Nopalito
Mexican restaurant · North Panhandle ·
Tender carnitas, unique totopos, and creative margaritas
Tender carnitas, unique totopos, and creative margaritas
"Story has it the Nopalito grew out of its sister restaurant Nopa with recipes that the cooks made for themselves there after hours. The restaurant serves traditional Mexican dishes and some of the best carnitas around. The selection of tequila will make you weak in the knees: literally. Designers will appreciate how discretionary they are with their ligatures. Come eat in or order out of their convenient "para llevar" window." - Upperquad
"Whether they’re digging into a refreshing ensalada de nopales or sharing a platter of blue-corn tacos stuffed with spicy-smoky marinated fish, local couples and families with kids in tow adore this sustainable Mexican dining operation. Sister to Cal-cuisine icon Nopa, Nopalito is a thriving and equally beloved culinary favorite.The small, cheerful space with reclaimed wood and bright green accents doesn’t take reservations; call ahead to get on the list, or try takeout. Once seated, friendly servers will guide the way with house-made horchata for the kids and an extensive tequila selection for grown-ups. Both groups will certainly agree on a sweet finish: the excellent vanilla bean flan topped with orange caramel and orange supremes is unbeatable." - Michelin Inspector
"When the weather is good, the shady front patio at Nopalito is one of our favorite places to grab lunch outside and not worry about bringing any zinc oxide with us. Order the totopos con chile and some carnitas to split, and kill some time over margaritas. Even on a colder day, the heaters make this a great place to sit while you eat, even if there are seats open inside." - will kamensky
"Open spaces are just better for dining with kids—it must have something to do with the lack of bad acoustics (a.k.a. the potential for an entire dining room to hear your child ask where your hairline is going). Head to Nopalito’s patio when you need a margarita and your kid needs a quesadilla. The patio is heated and covered, making it comfortable even when it’s a cool 55 degrees out. Everything on the menu of Mexican dishes is shareable and well-executed. When in doubt, go for the carnitas, which pull apart with ease and are best folded up in a supple corn tortilla." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
"One of the city’s best-known destinations for a more upscale sit-down Mexican meal, Nopalito is a showcase for chef Gonzalo Guzman’s cooking, with an emphasis on local, sustainable ingredients and a wide range of regional dishes, including — but not limited to — seafood specialties from his native Veracruz. Mission District customers can check out Nopalito’s 18th Street takeout window, too, which has a handful of dishes that are exclusive to that location. Online ordering is available." - Paolo Bicchieri