slaw looked premade and not fresh looking with some leaves turning brown. But they gave us a few salad dressings, so that was nice. Nothing special, but as a starter, it did the job. 3.5/5 We didn't want to have a heavy lunch, so this fit the bill. The chicken was delicious, enjoyable and memorable that I would return again for the chicken! I've had chicken that's moist, but over brined or seasoned. Not the case for Il Pollaio's chicken. One of the best I've had! If you've never tried their chicken, you're missing out!

I got the chicken. The flavour was good but it was just very hard to eat and kind of dry. Our food took forever to come even our sides. Everyone got a free tableside of bread beaodes our table for some reason. The fries were good at least. Also the house sauce was very spicy but still good. Theres plenty of seating too for a saturday.

Will come back over and over. Best staff -- they work so freaking hard please tip well and do such a good job. The food is GREAT. Thank you for reminding me why I love this city so much.

An old favorite in North Beach! Delicious lunch -- and a real bargain. Get the delicious, marinated and grilled chicken and a green salad to share and you won't be sorry. The French bread (and butter) is really exceptional. You might even want a glass of wine. Sit by the window and watch the world go by and pretend you're on vacation in Europe. Lots of regulars and friendly server. A regular spot on our rotation for good reason.

Finally took a night to come by Il Pollaio and I may have found one of my new favorite restaurants in SF! I had the half chicken with combo salad (green salad, bean salad, and coleslaw) for $21, the portions are extremely generous and it was exactly what I needed. The chicken came fresh off of the grill with crispy, well seasoned skin and juicy meat. Didn't even remember to get a picture because I was too excited to dig in! We also ordered a liter of the house wine for $20 to split between 3 people, which was a great deal. It felt like I was eating dinner at a small town restaurant in the middle of Spain. The energy inside the restaurant was unmatched. If they didn't close at 9pm, we could've sat here eating chicken and drinking wine for hours I'll definitely be back to try the three sausage plate and potatoes as well!

Beloved neighborhood place for chicken! It's in our regular dinner rotation. Get extra salsa. But lately we've loved the sausage pesto sandwich with bell peppers. The mild has more flavor notes than the spicy which is just hot. No frills service. Great, cheap wines make dining in more fun;)

Still great chicken after all these years! I like the potatoes and "green and bean" salad. Soups rotate so always ask!

Absolutely delicious food! I have enjoyed everything on the menu! Great staff and wonderful ambiance

The sign at Il Pollaio is like a Cubist 1980s video game design. Obviously, the restaurant opened in 1982. Not so obvious, they never made the blunder many establishments do of remodeling for the sake of remodeling. Fashions ebb and flow; that which is cool is timeless. I think Ralph Lauren said that. Michael Bauer, former SF Chronicle food critic said good things about this place. The staff at Il Pollaio wear t-shirts with Bauer's quote printed on them. I can't really remember the details of the encomiums, but it's not a bad article. You should read it. The Chronicle will allow you to look at a limited number of their pieces online. In the age of social media, the world has lost the professional dilettante. For all his faults, I wish Bauer would still do reviews. Perhaps he wasn't the most exploratory critic, or the best writer, but he's preferable to his successor, Soleil Ho. Not only is Soleil a hack, but a crusading hack, a hack on a mission. Back to Il Pollaio... It was founded by a man from a Calabrian man. That is, a Calabrian by was of Argentina. With his chickens, he merged his two backgrounds. The chickens are spatchcocked and grilled (over gas). Cooking a splayed animal over fire represents the Argentine. Giving the bird a rub with garlic, herbs and spices before grilling represents the Italian. It is honest, no frills cooking. The crispy skin is imbued with the flavor of the fire. The seasonings - olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme - add savory depth. Perfectly cooked, somehow, even the white meat is moist. The waiter gave me a plastic squeeze bottle filled with chunky, brick red sauce. It is the kind of sauce you find at Italian or Greek restaurants where the Mexican cooks have been given their freedom. That means more capsaicin. It is also the most affordable meal in North Beach. You can get a half chicken here for $16. In a neighborhood that sells spaghetti pomodoro for $23 a bowl, that is a bargain.

I was introduced to this place through my fiancé and now its a regular dinner spot for us. It has a limited menu but so far everything we've tried has been great. The chicken is delicious and definitely what hooked me but I keep coming back for my favorite, the pork chops. They also have a special salsa for the chicken that is a must. Its a small spot so it would be difficult for very large parties but its a great spot for a date night or a few friends. The service is great, and the food comes out quickly.

The only place to get chicken in SF, hands down the best!!! Whole chicken and an order of steak fries, my family loves this place. The staff are super cool as well.

This place is such a neighborhood gem. Amazing Argentinian style bbq, great prices and warm and lovely people. We are regulars who love this place. My friends and I all have our usuals - lamb chops for me, ribeye for others. You can't find these prices for the quality of meat. And decent wine selection to go with everything too. The minestrone soup is also great. Don't miss this spot!

Great food. Hearty, well done. Not expensive for the neighborhood. Nice people. Great grilled meat.

Best value in San Francisco. No frills with all the flavor. This will ever be my go to spot before an event in the area or while walking around North Beach.

Our absolute, long-standing, favorite for grilled chicken/ steak/pork chops/sausages, and the best steak french fries (wide planks). It's almost a weekly staple for us. Super easy to drop in for a wholesome and supremely delicious dinner plate of a grilled item with potatoes and salad, or take out for a group. The staff have been with the restaurant for many years, and provide consistent and upbeat service.

We read an old review in the San Francisco Chronicle (the local newspaper) written by a local food critic named Michael Bauer. Mr. Bauer said in this review: "The mothership of grilled chicken." After reading that, I knew I had to give this place a try. The service here is great. Always friendly and cheery. We weren't too hungry so we split a chicken breast grilled sandwich. We asked for no pesto but extra mayo. They made the sandwich perfectly to order. The chicken was so juicy and flavorful!

We needed to grab something quick before going to Club Fugazi. It was the Saturday before Halloween and the scene was quite wild in the area. Luckily this spot was not busy. The service and food were solid. The menu is small...we had the full chicken, a Caprese salad, and an almond torte which were good.

Fantastic chicken!! Deliciously crispy steak fries!! Fresh, cold and crisp salad!! Buonissimo!

had never heard of this place, but saw it out of the corner of my eye on columbus one day and decided to try it. chicken was fantastic, ate a whole chicken in one sitting. great place for a meal any time.

Place is bomb! Highly recommend the Hamburger, grilled chicken and the minestrone soup (Available Friday & Saturday). Great value. 10/10 neighborhood spot. Come check it out!

One of my favorite restaurants in SF. Fair pricing given the quality and portions. The chicken is amazing. I love the bean salad and they always cook their fries perfect. Definitely a casual spot and great for takeout.

It was closing about 1/2 hour when we walked in. They were already cleaning up. We asked if we can still sit to eat and they said yes but with not so nice looks from all the staff. Apparently they wanted to go home and didn't want any more customers. It's fine, I understand but they should have just said we're closed and saved their nasty looks. We would have said ok another time. So I'll have to think about this a while before I decide to try them. Bad looks not cool.

This feels like a throwback from an era before esoteric cocktails and pricey small portions. You get a lot of food for a reasonable price and it tastes good. Nothing fancy, just straightforward comfort. Whole Chicken: This is why you come here. The chicken is cooked fresh to order on a smoky grill, with the grillmaster attentively flipping it quite frequently. The result is a juicy chicken, no matter whether it's white meat or dark meat, with a wonderfully smoky flavoring. It's priced higher than rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, but much less expensive than overpriced chicken joints like Zuni. So it kinda finds the right balance of being an old school comforting restaurant meal. Italian Sausage: So this kinda feels like something you could make at home on a grill pan or outdoor grill. It tastes fine though, dense with lots of nice spices. This should never be your primary dish, but rather a nice meaty extra if you're getting chicken for your group and want more. And there is something magical about alternating bites of grilled chicken with bites of grilled sausage, kinda makes you feel like you're at an outdoor summer BBQ. Fries: Thick cut, with a crispy exterior and soft pasty interior. Quite hearty. Pairs very nicely with the grilled meats.

It's a $15 plate. They only have two stores in San Francisco. It's very family oriented. Their staff (the lady) looks very authentic country American girl. Sincere and kind. Truly care for you. She asked me how it felt. That's good. Not just try to get your money and kick you out of the house.

Local unassuming family business with 12 tables. Incredible owner, food and ambiance. Had the entire chicken , delicious steak fries, garden salad and homemade lentil soup ...delicious! A bottle of the tasty Malbec to top it off. Grilled chicken seasoned and cooked well. Boneless ribeye seasoned and cooked perfectly with boiled potatoes on the side. Small staff and owner are so friendly and accommodating ... Look forward to returning !

23 years and going strong! I first walked into Il Pollaio 23 years ago shortly after I had just moved to San Francisco. I enjoyed their food then and that has never stopped. The thing to have is the grilled chicken. They do chicken right! Order the half grilled chicken and salad special. It is still a great deal. If you do not care for grilled chicken, their lamb chops and burgers are very good too. Their salads are basic but good. My favorite is the Combination Salad that comes with beans. My favorite soup of theirs is the split pea soup, but the minestrone is not far behind! The staff is great! Over the years many great people have work there, but there are one or two who have been there a long time and they are great.

Ordered the half chicken daily special salad, green salad with blue cheese. I asked if the Italian was homemade and the server said no Served with crusty bread and butter Chicken was good, rosemary, maybe garlic and lemon Salad was fresh, tomatoes, cucumber, radish and Roman lettuce Blue cheese dressing was standard Ice tea, standard Total $19 Try lamb next time

My visit to San Francisco is not complete if I don't visit Il Pollaio! I get a hug and warm greetings from owner Paula and her lovely staff! This is a local favorite...warm and welcoming just like home! I always have a hard time deciding what to have...their delicious chicken or spicy Italian sausages...luckily I went with a friend and we agreed to order both and share (very generous portions!). The special comes with a fresh salad...my choice always the green and bean with blue cheese dressing! Then another tough choice...their amazing french fries or boiled potatoes??? Today the boiled potatoes with parsley and butter...Paula sends us a lovely glass of a new rose to try...crisp and a perfect wine for our lunch choices! You can see why this is a favorite! Until my next visit...

I was sad when I finished my plate of Lamb Chops because the deliciousness had come to an end. The quality of meat, flavor, tenderness, quantity and price are outstanding. A very comfortably casual place you could become a regular at. I plan to go back again and again.

Excellent meal for when you want an easy family style event. It's like eating at your delicious Argentinian grandmas house. Look out for the daily specials on the board.

I've been coming here for well over a decade. The people running the day to day have changed several times, but what stays consistent is the food. The chicken is the star of the show. Their fries are great too. It's a small restaurant that can get crowded quickly, but it's worth the wait. This is a no frills place so don't expect white glove service. The waiter(s) do their best but are also scrambling when it fills up.

Consistent freshly grill chicken with mixed salad a healthy balanced and tasty meal. Simplicity reigns here. Cosy

This restaurant serves charbroiled grilled chicken in North Beach. I got cole slaw with it but u put the dressing(blue cheese) on the cole slaw.. That's how they serve it and it was different but whatevs. I got the half chicken and it was pretty good with breast and drumstick. Grilled and like mediterranean chicken from Turkey Syria or this time it's Italian. Had a Coca cola with it too

Great spot in North Beach to get a quality chicken meal. I felt like the entire meal was clean and didn't include the normal heaviness from eating out at a restaurant. Half a chicken was more than enough for two people. I cut it up and added it to my side salad to make a personal chicken salad. The chicken was a tad dry but the homemade salsas compliment it well. Will definitely be back!

I'm very picky when it comes to my chicken, whether its baked, roasted, grilled, fried, sautéed...you get it. I was still a little skeptical but my friend insisted, so I followed her lead. I will say, there are no flippen regrets! The grilled chicken was cooked to perfection! Tender juicy and finger licking. Ingredients: Salt, Pepper & olive oil! That's it nada mas! We also ordered a side of onions, again amazing. Look at the fresh cáprese salad! I'm drooling!

I have been eating here for twenty years and it's been consistent and delicious every time. Ingredients are fresh and well prepared. The chicken and the lamb are standouts in my opinion. All the sides are very well done. Can't really go wrong here. The salsa/hot sauce is like no other in the city to. The owners and the staff are hard working friendly people. SF gem that's been rocking since 84'

My favorite place for a great chicken dinner. The steak and spicy Italian sausage are so yummy too. Not too over spiced, always cooked to perfection and the reason I have been coming back for 25+ years! Love the family, the consistency and the fact that it has never changed Love, love, love!

I will only eat roasted chicken from Costco (don't judge me!), and now only from Il Pollaio. Service is spot on, 10 out of 10! The servers and the owner, Maria, are warm, friendly, outgoing, efficient, knowledgeable, and respectful of one's space (they check in on you, but also allow you to breathe and are not overbearing). The chimichurri burger is YUMMY, and their chicken is THE BEST! The skin was crispy and the meat was moist and juicy! This is my new favorite place! I can't wait to go back!

Excellent food. I did takeout but the food was tasty, still hot and we (my husband and I) loved it.

Satisfying place to grab a relatively cheap meal in North Beach! The chicken was very good - crispy and tender though quite salty. The half portion of chicken was enough for the two of us. We also got a side of fries, which came unsalted but it complemented the salty chicken well. The combination salad was also good! We paid about $29 for everything and left full. Nice service as well and casual neighborhood-y vibes.

O my goodness, there are not enough words in the universe to describe the absolute magic of Il Pollaio! I have been coming here since I was a newborn, and I'm still a regular at 30 :) Il Pollaio has the best chicken in the city, hands down! The chicken is extremely tender and juicy while being perfectly seasoned and having that extra crispy outside skin. The french fries are perfectly done and pair amazingly with the chicken. The chicken breast is also an incredibly yummy option! The atmosphere is cozy and sweet, the perfect blend of casual energy and warmth. The staff are AMAZING, and they have been since day 1! They are friendly, kind, and generous. I will send everyone I ever meet who comes to SF to Il Pollaio. Every time, the feedback is 1000/10. Thank you Il Pollaio for staying strong in SF and keeping the magic of the city alive!

We came here yesterday for a to go order of two grilled chickens and two large combo salads for a birthday dinner. Total price was 65 dollars and after a five dollar tip came to 70 dollars. The chickens were pretty small but tasty. The salsa is definitely needed. The white meat was a bit dry but the spicy salsa helped. As for the combo salad, I loved the combination of the tasty beans, greens and coleslaw and the Italian dressing was perfect for the salad. I just found out a second location was just opened by the owner's children near my parent's house so I'll be eating their grilled chickens, rib eye steaks, rabbits, and hamburgers on a regular basis now. Not a cheap place (the second location near the Mission is a little bit cheaper than the North Beach location) but it's really hard to find a good quality chicken restaurant so this is it for me now. Definitely recommend.

Amazing local grilled chicken spot! Very satisfying meal when craving meat. I ordered the half chicken and the lamb chop dish. The lamb chops were surprisingly flavorful and perfectly cooked medium rare as requested! They are as good as any lamb chop from a more expensive restaurant :) The chicken was flavorful but was slightly overcooked the last time I went. Still delicious and will definitely return!

Come here and get the chicken....and get the whole chicken if you are on keto diet or you are just me! We stayed at Fishermen's Wharf but decided to avoid all the tourist trap near our hotel. For some reason, I wanted chicken for dinner that night. A quick Yelp search guide us to this tiny restaurant. I love how moist the chicken is. Definitely need more heat in their hot salsa. Other than that, it's all good. My sister had the half chicken special and she picked the combination salad over fries. The salad was fresh and all the ingredients come together well. Our server was friendly albeit slightly inpatient since it's close to the end of her shift. Forgot our water and we had to flag her down to remind her. Food is good though, definitely better than all the options at the wharf. Would recommend.

This place is small, simple, family owned and AMAZING! The best chicken I've had in SF and the owner explained how they cook the organic chicken with no oil - it was perfectly seasoned and so tender and delicious! I also tried their fennel sausage which was incredibly fresh and tasty. For a side, we had the home fries and a combined salad which included a green salad, bean salad and a vinaigrette based coleslaw. I went last night with a friend and am driving into San Francisco tonight to go there for dinner with my husband! It was that good and I just want to share it with people and keep this hidden North Beach treasure going strong.

Ask for their homemade salsa. Chicken is amazing, best side are the steamed potatoes.