Maria Isabel

San Francisco, get ready to meet your new favorite restaurant! Acapulco’s coastal vibrancy, reimagined with a talented crew behind the scene brining this gem to SF, called Maria Isabel. From the first bite, the dishes are vibrant, chef-driven and unapologetically focused on flavor. There’s a beautiful balance between coastal brightness and deep, comforting richness that nods to the Acapulco region’s seaside soul. Think seafood that tastes like it was pulled from the ocean that morning, and tacos with real personality, and stunning presentation. What really stands out is the intention behind each dish. This isn’t “just” Mexican food. It’s culinary storytelling through Chef Laura's heritage. Traditional foundations are honored, with a refined, chef-forward touch in the execution. The space itself mirrors the food: warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed. The interior blends texture and color that feels intimate. The staff are warm, knowledgeable and attentive. You feel genuinely welcomed, not just served that elevates the entire experience. Can't wait to be back!

Today we went to our favorite restaurant, Dalida, without a reservation, hoping to find a table or at least sit at the bar. Of course, it was completely packed and there was no table available. While we were there, we saw Chef Seyat, and he told us they had just opened another restaurant in the Presidio that’s how we discovered Maria Isabel. Oh my goodness, what an experience. We tried the octopus salad, ceviche, caviar guacamole, sea urchin, and lamb, choco ta-corn and everything was outstanding. I can’t say that Mexican cuisine is usually my favorite, but whatever we experienced tonight was truly unforgettable. We already planned our next visit. I’m not sure how I can’t get the sea urchin out of my head. it was incredible. The cocktails are very unique, and everything is thoughtfully crafted. You can tell that everyone there knows exactly what they’re doing and genuinely enjoys it. It’s only their first week, yet they are already better than many restaurants that have been in the industry for years. What an unforgettable night. Thank you!

Unique elevated Mexican food with a touch of taste, design and personality. Chef-owners Sayat and Laura whom I’ve followed from their pop up days to Dalida and now Maria Isabel - all of which tells a different story through their food interpretation and intricate representation from cocktail to wine, farm to table and dish ware choices. You’ll always see these chefs front Center and back of house - but at Maria Isabel, it’s intimate. I really liked their refreshing salad, mussels sope, and no-notes on the amazing conchita dessert. You can do wine pairing or your own choice of cocktails. Quite a large catalogue of mezcal and homage to sotol, tequila and wine list!! I also love that the noise level at Maria Isabel is moderate, you can actually have a conversation without shouting :)

This restaurant is both warm and welcoming! We had the tasting menu, and I was enjoying myself SO much, I only snapped a few photos; we left fully satisfied with the amount of food that was perfectly cadenced throughout the night. The drinks were both balanced and complex with unique spirits beyond the typical tequila and mezcals you might have. I will definitely be back to try more of what they have to offer! I am so glad such a place exists Thank you Maria Isabel!

The people who made Dalida one of the most popular places in SF now bring us a Mexican restaurant that will expand your understanding of what Mexican food can be. I was so excited to experience food different — a bit elevated from all the great but casual burrito/taco places in the city — but not a fancy tasting menu. Everything we had was so delicious and yet comforting and new (to us). A dungeness crab tortita (sandwich) “drowned” in chile de arbol sauce, little rockfish empanada-type peccadillos, a chicken milanesa that was like a huge stuffed schnitzel, duck carnitas in a wonderful mole sauce, and a “baked acapulco” with mezcal…all were spectacular. We need to go back to try more things. This is a great neighborhood and SF destination restaurant that brings (new to most of us) Mexican cuisine to SF.

Fantastic experience at the new Maria Isabel! We loved the ambience in both rooms, especially the darker, cozy room by the bar where we sat. The cocktail menu is creative and interesting — we were thrilled with our choices. In addition to our cocktails, Jerry absolutely nailed it with his wine recommendations for our main courses. We started with the asparagus and ceviche appetizers — yum! Our entrées were generous and full of flavor. It’s definitely the kind of place where you’ll want to order a few dishes for the table and share so you can taste everything. We had the chicken (delicious) and the lamb ribs, which were equally memorable. The chef was very accommodating with my friend’s gluten-free needs — she was able to enjoy three of the four dishes we ordered! I’m already looking forward to going back!

Phenomenal. San Francisco has a lot of great food, but we haven’t experienced a menu where each dish is both so novel but hits the spot so right. Potentially more importantly in 2026, the ingredients are so clean and quality. We loved everything from the caviar bite, the ceviche, the asparagus salad, the sea urchin, the lamb ribs and even the desserts but didn’t have room for the chocolate program and will have to come back for that.

I write this review with reticence but only for selfish reasons. SF desperately needed a top end Mexican restaurant. Granted there are plenty of good ones in SF but none are exceptional. This place is exceptional. The recipes are very unique and considered, both drinks and food. The atmosphere is stylish and calming. The atmosphere is in sync with the flavors. It's is a brand new restaurant and it hits the mark.