El Paraiso Cafe

Pupusas. Get them here. Now.
El Paraiso was a block away from the apartment we stayed at in San Francisco. Boy were we lucky to have this little gem so close by! We visited about 2 – 3 times to try their pupusas, which were delicious, filling and freshly made to order, and we also had their egg breakfast, which was cooked al estilo perico with onions and tomatoes, and a side of beans. Doesn’t get more filling than this.
I love a good hole in the wall spot! The shop itself is quite modest, nothing fancy here. But, the ladies are nice, the service is fast, the prices are reasonable and the food is great. If I lived here, I would visit every weekend… No lie.

I usually order papusas from Paraiso. I enjoy the papusas but not the cabbage salad as much as I had hoped. I tried a dessert from the glass display case once. Not a great idea, it was a tad stale. They serve a good cup of coffee, just make sure to check for cream and a spoon or stirrer for your coffee.

Same old story, trying to squeeze food into my busy day of work. Called in an order of 3 pupusas de chicharron y queso. They said it would be ready in 15min. Perfect.
When I arrived 20min later the order was done, but it was completely wrong. «She heard you say cheese pupusa on the phone.» BS. She repeated «pupusas de chicharron y queso» to me.
I was going to forego the pork and just have cheese pupusas, but I looked in the bag and they had given me enough curtido for about half a pupusa. I said «mas curtido por favor» and she barked at me «we don’t have any more!»
So I left. Without paying, and without any delicious pupusas. Sad and rejected. Never coming back to this miserable excuse for a restaurant.

Sometimes I’ll entertain a fantasy about taking this place over and making it into something you’d find on the Boulevard St. Germaine, flanked by wicker chairs and charming tables perfect for two that face the soccer fields of Garfield Square. I’d spruce up the mural and re-​paint the name of the place, perhaps put it in lights.
Then I think, but I’d want the apple-​cheeked proprietress to stay because she’s so friendly, and so impressively manages her kitchen full of women. She’s got quixotic taste in pictures, as evidenced by the ones hung over the condiment bar. She leaves the door open all day so anybody can wander in. The tables outside might be mismatched but provide a great place to write. Mostly I realize that I have no idea how to run a café and am then content merely to get my cup of coffee or my Mexican soda and enjoy the corner.

Great papusas and smoothie, everything was fresh! Try the zucchini papusa, always looking for yummy veggie alternatives ;) mango/​pineapple smoothie was fabulous w fruit chunks !

Paraiso is my house’s second kitchen. (Two of my neighbors have left reviews here too, and they agree.) A few years ago I would too often get one of their perfectly toasted sesame bagels with egg and cheese for breakfast, occasionally accompanied by one of their ice creamy fresh fruit smoothies. (I went on a diet after that.)
This is also the first place I ever had a pupusa, which has maybe ruined me for most other pupusas. They serve it with a thin but dark red salsa, and a light slaw that’s just sour enough to cut through the fatty cheese and thick beans. Whenever I have a pupusa now, I find myself wanting that slaw.
Now, I do weekend brunches here with my usual order– «eggs, platanos, frijoles, queso y crema”– which I think has a shorter name, like «breakfast special» or something, but that’s what’s written on the board, so that’s what I ask for. It’s really simple, but the quality ingredients and careful preparation make it delicious. The ladies at Paraiso cook with a distinctive, memorable style that I can only describe as that feeling you get when you wake up on Saturday morning, stumble bleary-​eyed to the kitchen, and wolf down a hot plate of breakfast set down in front of you by someone who loves you. Their food tastes like what a kiss from my mom feels like.
In addition to the food, a lot of regulars hang out at the outside tables in the afternoons. I live close enough that I can open my windows wide and catch some of the vibe. Their ambient conversations complement the yelling of the soccer players across the street. If you’re there around 5pm, you might see some of the ice cream cart guys who work around the park roll up and load their carts into a van. On sunny days someone might park right in front and blast banda from their car. I love all of it. It brings this block to life.
Paraiso’s a gem of a neighborhood spot, and really gives this corner of the Mission a little taste of paradise. Come visit sometime.

If you want a good, quick, cost effective meal on the run, these guys are great

I am definitely not a picky eater by any means, and that’s why I try to refrain as much as possible from writing reviews.
But this morning I stumbled into this restaurant and after having a short convo with the girl behind the counter I ordered an off the menu item called «huevos rancheros» for breakfast.
This is by far the first time in the city eating a meal that took me back to eating breakfast in El Salvador. So much so that I had to call my mom to let her know, the eggs were covered in a sauce that has a nice hint of oregano and a subtle spicy-​ness to it. The sour cream is authentically salvadorean. The refried beans like if my mom herself put them on this plate. I am in heaven and a new regular for sure.
Need I also mention that I bought that incredible breakfast, fresh squeeze orange juice and a turkey sandwich for later for less than 20 bucks, awesome right?
I suggest before you leave this world, put this place on your tastebuds bucketlist, cuz I know that when my life flashes before my eyes, eating here will be included.
Thanks and cheers mates :)

If you’re at your leisure enjoying a nice stroll with your book and work up an appetite, have your feet take you here, a charming hole in the wall where you can fill your tummy and read in peace and quiet.
A burger w/​fries and a free can of soda $ 7.50
No wifi, no restroom.

Pupusas weren’t that great. Plain with no flavor. The place décor is dull. Customer service is great.

My sunday strolling place… Located on a sunny corner in the hidden nook of treat is this wonderful authentic mission brunch joint. Hands down best torta I have ever feasted on and with a side of fresh squeezed juice is just fine and dandy. Now back to my roof location to sunbathe. Ahhh.

EL Paraiso has breakfast, mexican entrees, bagels, sammies. small informal seating area.
eats: egg salad sammie (4.50)
–bread toasted, large sammie
–usual pickle, lettuce, purple onion, etc.
–sammie not so flavorful, black pepper not spicy enough.

One of The Mission’s bet kept secrets. Where else in the city can you get egg and cheese on a bagel (with a side of salsa) for less than $ 3?
Love the outdoor seating right across from the park.

Been going here for years since they are a neighborhood café. I think its a mama-​daughter business, and they are super nice folks. They are a bit reserved, don’t mistake that standoffishness.
They are clean, the food is great, and they have outdoor seating too which is great to take advantage most of the time.

I live next door to this place. Their breakfast sandwiches on a croissant are super delicious. Their lattes aren’t very good though, and sometimes they are slow. But those breakfast sandwiches rule. Four stars for the breakfast sandwich.

Been here twice now, and am lovin it! So far, I have sampled a veggie sandwich with avo on a bagel, and a breakfast burrito with avo. Both delish. Prices are great. My Mom and I shared one BLT and a breakfast burrito and walked outta there with spending 10 bucks including tip. Sweet local joint.

Love this place. They have the BEST breakfast & the ladies there r so nice. Definitely a takeout place do due the location, as well as difficult parking. $$ could b better, food I’d De-​lish

Was in here on lunch break. Its a block from 24^th and I feel ‘Ive eaten everything there is to eat on 24^th so went south in search for sandwiches.
Ordered a turkey club sandwich. On the price menu it said $ 5.25 however the cashier and person who made my sandwich charged me $ 8.75. I, of course, questioned why and in broken english the employee said something about tax *shrugs* I didn’t make much out of it considering I was so *dagnabbit* hungry! I would have given this place a four star but didn’t like the price increase. Ended up that I paid for fries that I didn’t order. I feel like the employee took advantage of my friendliness and threw em in hoping I wouldn’t notice the price change.
Overall the sandwich I ordered was fresh and tasty. Co workers of mine were wowed by the presentation and asked me where I’d got it from. Not too shabby all in all with the attention I received ;)

Come across this place on Unilocal and found recent reviews sporadic at best. I was primed for an adventure to see if they still existed.
Good news for everyone. Indeed they do.
I arrived for breakfast, and my initial hesitation at the high prices ($ 7 — $ 10 for a variety of omelets) turned to excitement when I saw I could get some eggs, tomato and lettuce on wheat bread for about $ 3. An even better surprise? They were down with the huevos blancos, which were piled high on my breakfast sandwich. Quite a few bites later, I was full and happy.
My latte ambitions were thwarted upon learning they only had lowfat milk and they had just run out of sugar free vanilla syrup. On the latter, my bad for not going sooner. A potent espresso served as a mighty fine replacement.
Internet available for your browsing pleasure, you’ll likely find me back soon to sample lunch.

Good plain cooking, really nice pleasant atmosphere if you like a nice street corner by the park. I had platanos with beans and crema. Really nice crema!
Obviously good for breakfast, lunch, early dinner, a smoothie or an ice cream cone on your way to the park.
I love a café that isn’t all pretentious and yet is also just nice. It’s like having your mom make you lunch and let you eat it on the front porch. Also the prices are more than reasonable.
Check out their cute sidewalk sign.