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oChef » Gonzalez – San Francisco
Gonzalez - San Francisco
Photo from Gonzalez
Gonzalez at a glance
San Francisco Silver Terrace
- 🌮 Mexican Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 37 of the guests
#1694 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#87 Mexican Restaurant out of 134 in San Francisco
Good
6.9 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
213
Reviews
69%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious Food
- Attentive Service
Frequently criticized
- Hidden Fees
- No Restroom
The Mexican restaurant Gonzalez, also known as Taqueria Gonzalez, is a vibrant spot in San Francisco’s Silver Terrace. You’ll discover a cozy, casual, and trendy atmosphere, perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
They offer healthy options, small plates, and a selection of beer and cocktails, making it a welcoming place for delicious food.
Overview: Introducting Gonzalez
Gonzalez offers a culinary experience where the delicious food truly shines, often complemented by friendly staff providing excellent, caring service . Guests frequently praise the flavorful dishes and the attentive approach of the team, making for a generally pleasant visit.
However, some practical aspects at Gonzalez could use attention. Concerns have been raised about the no bathroom situation and accessibility, which can impact comfort.
Additionally, some patrons have noted issues with unexpected charges like a bag fee or feeling overcharged on occasion.
Good
6.9
out of 10
213
Reviews
69%
Satisfaction
53
negative
13
neutral
147
positive
Gonzalez achieves a solid overall score of 6.9, placing it firmly in the good category, yet customer satisfaction sits at a mixed 69%. This indicates that while many find their experience positive, a notable portion of diners have reservations.
These insights are drawn from a substantial 213 customer observations, comprising 147 positive remarks against 53 negative ones. Delving into specifics, the Food truly stands out with a score of (7.3), consistently earning high marks for its quality and flavor.
Service also performs well at (7.0), with staff often described as attentive and professional. However, the Ambience registers as average at (5.9), suggesting room for improvement in the dining environment.
The most significant area for development is Value, which scores a poor (3.8), indicating frequent customer dissatisfaction with pricing and billing practices.
What people like
- Delicious Food
- Attentive Service
What people don't like
- Unexpected Fees
- No Restroom Access
- Order Discrepancies
Gonzalez presents a compelling case for its culinary offerings and attentive staff, earning a strong recommendation score of 7.3. If your priority is flavorful dishes and good service, this spot is certainly worth considering for a meal.
However, be prepared for potential frustrations regarding value and basic amenities. While the food often satisfies, the overall experience can be a mixed bag due to unexpected charges and the lack of a restroom.
Weigh these factors before your visit.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Gonzalez
Food (7.3 out of 10)
mentioned by 98% of the guests
The food here generally hits the spot, earning a 7.3 score and a solid 74.1% customer satisfaction. With 106 positive remarks, many rave about the delicious tacos, quality of the food, and flavorful burritos. The salsas also get a lot of love, making for a truly satisfying meal.
However, not every dish is a winner, with 27 negative comments pointing to occasional issues. Some found the food had a bad flavor, with tough meat or grissle fat. There were also concerns about ingredient transparency, especially regarding allergies.
Food
143
Reviews
74%
Satisfaction
27
negative
10
neutral
106
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious tacos
- Generous portions
- Authentic flavors
What people don't like
- Inconsistent quality
- Tough meat
- Ingredient transparency
Often praised
- foodIt's a very beautiful restaurant with very kind and respectful people. The food is very good. I recommend it to everyone to go and eat.
- tacosIn the Portola neighborhood, where 🌮🌯 options are limited, this place is a satisfying find. I've tried their torta, chicken salad, and some tacos. While burritos aren't generally my favorite, I can't specifically recommend them based on my experience.
- chipsCame with complementary salsas and chips
- burritosBest tacos and burritos around Portola & Mission district!
- birriathe quesadilla, birria, and tacos. They're consistently delicious
- burritoMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I had a damn fine burrito that was incredibly satisfying. The owners were also really caring and made me feel very welcome.
- delicious foodI always order their Al Pastor tacos, which are packed with flavor and, importantly, the tacos don't get soggy or fall apart. The service is consistently excellent and caring, complementing the delicious food. I highly recommend their breakfast, especially the Guatemalan breakfast with eggs, chorizo, and beans – YUM!
- enchiladastacos n enchiladas and burrito mojado
- green salsaGreen salsa is awesome with a mini kick to it.
- veggie burritoask for a veggie burrito with no cheese or sour cream
Frequently criticized
- Nacho'sI got Nacho's, and I did not like it.
- Supreme TacoRICE IS NOT ON IT.
- allergiesWHEN YOU HAVE ALLERGIES
- bad flavorThe food had a bad flavor
- birriaordered the birria, expecting beef, but it turned out to be goat
- burritoMy burrito was cross-contaminated with things that were not supposed to be in it.
- carne asado burritocarne asado burrito which totally lacked in Mexican spices or flavor
- charred flavorI'm used to a little more charred flavor
- cheesePaid extra just to add cheese
- chicken burritothey added Pico de gallo and I haven’t gotten that in my burrito
If you're craving authentic Mexican, this spot is definitely worth a try, especially for their highly praised tacos and burritos. Just be mindful that some experiences mention inconsistent quality or tough meat, so it might be a bit of a gamble on certain dishes.
Service (7 out of 10)
mentioned by 52% of the guests
Overall, the service here seems to hit a sweet spot, scoring a solid 7 and boasting a good customer satisfaction of 70.5%. Many guests, accounting for 31 positive remarks out of 44 total, rave about the friendly staff, excellent, caring service, and quick arrival times. It sounds like the owners and employees go the extra mile to make you feel welcome.
However, its not all sunshine, with 11 negative remarks pointing to some areas for improvement. Some customers have experienced issues like long waiting times, menu mistakes where items werent honored, and even messed-up orders. It seems there's a need for more consistent attention to detail in certain situations.
Service
44
Reviews
70%
Satisfaction
11
negative
2
neutral
31
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Fast service
- Caring owners
What people don't like
- Long waiting time
- Order mistakes
- Menu not honored
Often praised
- serviceThe meats and service was on point.
- staffThey have good extra options too. Nice staff and quick preparation. Brritos are hit or miss, sometimes meat is good quality and there's good flavor overall, other times there is a ton of grissle fat and bland flavor throughout.
- employeesemployees are very professional
- arrival timeWe unexpectedly found this place and are so happy we did. The food was good, and it arrived quickly. We had a very nice dinner.
- attentiongracias por su atención
- attention to the clientGood attention to the client
- courteousThe owners were also really caring and made me feel very welcome. They were very greeting and very courteous. I think I could become a fan of this place.
- customer serviceGood customer service.
- excellent, caring serviceAlways excellent, caring service
- friendly staffexcellent, food and friendly staff
Frequently criticized
- orderTHANKS FOR MESSING UP MY ORDER!
- bathroom accessthey won't allow their customers use their bathroom
- customersIn todays business you need all the customers you can get.
- honor the menuHe refused to honor the menu ingredients listed on menu.
- menu mistakestated it was a mistake on menu
- refund nor an exchangeI ordered the birria, expecting beef, but it turned out to be goat. When I inquired, the cashier confirmed it was goat but offered neither a refund nor an exchange. Due to this experience, I would never eat here again.
- salsasI mentioned that last time they were free, but I was willing to pay. He insisted again that they were two for a dollar and offered one this time, but stated I'd need to pay for two next time. At that point, I decided against it and will not be returning for a third visit just to encounter another issue.
- tipdidnt get my tip back. He really did not deserve the tip
- waiting timeThe meat was tough, there was way too much crema, the guac was a green, watery, tasteless liquid, and the rice was scarce and had the smallest grain that was overcooked. And I waited a long time for my order. Will never go back there.
- work for freeIt's not fair to excuse them. When you work for free and then they excuse just because they do not want to pay.
If youre looking for a place with genuinely friendly and fast service, youll likely be very happy here. Just be mindful that a few guests have reported occasional hiccups with order accuracy or longer waits, so it might be a mixed bag on busy days.
Ambience (5.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 18% of the guests
The atmosphere here gets some love, with guests enjoying the chance to play soccer games on TV and calling the restaurant a positive in our community. Many find it a beautiful spot for a fun night out, especially for kids. While the overall score for ambience sits at an average 5.9, customer satisfaction is a mixed 54.5%, based on 6 positive remarks.
However, there are some significant drawbacks. Several guests noted issues with handicap accessible options, and the lack of a bathroom means you can’t wash your hands before or after eating. Parking can also be a bit difficult, according to 5 negative observations, suggesting there's room for improvement.
Ambience
11
Reviews
54%
Satisfaction
5
negative
0
neutral
6
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Catch soccer games
- Positive community vibe
- Beautiful, fun setting
What people don't like
- No bathroom access
- Not handicap accessible
- Difficult parking
Often praised
- atmosphereThey had the game on too.
- fun night outmy kids enjoyed a fun night out
- play soccer games on TVthe play soccer games on TV
- positive in our communitythis restaurant is a positive in our community
- restaurantIt's a very beautiful restaurant with very kind and respectful people. The food is very good.
Frequently criticized
- handicap accessibleI don't think this is a handicap accessible option.
- kitchen cleanlinessMy guess is their kitchen isn't very clean.
- no bathroomWorst thing about this place is no bathroom
- parkingthe parking is a bit difficult
- wash your handscan’t wash your hands before or after eating.
If youre looking for a casual spot to catch a game and enjoy a fun atmosphere with kids, this place has its charms. However, be prepared for potential challenges with accessibility, parking, and the notable absence of a restroom. Its a mixed bag, so manage your expectations.
Value (3.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 21% of the guests
When it comes to value, it seems theres a bit of a mixed bag here. While some folks found the prices quite reasonable, even calling them modest prices and great value, the overall sentiment isnt glowing. The score for value sits at a rather poor 3.8, and customer satisfaction is also low at 26.7%, indicating significant room for improvement.
On the flip side, a larger number of comments, 10 out of 15 total, point to some serious concerns. There are complaints about false advertising regarding deals, unexpected bag fee and health care fee charges, and even instances where customers felt overcharged or had money stolen. These issues clearly weigh heavily on the perception of value.
Value
15
Reviews
26%
Satisfaction
10
negative
1
neutral
4
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Reasonable prices
- Great value
What people don't like
- Hidden fees
- False advertising
- Overcharging issues
Often praised
- pricesthe prices were decent
- great valuegreat value
- reasonable priceNice little place reasonable price
Frequently criticized
- $2 taco happy hourone thing that disappointed me was the $2 taco happy hour
- bag feecharges a bag fee without asking
- false advertisingi believe thats FALSE ADVERTISING
- health care feecharges a health care fee
- moneyyour WASTING MY MONEY!!
- overchargedI was overcharged
- payIt's not fair to excuse them. When you work for free and then they excuse just because they do not want to pay.
- price increase$2 increase recently.. not valid
- salsashe said that would be 2 for a dollar
- stole my 4 dollarsthey even stole my 4 dollars
If you're looking for straightforward pricing and no surprises, you might want to proceed with caution here. While some find decent deals, the frequent mentions of hidden fees and overcharging could make it a disappointing experience for your wallet.
How are the prices at Gonzalez?
You’re looking at roughly 22 per person – reported by 37 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For a Mexican Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Interestingly, while the average is around 22, most guests actually spend a bit less, typically in the $11–$20 range, with a few opting for more premium experiences.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 37 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, for a Mexican spot in San Francisco, we think the pricing feels pretty fair. It offers options for different budgets, which is always a plus!
Customer Reviews: what people think about Gonzalez
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Excellent Food and Friendly Staff!
I highly recommend this restaurant. Having lived in the Portola for close to 50 years, this establishment is a positive in our community. I dined there last night and had an excellent experience with both the food and the friendly staff.
Good job, guys!
- food9
- friendly staff9
- positive in our community8
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
9
Amazing Breakfast Burrito!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The breakfast burrito was crazy good, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere with the play soccer games on TV. The prices were decent, and I'll definitely come back here every time I can.
The service was quick too.
- breakfast burrito10
- play soccer games on TV8
- prices7
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Very Good Burrito Bowl, Will Return!
My experience at the restaurant was very positive. Both my companion and I had a burrito bowl, and it was very, very good. This was my first time visiting, and I am already planning to attend again.
- burrito bowl9
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Delicious Burrito, Fast and Friendly Service
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I had the veggie burrito, which was on point and absolutely delicious. The service was incredibly fast and friendly.
I also have to mention the salsa verde, which was incredible. It was a great atmosphere too, as they had the game on.
- veggie burrito10
- service9
- salsa verde10
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Takeout
2
Disappointing Burrito and Salsa Experience
This was my second visit to the restaurant. On my first visit, I ordered a chicken burrito and the shredded chicken enchiladas plate. The burrito seemed tasty, but it included Pico de gallo, which I haven't had in my burrito for years and taquerias usually ask about.
Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy it. The enchiladas plate would have been good, but they added red sauce to my beans and rice, which I didn't request. While I understand sauce on enchiladas, it was overkill for the beans and rice.
Today, I returned for a chicken burrito and specifically requested NO Pico de gallo, onions, or cilantro. When my order was ready, I asked for two salsas to go with chips I had at home. The staff member stated they would be two for a dollar.
I mentioned that last time they were free, but I was willing to pay. He insisted again that they were two for a dollar and offered one this time, but stated I'd need to pay for two next time. At that point, I decided against it and will not be returning for a third visit just to encounter another issue.
- chicken burrito2
- shredded chicken enchiladas plate3
- salsas2
What Gonzalez offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- Tourists
- Groups
- College students
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Beer
- Small plates
- Cocktails
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
- Breakfast
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
- Trendy
FAQs
What kind of dining experience and offerings can you expect at Taqueria Gonzalez?
At Taqueria Gonzalez, you’ll find a cozy, casual, and trendy atmosphere for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They offer healthy options, quick bites, and small plates, alongside beer and cocktails. You can enjoy your meal through dine-in service or convenient takeout.
Is Taqueria Gonzalez accessible and family-friendly?
Absolutely! Taqueria Gonzalez offers a wheelchair accessible entrance, seating, and restroom, ensuring comfort for all guests. It’s also a great spot for families, providing high chairs and a kid-friendly environment for your little ones.
What are the main strengths and weaknesses of Gonzalez?
Gonzalez excels in its Food (7.3) and Service (7.0), which are highly praised by customers. However, the Ambience (5.9) is average, and Value (3.8) is a significant concern due to issues like unexpected fees and feeling overcharged.
Is Gonzalez a good place for a casual night out?
Many customers enjoy the atmosphere and find it a fun night out , especially with soccer games on TV. However, be aware there is no bathroom and parking can be difficult, which might impact comfort.
What should I know about the pricing and billing at Gonzalez?
While some find the prices decent, many customers have reported issues with bag fee s, health care fee s, and feeling overcharged . There have also been complaints about false advertising regarding promotions.