Peña Pachamama

Excellent food, serves raw vegan plates, and cooked vegan plates, cozy little place, lot of history, pricey.

I enjoyed the Pena experience: good vegan food and tasty kale chips. The music & dance was relaxing and fun.

First I will say the decor in this place is very cool. It’s a very intimate place with dim lighting. The staff was friendly, including the band. I liked how they put effort into engaging with the audience in between their performance. I think this restaurant fell a bit short with the food. The food did not taste good at all. I was pretty disappointed with the food and feel guilty writing this review because the staff was so nice. But even the lemonade tasted bitter. Not sure how you can go wrong with lemonade. But anyways this place was fun but I don’t think I will ever return here.

Great vegan food!! Good vibes !! Nice ambience and music !! We got chef’s plate, lasagna and roasted potatoes. The dessert was hazelnut mousse. All of them were so good. Kale chips was the best of all!! Must try for all vegan lovers. Cashew cream cheese is another great item, with roasted potatoes it tasted so good. They have lot of organic raw food options.

One of the most amazing through-and-through vegan restaurant with insanely delicious gluten free options I have been to in this city. The food is outrageously amazing, fresh, made in house, served with kindness and care and fairly priced. The wait staff is incredibly attentive, kind, professional, courteous and respectful. The owner surprised me with a happy birthday song and a slice of cake on the house without us even telling them that it was my birthday. They just heard us talk and cared. The atmosphere is beautiful, cozy and clean. 100% recommend, this place is run with love, care and professionalism. Sorry I don’t have more photos, we just had such a great time and the food was so good we didn’t think of “instagramming”, we just enjoyed the moment so very much.

This place is awesome. Highly recommend. Especially if you are looking for a very special, and intimate venue that celebrates live music, dance and good vegan food :-). The building is also historic (used to be a speakeasy) and the vibe is really, really good.

So much fun! Such a magical atmosphere and good food. We did a private event herr

Great atmosphere and vibe. Loved the live music. Very friendly and accommodating staff. I will come back next time I am in SF and will try more options. This time I had a small plate of the spicy pasta and one empanada.

Words alone can't capture the depth of what Peña Pachamama offers. Nestled in the heart of San Francisco, this place is not just a venue -- it's a heartbeat. A living, breathing celebration of history, legacy, and indigenous roots, Peña Pachamama stands tall as a beacon calling people -- especially Native and South American communities -- back to their heritage. From the moment you enter, you're enveloped in vibrant color and rhythm. The ambience is electric yet sacred, filled with intention and spirit. The menu, mostly vegan and raw, feels like an extension of the earth -- wholesome, healing, and deeply rooted in Pachamama herself. But the soul of Peña Pachamama lies in its performances. Dancers move with raw emotion, blending the passion of tango and flamenco with indigenous rhythms. You're not just watching -- you're part of it. The performers often invite the audience to join, blurring the line between spectator and participant in the most joyful way. The instruments, many of South American origin, carry ancient vibrations. Before each performance, there's an introduction -- not just of the dance or music, but of the why. The significance. The roots. It's a moving reminder that in today's world, inclusion must mean honoring those who've been forgotten too long. What stands out most is the deep respect they give to the culture, the traditions, and the artists -- not as entertainment, but as sacred carriers of heritage. Every gesture, every note, every step is offered with reverence. This isn't just entertainment -- it's cultural reclamation. It's spiritual. It's personal. The mousse here is absolutely exquisite -- a masterclass in texture, temperature, and consistency. Every spoonful felt like silk on the palate. Truly mind-blowing. I also had the lasagna, and it was exceptional. Vegetarian lasagna is a rare find done right, but this one hit every note -- rich, hearty, and deeply satisfying without being heavy. It's comfort food elevated with finesse. The entire platter was beautifully presented and thoughtfully composed. Every element felt intentional, and together they created a meal that was both nourishing and exciting. As someone who seeks out vegetarian options, this was a standout experience -- one I'd gladly return for. Bonus: Marilyn Monroe once graced this space. So did several Grammy-winning artists. But what makes Peña Pachamama iconic is not who's been -- it's what it continues to be.

Felt robbed. Was expecting to just grab dinner and was not informed of the automatic absurd cover charge that would be billed because we happened to be there when the people started haphazardly playing their instruments. People from almost every table were involved with the 'show'. One seated the teen dancers, another an amateur singer, etc etc. it felt like everyone knew the owners (who were two of the people on stage playing their instruments) Overall their live show just felt scammy af. stay away before you get roped into the off key drum banging and the flying feathers. O and on the food. Food was overly expensive. Their kale chips were tasty but not tasty enough to risk the live music scam. I wish I'd gone elsewhere. #regrets.

Came here from out of town on a Thursday only to find out that it was closed for a private event, which was a bummer. Got takeout the next day to try the organic raw vegan sampler and I thought that it was just OK. The Reuben and the tacos have the same filling with the pickles, tomatoes, and lettuce so they didn't really try to differentiate the flavors to the respective items. I wish there was more creativity and innovation with more dehydrated items rather than just serving me a simple salad that I could make myself. The best thing in the sampler were probably the kale chips as they had good flavoring and umami. everything else was just meh and I wonder if I ordered the wrong items. I will say that everything is really healthy so that's a plus.

Hidden vegan gem in North Beach! SF really does vegan restaurants well. The combo plate was delicious, hearty, and savory - didn't feel like vegan food at all! I was absolutely stuffed afterwards. My friend had the empanadas, and said it tasted like a pot pie (in a good way). The kale chips are an absolute must try. They were crispy and cheesy and addicting. Would also come back here to try the reuben and corn taco, so curious about the raw menu! Sangria was also great and so was the mango cocktail. Very fresh but no frills at all. Just good drinks. Restaurant was quiet on a Tuesday night, just a few tables inside so it was quiet, but felt like a friendly neighborhood joint. The tables are close together, but we ended up chatting to our neighbors about the food and how we ended up choosing to eat there. Servers were very sweet as well.

I love that this place exists, as it's vegan and totally charming, and for the audience who cares on Yelp I'm doing it no favors, but the food isn't great and it's quite pricey. Kale chips are nice and salty but tasty. Saltena (like an empanada) is just plain bad, and badly plain. The "whole mozzarella pizza" is best not thought of as a pizza at all, as you'd be better off telling them to hold the cheese at any Italian place down the street, but more like a flatbread, with salty glop and some really good vegan sausage. Plantains are quite tasty but rather rich at $12.75.

Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 10/5 (absolutely spectacular ambiance!!) VIBE: - live music on fridays and saturdays 8-10pm!!!! the owners predominantly play Latin music - it's so small and intimate and has become my favorite restaurant in SF - patrons are encouraged to DANCE - I'm just a huge fan and this place should be on your SF bucket list - GREAT for a date night - make a reservation if you can :) FOOD: - all plant based vegetarian/vegan - the best vegan food I've had in a long time - white chocolate vanilla cheesecake (5/5) - COMBO organic plant based veggie grill and spicy Bolivian pasta (5/5) - vegan sáltena plate (5/5)

What a great find! Wonderful music, cocktails, and vegan food. Lots of gluten free options.

This cozy vegan restaurant was such a brilliant find! Especially as its roots go for decades in the SF area. We came in right when they opened and everything we ordered was so fresh and delicious! Their customer service went above and beyond as they answered every question we had with such knowledge and grace. I loooved that they had both cooked and raw vegan dishes. The empanada was cooked to perfection and the filling was infused with so much flavor. A must get! My favorite had to be the Reuben (BLT) and Corn Taco Combo! It was a raw dish that transcended every expectation. The pumpernickel bread and sauerkraut combination left me craving more and the corn taco was sooo goood! They have live music as well which we didn't get to enjoy but we'll definitely be back!

Good, unique food with a fun atmosphere! Everything is cooked with the best oils and ingredients. Even the venue itself has extensive history! We got the plantains w black beans, chefs special plate, and the burger. I was a bit underwhelmed with the plantains and black beans, but the portobello mushroom on the chefs plate was amazing! I don't know how they do it but it was so tasty. While the food was good, ultimately, it was just too expensive for what you get so I had to give 4 stars.

We truly had an amazing Saturday night at the Peña. With a group of friends for my birthday. They even brought me a slice of cake with a candle and sang happy birthday to me in Spanish. The house band the Bolivian musician musicians was incredible. Apparently they're there every Friday and Saturday night. I'm not a vegan or even a vegetarian, but the food was really amazingly good. I certainly will return again to this magical place.

Wow. Just WOW. My friends and I walked in to a wonderful speech by a husband to his wife. The feels were there. An intimate little restaurant with live music and dance. The food is all vegan and there are plenty of GF options. And everything is just phenomenal. Highly recommend the platter so you can try a variety. The lasagna was just a must! The horchata was also really good. Creamy and not too sweet. The brownie with ice cream is delicious! It is heavy on the coconut, but it will convert you. The founders is the restaurant were playing life music. The environment was so comfortable and inviting we got up to dance in between courses.

Owned by the couple that lives upstairs, this gem should be kept close to the chest and enjoyed with close friends only. Celebrating the Bolivian cuisine on its' menu, Pena adapts their dishes to cater to a plant based diet as well. Ambiance With live music and white table cloths, come early for amazing food, and stay for the private show and dancing. The versatility and intimacy makes the space alluring. I went with a large group and they were fully ready to smash tables together to serve our group. Service Attentive and quick paced. The staff are willing to accommodate the patrons' needs with no fuss. Food The Lentil Dip was so so so tasty! Super filling for a small dish I split with my partner. The Chicha Morada was a little to cinnamon forward and didn't have enough citrus for me. A little bummed the $7.50 16oz glass didn't satisfy. Will definitely return for those nights of North Beach debauchery. Highly recommend!

Great food and atmosphere, I highly recommend the empanadas! The Organic combo plate also had great variety. I am not a vegan and this place totally blew me out of the water! Everything tasted fresh!

Live performances on some friday and saturday nights! The raw kale chips are super delicious - savory and cheesy! I got the chef's plate. They had a difficult time accommodating allium-free (no onion, no garlic). I would definitely come back for the vibe but unfortunately cannot eat much here. Street parking was pretty easy to find.

Really loved the food and the dancing. Everything is vegan, which is amazing!! Cute little restaurant

What an amazing hidden gem! We were wandering around north beach after a comedy show looking for vegan food. But Peña is so much more than food. We were delighted by the live music and impromptu dancing! Such a sweet spot with wonderful people, music and food.

We had a great experience in Peña Pachamama, San Francisco. Good food, service & music.

Vegan dinner with a show?! What more can you ask for. Such a great place for birthday or date night. I'm. It a vegan but their food is great.

Dinner was a revelation. The food was excellent, with vibrant flavors I admit I didn't expect with vegan cuisine. We had the lasagna, Chef's Special Plate, and the Organic Sampler, split between three of us, and finished off sharing a serving of the cheesecake. I was in heaven. This wasn't a night when there was a musical performance, so the restaurant was fairly quiet and we enjoyed conversation with our waiter.

Great food and ambiance. There was an amazing live band with sensational music, and I was lucky enough to get a front row seat. Service was quick and the really the best part about the experience, surprisingly, was the food. I would recommend the corn tacos, but pretty much everything I tried was 4/5 or 5/5.

SERVICE - go here for the experience. The food is good (see below) but the live music and dance that starts on the weekends at 8 PM feels like a private concert. It is $30 extra per party but totally worth it to support the older couple and their friend - only phone reservations - parking is a little troublesome. We parked in a garage 2 blocks away - only indoor seating - super friendly waiters MENU - all vegan Bolivian food with raw and gluten free options - definitely on the pricier side (expect to spend about $30-$40 per person with the show) FOOD - lasagna (6/10): this is not a bad lasagna but it's not exceptional either. The pasta does not feel gluten free which is good. The filling is creamy and the tomato has a good amount of acidity. The piece is quite small for the price that we paid. - aji de fideo (5/10): this dish is only available on the weekends so we thought we should order it. The best part is the spicy pasta. I am not a big fan of fake meat, and the hash had a good amount of fake sausage in it. The bread is slightly gummy and does not have much of a taste. - organic sampler (8/10): this is a good dish to get if you go with a lot of people as it lets you try quite a few things from the menu. I liked the lentil dip as it was similar to refried beans. The albodingas, which are a meatball in tomato sauce, are also soft with a crisp exterior. I liked the potatoes on this plate better than the hash from the aji. - raw organic sampler (8/10): i was really surprised by the Reuben bread. It is just made of flax and sunflower but is quite soft and bread-like. The kale chips are quite crispy and not super thin like most kale chips I have tried. - white chocolate vanilla cheesecake (6/10): the texture is really creamy and I liked the walnuts in the crust. I did not get a strong vanilla or white chocolate flavor, it was more cashew and coconut forward. WOULD I COME BACK? Yes, for the show!

Always a welcoming, fun atmosphere. Good healthy food, music, you'll get up to dance. Take your out of town friends here when they visit, they'll love it.

Oh My Goddd!! We basically found a hidden gem in North Beach which is two street behind the main busier restaurants and bar area of North Beach! When we entered the restaurant, it seemed like such a quiet and cozy place where no music was playing and the people were talking really softly because it was a SPEAKEASY We ordered Lentil Dip & House made Plantain Chips & Vegan Margarita Pizza. Both dishes were delish for vegan lovers. For drinks we ordered Calimocho and some mango cocktail (I forgot the exact Name). We liked both drinks specially the Calimocho. Also, the highlight of the restuarant was LIVE MUSIC. They played indigenous music from Bolivia and some tunes of Egypt. It was beautiful. A Must Visit Vegan Speakeasy

What a gem! Absolutely love the atmosphere. We had the salteñas which were flavorful and comforting on a windy, rainy day. We also had the plantains with the puree beans, yum. And for dessert, the hazelnut mousse and coconut cream pie--pretty good! I'd like to try cheesecake next time per our servers recommendation. Great service too. Will definitely be back!

Incredible service and ambiance! Went here for my boyfriend's birthday since we're vegan, and the food was amazing! Such a great spot in SF

I stopped by Pena Pachamama on a Saturday night which was also a night where they were performing some live music. The location has a pretty cool history and apparently was a speakeasy at one point in it's history. These days Pena Pachamama is a Bolivian vegan restaurant that has live music. It's a smaller venue with maybe 8-10 tables in the main dining area as well as seating at the bar. The space feels very intimate and everyone seemed to be having very soft conversation. The vibe was different and very enjoyable. The food is all vegan and the menu ranges from vegan cheeseburgers to vegan pizza. They've got a few Bolivian dishes but surprisingly the menu leans more American in my opinion. We ordered the empanadas (vegan saltenas) and the Pique Macho (sautéed veggies with a vegan chorizo). The empanadas are served with a romaine and arugula salad topped with Caesar salad dressing. I had higher hopes for the food. The empanadas had a fairly wet filling which moistened the pastry filling and it fell apart pretty quickly. The pique macho was a plate of sauteed veggies and vegan chorizo. I didn't find anything special about it and nothing about the seasoning really jumped out for me. We also had a pitcher of sangria which was good but nothing stood out for me. Overall I think Pena Pachamama has a really unique vibe especially if you can catch a live music night. The atmosphere is what made my visit. The food was okay but maybe the other menu items are a little bit better than the food I ordered. If you're looking for a vegan meal stop in and maybe you'll find the same ambiance that I enjoyed with a better food experience.

A big group of my friends and I had so much fun. The food, music, and dance show was great. If you like flameco dancing, ask if they are having a show Fri or Sat Very intimate place to hang out. There's no pressure to leave, just buy a drink and stay longer. Their holiday events, like valentines, New Year's Eve is always booked and SOLD OUT. So reserve a head of time.

This is a restaurant I've been meaning to visit for quite a while, I finally took the initiative and drove down as it was about a 35 mile drive. When I got there across the street is a parking lot which made it very convenient as everyone who knows SF is not the easiest place to find parking. They have this amazing entrance that feels like you walk into to another culture, I came specifically for the raw vegan dishes. As I started to taste the food I was surprised of how rich in flavor it was. I tried all the raw vegan dishes on the menu that day and oh boy they don't disappoint. They have great entertainment with a live stage music and the owners wow, they are such amazing people Quentin and her husband Edddy bring so much positive energy to the restaurant and they are really the life of the party. Can't forget they're amazing staff they are make everything flow so smoothly. Thank you so much you guys I had a great time.

Live/raw food, vegan, and gluten free; these are the best words etched in memory for anyone who wants to eat what's healthy and to benefit our planet. Here's a restaurant that has put a smile on our faces with a rare taste of Bolivia. I can imagine myself making it all the way into the Andes... without leaving the Bay Area. You might never find other good Bolivian restaurants besides Peña Pachamama. It's specialty is live/raw food rich in more nutrients. My appetizer: garlic sauteed organic kale. Why go for extra crispy kale chips when you get a full vegetal flavor of the one soaked in perfection? I still find it fun eating kale as much as other cooked vegetables. I have my nose feel tingly before finishing few more bites but that goes away afterwards. My main course: Bolivian Style Portoponcho! Three pieces of tempura bread that looks like potato chips (except they looked fluffy), rice pilaf and tiny tomato cubes in a cylindrical form on a bed of portobello mushroom (looked quite similar to a beef patty) drizzled in cashew cream. The overall of the main dish is hearty and comfortable. Not to say I finish it in five minutes, it makes me think that this dish is almost my favorite. For my dessert: vegan ice cream drizzled in raw dark chocolate syrup. Kokolato sure makes ice cream using coconut milk as its base, but the presentation can be done by Peña's chef. I feel like I can have more after finishing the whole wine glass of it. If I ever come back to Peña Pachamama, I definitely like to try raw tacos or even the lasagna. I'm glad the food come as promised. While there are plenty of seats, I sit right near the couples before a dozen of tourists come in. Its cultural atmosphere is inviting, the lights are dim in both the wine bar and the restroom (isn't too bad), and the musical stage performance is, for the lack of the better name, excellent. After years of waiting, I finally got Peña off the bat. The staff members, the food, and the songs have me speak up loud and clear.

Vacation at SF s/o wanted a fully vegan restaurant and we found this. The food exceed my expectations will def come back to this place. I hope it's still there when we get back.

Finally got to come out and try this place. Honestly, the yelp reviews are far and scattered. There doesn't seem to be an accurate or recent depiction of the current status or this place. Well, I'm here to provide that. As of July 2019: The service was really slow, we were the only ones there. Since it took so long to get one item, and the server was busy playing games on his phone or watching tv, we just shared this one dish. Now to the food. It was exciting to see a place with Latin inspired raw vegan and cooked vegan cuisine. We got the empanadas and albeit a small dish, it was really filling and thankfully not oily at all! This is rare for this type of food, so it's nice to eat an empanada and not feel gross and heavy. But I was a bit disappointed since this is a great concept, old businesses, Latin fusion vegan dining and dancing venue. But the food was just okay. Prices were ridiculously expensive, which can be justified being in SF, and for raw vegan food. However, the portions are ridiculously small and the quality of the food was just subpar. The yuca was hit or miss, some weren't cooked well enough. And there were not enough veggies with most dishes. Even if you want a raw dish for the veggies, portions are way too small. Raw vegan food needs a bit more quantity because it's not calorically dense. As for the empanadas, it was a small plate with no veggies, and $21! I'm glad to have visited, but I would recommend if anyone tries, to come at night when there's dancing to get the full experience. Otherwise, not really worth it. I wouldn't come back for food.

Really cool all plant based menu. It's a mix of Italian and Bolivian food options/flavors. They have two large plate samplers - we ordered the appetizer one with plantains. Those were the best and it's also a great way to try multiple things. Also ordered the spicy pasta. It definitely had a kick but not too strong. We were two people who shared the two Dishes and we finished it all. We left at the right amount of being full.

Summary: - I went here for my birthday and had a warm, wonderful evening! The musicians, the people, the vibe are in sync to create an incredible experience at this restaurant. Highly recommend trying it out! Unique selling point: - Live music + vegan food - new cuisine (Bolivian) Food: - We had the spicy Bolivian pasta, the white chocolate vanilla cheesecake, and lentil dip w/ plantain chips - flavors, while good, could be more pronounced! Extras: - We forgot our credit card and the restaurant owners graciously allowed us to save it for us for the next few days and allowed us to come in before opening time to pickup the card.. Did I say, highly recommend checking out this place?!

Top flight flavorful vegan meal yes! Ambience and service were great! I would definitely come back

What a delicious, delightful experience! We are visiting San Francisco and happened to find this place, almost by accident. I was delighted to learn it is all vegan, partially raw and owned by two musicians, both of whom were in the restaurant while we ate!!! The food was amazing. We had the empanadas, which had a flavorful filling with tender pastry. They were served with a refreshing side salad. We also had the raw kale chips, which were light and crisp and delicious! I also recommend the sangria! The service was great and one of the owners (Eddy) even stopped by to tell me about how the empanadas were from his town and give me a tip on how to eat them. Our only disappointment is that we will be unable to catch a performance as we fly out before the next one. In summary: if you like tasty food, if you are vegan or if you want to hear live music, this is a must visit spot!!!

The food was delicious and so flavorful. The music was delightful. The people treated us as family friends. I can't wait to go back!

In the historic North Beach building where Marilyn Monroe & Joe DiMaggio had their dinner after being married you will find Pena Panchamama. Inside the atmosphere is colorful w/ an artistic flair. The menu features a Latin fusion influence of cooked & raw vegan cuisine that is local, organic & gluten-free. The owners are welcoming & hail from Bolivia. The restaurant is comfortable w/ a relaxed atmosphere. Everything on the menu looked good. Too much choice can be cumbersome. Decided to go w/ the vegan cheeseburger & roasted potatoes: housemate beet lentil patty, nut cheese, tomato, Bubbies organic pickles, lettuce, served w/ roasted potatoes & cashew cream sauce on a gluten-free bun. Salad had a light dressing w/ a bite from the arugula, potatoes were a nice side as the cashew cream sauce was an interesting touch. Loved the veggie burger. Have a hearty appetite & didn't look like it was going to be filling yet was satisfying. Appreciate that it is a homemade beet lentil veggie burger patty. Would rather folks consume the new Beyond Meat vegan burgers that bleed as opposed to burgers made from cows. Homemade veggie burgers from real whole food is my preference as am not a big fan of faux or mock meats. Executive Chef Quentin Navia knows his stuff. Best vegan burger I have had in the SF Bay Area hence 5 stars!

The food, the service, the music- All amazing. We make this a stop every time we visit San Francisco. Never disappoints.

This was apart of our North Beach food tour. So the review is low because we expected Italian food and this place we were told is Bolivian? It just didn't fit in with the tour at all the kale chips with yeast was very good the food was some lettuce only salad, a lentil dip, and some potatoes. the Dangerous drink was like fruit punch

My husband and I have been here twice now. It's such a gem of a place in San Francisco with music, kind souls, and great food. Eddie and Quentin are virtuosos and they allowed us to play and sing alongside them. They even brought dancers to entertain us.

Wow, great food, and the musical entertainment by the Latin Grammy nominated owner and family was a perfect complement to the meal. They are happy to have you stay and enjoy the evening as opposed to so many places looking to move you out asap. I never thought I'd like kale chips but we enjoyed them so much we bought more to-go.

The food is ok for the price. Also be aware they charge a $20 cover fee for listening to them play. We were not aware of this charge until we received the check. No announcement of this "cover fee" at all when you come in.

This was the highlight of our walking food tour. The owners were so chill and welcoming. Quentin was a great storytelling hostess with Chrissie Hynde hair and Stevie Nicks rasp, and she played music along with her Grammy-nominated husband Eddy Naviz, who played for us keyboards, the pan flute, and a guitar made from an armadillo. Which makes the neck, nut, and sound hole parts all seem a little creepy. The food was delicious, most of it vegan, gluten-free, dolphin-safe, ozone-refilling, whatever. The perhaps-too-sweet mango mimosa was not especially strong but it was flavorful. Loved the plantains in black bean puree, the incredible kale chips (they look unappetizing but they taste like cheese), and the pan-fried Yuka Frita. I asked what nuts were in the sauce but she kept sneezing every time I asked her. Now a place for music, jamming, and dancing, Thursday through Saturday, the place is rich in history history: As Amileo's, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio had their wedding dinner here, Clark Gable once... ...oh wait, she was saying Cashew. Never mind.

What a delicious and pleasant meal! The organic sampler was so fun--it would have been difficult to choose what to get with everything on the menu looking good, so it's a nice dish to offer. And the ambiance was lovely; great music, comfortable seating, beautiful decor. Service was kind and speedy. Very highly recommend!

I rediscovered this place and wondered to myself why I don't come more often? Its truly an artist joint with so much history and so much beautiful creative energy flowing . The food is vegan and very conscious, environmentally. It's the way we should be eating and living. Connected to music, the earth and community. The diversity of the people was so cool. You don't see this often in SF. the musicians are also the owners and they are so connected to the audience, while they're playing- makes you feel like you're in somebody's home. the food - so full of flavor it's so much better than the fancy vegan restaurants in San Francisco I was really really delighted to come to this very multicultural and in creative spot. Made me feel as though I was in another time and location. Very special vibe.

We got the raw sampler. I loved the raw taco. My partner loved the BLT. We both liked the kale chips, raw ravioli, raw spaghetti and plantains. It was all very good. Cute ambience, nice staff. There is live music Fridays and Saturdays starting at 8pm.

NOTE: there is sometimes live music performances on weekends - there will be a charge on your bill for that. Please ask the restaurant for more details and whether there is seating without the music charge. Mixed feelings about Pena Pachamama. My friend chose Pena Pachamama because she is vegan. I've had not-so-wonderful experiences with vegan restaurants so I was very hesitant. But I read the menu beforehand and all the items seemed good. We went at 8pm on a saturday night and were able to find parking along union street but the street seemed PACKED. There is a garage right across the street for $25. My friend read a yelp review about the live music charge so asked the restaurant when she made the reservation to be placed away from the performance area. We sat in the back of the restaurant next to the bar area. Cleanliness (3/5): To be fair, the lighting in the back was quite dim so I couldn't see the restaurant well enough. The restaurant does have an old/established presence in the neighborhood vibe so that might have impacted my perception of cleanliness. Customer Connection (1/5): We were at the restaurant for a total of 2 hours - this could've been reduced if the service was a little more present. The server we had was also helping in the BOH and also the FOH so he had his hands full. There was another staff members sitting at the bar area on the computer and looking at receipts the entire 2 hours that we were there. Not quite sure what her role is but the server clearly needed help. There was a moment when a customer from the front asked if they were ever going to be served and the poor server was trying his best. The entire time we just waiting a really long time for service. The actually staff members were nice but we didn't feel like there was a high degree of attention. Service/Product Quality (4/5): We ordered the Yuca fries, chefs plate, vegan burger, and raw pizza. I thought each dish was good. Much better than any vegan restaurant that i've visited. I liked the burger the most. The beet patty immediately fell apart when I put my fork in it so I'm glad I didn't grab on the burger to hold it. The chefs plate was my least favorite. Don't get me wrong, it was still decent but the quinoa lacked a lot of flavor - essentially flavorless on its own. The spinach had a bitter taste to it, as if it was cooked in white wine and the wine wasnt cooked out all the way. But, if you eat the dish together then all the components work well enough. I loved the sun dried tomatoes and the dough on the pizza.

Such great energy! I've always loved Peña Pachamama. It feels good to eat at a place and not worry if they use canola oil, or animal products. The only thing I will say is the we were told the sausage on the pizza was made from Mung beans, but it tasted really processed, with possible harmful ingredients. It would have been nice to have an ingredient list of that product too, because the server confirmed they are not made in-house.

The staff who answered the phone and the on-site staff were super friendly. I think they added some free kale chips with my order as the menu didn't list it as an item for the saltena dish. They were delicious! There is some cheesy coating on them. The take out was hot and well packaged. The portion size was decent, and the yuca fries were very filling. There was only a tiny dollop of cashew cream and salsa although one could order extra cream if desired. I ended up adding ketchup to them once I got home. The saltenas were ok. The filling seemed to be carrots, peas, green beans (like found in a frozen veggie mix) with a stew-like sauce. The dough was decent. I would recommend calling ahead of time to save on the wait.