Don Pisto's Reviews

I love this place. It's one of my favourite spots for Mexican in SF. The food tastes fresh and delicious. A personal favourite is the calamari skewers to get started followed by tacos (fish ones are great). Oh - and the green salsa they serve with the chips is outrageously good. Be warned that it's a lively place - loud music etc. Go when you're up for some great food in a high energy setting.

Ate here our last night in San Francisco. It was fantastic. It’s very small, and was jumping! Got a seat at the bar, and it was amazing to watch the barman mix drinks and take orders, he worked really hard! The food was excellent, highly recommended, as are the Margaritas! Definitely worth a visit if you fancy great Mexican food.

The food was good.. The special ribs for the night was the best.. The steak tacos were normal did not find them to be anything special.. The place has a good vibe

I wasn't as impressed with this place as many reviewers. The hamburger comes medium rare, which they don't tell you and I didn't think to ask. It was at best only warm, so I had to send it back. Once it was adequately cooked, it did have good flavor with guacamole topping. But other than the chips and salsa, that's all you get. The chips were very good. My son got tuna tacos and he liked them. The portion sizes are not very big, however most restaurants give you way too much food so this was a nice change. They encourage you to share your food with table mates because due to their small kitchen everyone at the table doesn't get their food at the same time. The thing I disliked the most had nothing to do with the food. It was the awful rap music with words that if said in a public conversation you would be called a racist. Why they have to play that kind of music is beyond me. I would not recommend this place nor go back mainly due to the music and not the food. If you are 30 and have been desensitized to this music then it might not bother you. I thought it was inappropriate for a restaurant.

We rang to book a table on a Monday night just to be sure. But had no trouble getting a table for two. Great service, great food, the lobster was fantastic as was the guacamole. Some of the best Mexican food we have had.

Met my cousin and his gf at Don Pistos for dinner on Sunday night. The food was delicious across the board. Chicken Alambre was super good with great flavor! Tacos, spicy shrimp, sangria & margaritas all good!

This is a great little restaurant. It was a bit tricky to find, but the food was very good and the service was friendly. I'll definitely return next time I'm in San Fran.

Went here late on a Sunday night after doing the night tour at Alcatraz. We had loads of tacos, margaritas and chips with a delicious salsa. Our waitress was great - made recommendations and very friendly and helpful. There was good atmosphere with a youngish crowd - good value for money.

A friend told me about his place but he said there wasn’t a sign. He says it was one of the best undercover Mexican style food in the city and he was right. I like to eat my Mexican food in the mission but this place was good. We tried the Tortilla soup which was made fresh with avocado. Their tortilla chips is pretty amazing. Get a side of the Spanish rice when you order this one. We had the pork taco’s (al pastor) which was very good and ceviche which was just ok. I am coming back for the pork chops which was highly recommended but we where just too full. Suggest a reservation or eating early the place is packed. There is no signage so make sure you look for the red lights out side and the bakery next door. Menu is simple but good! Staff was on it and he bartender was awesome!

We went there with the family and had great mexican food. No special baby meal but they prepared mussels without chorizo to let my daughter eat. Excellent asado!

I loved my lunch at Don Pisto's. The chicken on my salad was juicy, meaty chicken (not what I usually get when I order chicken on salads). All food was fresh and organic. Staff was very friendly. The only negative was that it was a cool September afternoon and I wish they could have closed some of the windows because I was shivering during my meal. Just bring layers of it is a cool day and you will be fine.

Our daughter brought us here late last Saturday night, and who knew we would get some of the best Mexican food ever in North Beach. Since it was late we weren't chowing down, but three of us split the pork chop which is incredibly tender and flavorful, a plate of carnitas tacos that came with a wonderful crunchy texture on the meat, and the tiny and spicy in the right way diablo wings. Mmmm. All of it. And the margaritas were done just right, too.

We joined friends for a great dinner at this place. Their sangria was good. And the tacos were delicious. Service was excellent.

We love this place. It’s a go to for Mexican that is not your usual dishes. We had the pork carnitas, tortilla soup, shrimp diablo, and guacamole of course. It is a must! All the food is very fresh and enough for sharing.

I had two of the soft fish tacos and a margarita. All very tasty. Nicely serviced and hot. Great waitress.

We found this place by doing a search for somewhere that serves tortilla chips ( our son's dinner request). Google Maps pointed us to this resto. If you weren't looking for it, you could very well miss it as it is up a less traveled street and has no obvious sign indicating it's a restaurant. The ambiance is sort of rustic and very pleasing. The service was quite good and prompt. You can see the tiny kitchen from the dining area which was quite nice to watch. The real star of the show was the food...As it should be. We had 3 kinds of tacos and they were all so good it was hard to pick a favorite. The guacamole was one of the best I've ever had. Even the simple rice and beans sides were so delicious​. Everything had a good bit of spice to it....I am a slightly wimpy person when it comes to spice but it was all so delicious that I could get past the spice....And they are pretty quick about refilling your ice cold water to help cool things down. As a side note, the washrooms are nice and clean which, at least for me, means a lot. Its totally worth eating here.

We walked to this restaurant from our hotel as we had read good reviews. When we arrived it was very busy but after just a couple of minutes wait we were seated at a nice corner table near the window. The food (Mexican) was OK but for our taste rather bland and lacking in flavour. The portions were large, the servers friendly and efficient and ambience nice despite the music being rather loud for two older folk.

Came for a family evening meal reserved a taxable for 6:30pm. Very nice welcome which set the scene for our whole evening. Attentive waiting staff gave good recommendations. Family style sharing menu. Margarita’s were fabulous. The yellow & green squash quesadillas were fabulous as was Mexican chicken. Green salsa & continuous hot fresh nachos were very tasty. Great find and highly recommended.

Came here with the family. Came early, about 6pm, so got a table right away. Service is super fast, food was excellent. They like a fast turnaround so you may feel a little rushed.

What a treat! Good was amazing, service was fantastic. It was loud, but that added to the fun. We took the cable car there which was fun.

Don't limit yourself because of the limited menú, sometimes less can be more.Not a lot of choice of drinks or food, but I still found the menu well balanced and you wouldn't struggle to find something to catch your eye. We were lucky to be seated by the window, as the atmosphere was smoking hot, literally if you were seated by the open grill. I have the feeling it is hard to get a table if you don't book in advance, but we were ok without a reservation. The food. We started with the mandatory guacamole, one of the best I've ever had, and I am a big fan of avocado, so plus points to start with. The zeviche had a Mexican twist and if you were unlucky, like me, to get into close contact with one of the little devils floating around, that could ruin your experience. On such a delicate dish like this it is risky to overdo the chiles; it was a shame because the rest of the ingredients were extremely fresh and well combined. Then the squid, the jewel of the crown in my opinión, perfectly balanced flavours and just the right amount of grilling, good enough to make you come and try again. We finished with the enchiladas, a more traditional choice, but perfectly cooked nonetheless. All in all, a good experience that could be improved, so I am prepared to visit again.

Great service as soon as we entered, my brother then ordered for our group of three (as a Don Pisto's regular). We had oysters, tuna tacos, and a couple of dishes from the specials board and all tucked in, which is definitely the best way to dine here as everything is delicious- I couldn't possibly choose one dish! Also the fresh salsa is divine. Delicious sangria, and I drank from a fresh coconut, which was delicious and a fun novelty. Will be coming back here if I am ever in San Francisco again!

This is our favorite restaurant in San Francisco, Food and the fun high energy atmosphere is really special. Menu is so different their Pork Chop is the best pork chop I had in San Francisco. Also the prices are very affordable.

I've been there with a bigger crowd and we where seated downstairs, but the places in the first floor looked also nice. Everythiing was packed though, so be sure to bring some time to wait or reserve. A bit awkward to find a Mexican restaurant in Little Italy in SF, but the food is excellent. Not the standard burrito kind of stuff, but fresh and delicious seafood, meat, salsas and of course guacamole. We had lobster, big pork steaks, little fish and beef tacos and a squid skewer. All very, very good.

Stopped in late with my girlfriend and a friend of hers that lives in the area. We had a great time consuming the complimentary awesome chips and salsa as well as some apps and a few adult beverages! Wait staff was friendly and attentive.

Perfect dinner for two after a long day of sightseeing in San Fran. Walkable from all major sights. Fantastic, fresh and super knowledgeable about every ingredient in case or food allergy. Almost perfect if they would have served dessert 😉

We don't have many (non-TexMex) Mexican places in the UK, so when my wife and I visited San Francisco we decided to go to this restaurant based on the excellent reviews. The place is surely 'happening', very loud and busy, loads of young people, not a bad thing. Unfortunately the tacos (pork and fish) were utterly bland and tasteless. Perhaps they are supposed to be that way, but it was disappointing.

We went for a late brunch, and had an excellent food. The breakfast burrito was the best for me. If you get a fresh coconut to drink, they will cut it open after so you can eat the inside. Would highly recommend. The only draw back is the volume of the music, being British I am not used to shouting to be heard.... Otherwise would have been 5*.

With no exterior signage, this was definitely a fun little find. After a day in Napa, my wife and I stopped in for a dinner bite. The food was tasty, but a bit over priced for the portions. Our wait was about 5 minutes on a Saturday evening and the place was definitely busy. The noise level was very energetic which made it challenging to carry on a normal conversation.

Nice restaraunt and very busy which is obviously always a good sign. We shared several dishes and all were very good. Service was exceptional. Only issue is that is was very noisy and hence hard to have a conversation even across from the person you are sitting opposite.

Great little place, tucked away - need to know exactly where it is to find it. Fantastic food that is refreshingly flavoursome. Some awesome bars nearby too. Good place to take out of town towners to impress them with something different, or show off as an out of towner how much you know the city!

We visited Saturday night whilst staying near fishermans wharf, it's only about .7 mile away... place was very busy with a 40 min wait so we walked down the road and found a pub. When we came back we were seated, this place has a great atmosphere and is buzzing... We ordered tacos, absolutely delicious. Obviously fresh ingredients and expertly prepared. We also ordered guacamole, it was the BEST we've ever had. Drinks wise, I ordered a corona which comes in a 32oz bottle, which I didn't realise was large 2 pint version, however it was very chilled and very nice! We walked back down the hill into fisherman's wharf afterwards. One thing that has become clear during our 3 night stay in San Francisco is that it is a safe city and is safe to walk around, as long as you are sensible...

we had a large group and the staff did a great job of accommodating us. There were a lot of unique offerings and everyone in our group was happy with their food and drinks. My only complaint was the noise level which made it nearly impossible to carry on a conversation.

Loved this place! We didn't see a sign outside, but knew where it was from reading reviews. Everyone was so helpful. It was very laid back, but multiple people came over to check on us, fill water, etc, even the bar tender who delivered our freshly made margaritas! Our waitress explained that due to the kitchen size, plates are made to share & come out when they are ready, which we were completely fine with! The food was amazing! We had the fish tacos, Carne asada tacos , & tortilla soup. The flavor was incredible! I wish I lived locally, I'd be a regular here!

Definitely at the top of our best Mexican food list. The carnitas taco and chorizo mussels were amazing. There was overflowing nacho chips as well. Nice and friendly servers. Overall a humble but good food place.

We loved Don Pisto’s. It is a little hard to find as there is no name in the door, just an address. But it is worth the search. We left our name and they texted us 40 minutes later with a table on a Saturday night. While waiting we walked down the street to a wine bar where the server played tower of wine glasses for us. A very entertaining wait place. Their chips and salsa are really good. The street corn appetizer was simply fabulous. 3 of the 4 of us had the chicken dish special...it was a huge portion of chicken, peppers, onions. Very flavorful. With 2 pitchers of margaritas our bill was $198. While that seems like a lot, we were very satisfied with the performance/price ratio. And our service was excellent also!

We chose Don Pisto’s because of its positive reviews on TripAdvisor, but we had some trepidations because it’s a Mexican restaurant in Italian North Beach. But we were more than pleasantly surprised. Our reservation was promptly met, and the service was wonderful from the moment we sat down. Everything we had was delicious, especially the guacamole and margaritas. The tacos, although small (as described), were both packed with ingredients and perfectly seasoned. The best part of the meal was the Pisto’a salad, a huge serving of corn, black beans, some lettuce and tomatoes in a yummy avocado vinaigrette. Definitely worth the effort to find.

Small casual place and excellent food. Guac was amazing and the food had great flavor. We got the tortilla soup and pork chop to share and both were great! The menu is designed to share so share with everyone at the table. Strongly recommend!

We visited during the evening and it was very busy and loud. The food was excellent and the service very good. There were quite a lot of large parties and fewer couples. Great for our teenagers but it's cool and trendy, so possibly a bit less suitable for families with young children

There is no name on the outside that’s visible, so takes some searching out. The service is good but the selections are sparse.

It's difficult to find restaurants that will cater to small parties for events with and price-per-person menu options AND offer top-notch cuisine! I wanted a small dinner party for my husband's milestone birthday with a pre-selected menu so that everyone could spend more time visiting and less time choosing from the menu. Everyone at Don Pisto's was so helpful in coordinating and accommodating the party of 10 for this event and it was a HIT! Especially, the event coordinator, Jad and the hostess for the evening, Myra, and her team! They made us feel very welcome and were truly caring. It was everyone's first time at this restaurant and we are still receiving messages about how much they enjoyed the food and the perfect the ambience. It's a cozy, charming, space that feels like a large family dining room. Not to mention, the food and drinks were phenomenal! The lobster is a must! It was quite unexpectedly the best Mexican dining experience we've had in this city! Can't wait to go back!

Really impressed with the food and service at Don Pisto's. Tacos were flavorful - with good spice! Great atmosphere.

We have been coming to San Francisco for years, but our first visit to Don Pisto's was in July 2018. Somehow I failed to notice (if any other reviews said) that the restaurant does not have a full bar. IT DOESN'T MATTER! They make a great margarita with sake. (If you're not into margaritas, I noticed a lot of sangria at neighboring tables). Everything we had was terrific -- from appetizer to entree. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We will definitely return when we are back in the city.

We were looking for Mexican food and didn't find anywhere with good reviews except this one, and it didn't disappoint. Small place, great atmosphere, and the food was very good. Find it, even though there's no sign outside! You won't be sorry, all these reviews are correct.

We had the fish tacos, pork tacos and veggie enchiladas. All delicious. My factory would be the fish taco. The guacamole was probably the best I've ever had. And the green salsa was awesome. Service was great. Ambiance is very trendy, minimal. Oh and the margaritas are generous and tasty.

This place is excellent! Forget corn tortillas, order their house made flour ones. These tortillas resulted in a fight between my husband and me. He kept stealing them and I kept stabbing him with my fork to protect them. Save yourself the trouble and your marriage. Order two servings.

Truly exceptional food and service. I can't believe we hadn't discovered this place before now. Everything was absolutely delicious. We had mussels, tamales, guacamole, enchiladas and the special burger studded with bacon and fried in bacon fat! The margaritas are delicious and deadly and the chips are golden, crispy and very, very good.

We were craving Mexican food and came across Don Pisto’s. From the minute we walked in it felt like we were brought back to a beautiful authentic little Mexican hacienda. The food was hands down, no exaggeration, the best and most memorable Mexican food we have ever had to date. The service was fast, efficient, and most importantly friendly & helpful! Our server was top notch, sharing tips about the menu, how to order and what to expect during the service of the food; as well as, being hospitable and engaging with us sharing personal stories. This is a must go to for authentic Mexican food with a fun “Brooklyn esq” vibe in the heart of San Francisco! Do yourselves the favor and dine at Don Pisto’s, you will be anything but disappointed!

Great Mexican fare in the shadow of Coit towere. Lively, great drinks and delicious food. The service is patchy though.

But let's see how this goes. I've managed to get a seat at the bar. The bartender is doing his best and has taken my order. The red sangria is awesome! Then they bring chips and spivey tomatillo salsa - yummy! The oysters have arrived - they are delicious. Can't wait for my lobster. Bartender- when he has a chance to breathe - very friendly. Omg - the lobster was amazing. Even though it is loud, I highly recommend this place.

My family and I decided to stop in for a quick bite to eat. Unfortunately not what we expected. Small menu and pricey, but this does seem to be typical for the area. We are from Texas and just wanted some regular Mexican food, and could not find it anywhere in San Francisco. Staff was very friendly, and we were in and out in a zip. Very small space, but again this is the norm.

I had a colleague tell me about this place, and the main thing was how amazing their pork chops are. I was not disappointed. I haven't had anything that good (or that big, for that matter) in ages. Very much worth it. Service was swift and friendly.

The place is very small so be prepared to wait. It is worth it. The ingredients are very fresh and everything made to order. The corn tortillas are the best. The salsa and chips are fabulous. Some of the sauces were extremely hot so have your H2o close by.

Great food! Great customer service!!(summer was our server) and great ambience for Monday night! We had carne asada tacos & Mexican fried chicken and both were really good!!! We also tried hibiscus margarita which was really yummy!

So happy to discover this amazing Mexican restaurant- fantastic food and service. All very fresh and well prepared.

The decibel level is super loud. People were practically yelling to be heard. For a Sunday brunch, it wasn't for me. If you want to socialize/meet people then the community table is for you. Foodwise, the brioche french toast was too soft/mushy in the middle; needed to be grilled longer; Pork Tamale and eggs: excellent flavors; beware of the poached eggs which were totally runny; Ham and Poblano scramble: large portion; ok tasting. tortilla chips were thick; green salsa nice. Entrees were in the $12 to $14 range.

Don Pisto's is located in a great area, and it's food is delicious! Great atmosphere, trendy, and everything is good!

Yes, this was a very very good find on our trip to San Fran. . .stayed in fisherman's wharf and this restaurant was an easy walk. Enjoyed chips, guacamole and tacos washing it down with a few margaritas. A bit loud but that didn't bother us as we are too. Tuna, steak and fish tacos while my son had the French toast w/bacon Saturday early pm after Thanksgiving. Great service by the host, waitress and bartender all of whom we chatted with. Thank you for making our trip so much more than what we intended.

Always crowded and definitely lively. The food here at this North Beach gem is amazing. We had the ceviche it was fresh and perfect. If you like raw the oysters were fresh. Chips and guacamole great. But the most amazing items ordered were the Pork Chops OMG they were out of site!!! Our server told us how they prepared the chop brined for 24 hrs then marinated an additional 8 hrs. The Chop is huge and sharing is the best route to take with this Amazing hunk of Pork Perfection!!!

Loved the food and waite staff....but the music and dining room noise was so bad I left with a head ache...too bad because the food was outstanding

We enjoyed the fajita bowl with a side of beans! Watch out...the beans have adobo chilis and they are hot! We also had the enchiladas. Yum! It was a special treat to have the fresh salsa and homemade chips after seeing the sites for the day.

Easily the BEST dinner we have had during our stay in San Fran's North Beach. Great atmosphere, attentive and kind staff. After reading other reviews, my husband and I decided to try their signature Pork Chop dish (to share along with an order of Carne Asadas tacos). It was insanely delicious! Crispy, tender, seasoned perfectly...full of flavor and a huge portion! Guac and chips was also on point. Highly recommend!

Careful, you will walk right by and not know that you missed one of best little restaurants in North Beach, and that it is Mexican. Identifiable only by the three Amber colored lights above it as you look down Union Street from Stockton, or perhaps by the people waiting outside for a table. Don Pisto's is a haven of great quality Mexican food (think Mexican Street Food mixed with up scale cookery) among the Italian restaurants of North Beach. Small menu of 3-4 appetizers / tacos / small plates, and then 4-5 main dishes with daily special offered. Easy to make a very small meal or a large meal, as you see fit. Limited bar, with no hard liquor (they have Margaritas that were very popular, made with wine rather than tequila) but a reasonable selection of beer, a few wines, and Sangria. Service was outstanding from the time we entered to the very end, despite a significant crowd. Be warned, it is very loud and a bit dark, yet I felt the restaurant handled the noise well and had a cool ambience. One tip, I would ask for a table upstairs rather than the basement unless you want it extra dark. Great food is served from an open kitchen. Truly a local favorite and well worth seeking out.

Had read great reviews on this restaurant and wanted to try it out! It didn't disappoint! The chips and salsa were great, and the guacamole was AMAZING! I typically don't even like guacamole-this was superb-WOW! The fish tacos were excellent, and the carnitas were superb! The ingredients were so fresh and had so much flavor. Our waitress was really helpful, upbeat and fun! Great service. Margarita was one of the best I've had-perfectly blended. The restaurant has a very lively and positive atmosphere. So glad we checked this place out-would definitely go back!

We went to Don Pisto's at the recommendation of our AirBNB host, and we were not disappointed! Our server Nick was outstanding, and recommended several dishes that we highly enjoyed. The house made chips and guacamole was very creamy and delicious, the calamari was excellent, and the mussels with chorizo were out of this world! Highly recommended.

I recently ate at Don Pistos in San Fransisco. It was served "family style", with 3-4 small portions per plate. The carne asada and carnitas tacos were both excellent, as was the Mexican sashimi (salmon lox); however the best dish were the pork chops--delicious!

My boyfriend and I happened to be staying in an Air BNB just around the corner from this restaurant and we stopped in for a drink one night after dinner. We enjoyed the atmosphere so much, and the food smelled so good, that we returned for dinner the next night. We were not disappointed! The Tacos Al Pastor were amazing, as were the house margaritas, made with Agave wine instead of Tequila. The staff were very friendly, and this was clearly a popular local spot. I think this turned out to be one of our favorite spots during our visit :)

I was recommended this place by a friend who used to live in SF. I'd never have found it/gone in without the recommendation but I'm very glad I did. The service was friendly and fast and the food was really really tasty.

We enjoyed the Mexican cuisine even tho I ordered a lobster which tasted very good Recommend this place for family dining.

Lovely Mexican with a bustling atmosphere and delicious food. Overall a great restaurant, will definitely come back.

Amazing food, simple menu but delicious. Best tacos I had in 3 weeks in California. Lovely atmosphere and staff. Would definitely recommend. If it was in London (UK) I would be there every week!

Myself my fiancee and his sister ate an early dinner here while we were visiting SF...we had such a great meal! We ordered 3 specials between us and shared, they were delicious, shrimp tacos, ribs and a chicken dish also....everything was delicious! Even the margarita which I wasn't sure about as its made with agave wine...really tasty. The service was excellent, they also topped up our nachos and salsa frequently which was appreciated. Really good music and cool vibes!

We had a really great meal here, the lobster was fantastic. We also enjoyed the wine margarita's. The restaurant is in a nice neighbourhood. Would definitely recommend this one.

We were recommended this Mexican for a meal for our last night in San Fran. Apparently it didn't take reservations and when we arrived it was jam packed. We were offered a table after about 40 mins but choose to stay at the bar. This was because the barman was great fun and we could see the food being cooked. We had several strong cocktails, some spicy small plates and had a blast! We'll be back!

A friend of mine from San Francisco booked a table at this restaurant for 7 p.m. for myself and another friend, who called to say he would be slightly late. The guy on the door told us we could not be seated until the other friend arrived (never heard that one before!). We stood in the doorway, feeling very awkward, as other couples arrived and were shown directly to their table. We asked again why we couldn't sit down and start with a drink, and again we received a surly reply that we would have to wait. No eye contact, no smile, no apology. My friend was so embarrassed that he suggested we found another restaurant - which we did - a great new Thai restaurant just round the corner. The food might be great (we didn't get the chance to taste it) but the service and attitude were simply appalling. Would never go back there.

Nice Mexican restaurant . Had a great pitcher of strawberry margarita. Started with the ceviche of mahi that was to acidic with too much cilantro that made the dish a bit bitter. The main courses however were great . Really nice spicy shrimp tacos : great taco Al pastor ; very friendly staff

One of our friend who camd from India wants to taste Mexican cuisine,so we tried this place but frankly me and my husband find this place abit expensive than other Mexicans restaurants

Probably the best carne-asada tacos I ever had, prime ingredients, quesadillas and guacamole were delicious, too. The service was great as well. Price was reasonable for and in line with the quality of the dishes.

Great food, great service. The appetizer was awesome, the tacos were perfect and the chicken extra spicy, Top it off with some great drinks..

Really enjoyed the food and atmosphere and the service was friendly and informative- would definitely recommend

Don Pistos is noisy, hard to find, doesn't take bookings for small groups - things that normally annoy me But the food is worth it all. The shrimp tacos were amazing as was the guacamole and sangria ( to make these two staples memorable is an achievement) Recommend for a group (but not the venue for a relaxed quiet meal!)

Had an amazing dinner- sat outside, busy with take out but service was excellent, great tacos and margarita

You will love this restaurant. Excellent food and service. Cool atmosphere. You would not know it exists. Menu is not too big or too small... perfect and portions are good.

I go there whenever I visit SF which is about three times a year. I like it because it a bit off the beaten path in the sense that, while located in the heart of North Beach, you would be unlikely to stumble on it since it has no sign. Two things I like most about it. One, the staff is very friendly and hospitable, always making me feel welcome. Two, the menu is simple and limited, mostly takes in Mexican Tex/Mex cuisine. The dishes are simple and tasty. Probably not great for vegetarians or vegans. Nice place for a casual meal but be warned, it can get very crowded (I usually eat at the bar).

Seriously one of the best meals I've ever had outside of home-cooking. Not only was the staff absolutely wonderful to work with our large party, we never had to ask for anything. We ate tacos family style, and shared everything across the table of 10. Every single plate went back clean, we scraped every last piece off all dishes. We loved everything we tried. EVEN THE GUAC WAS AMAZING! Highlights: The charcoal grilled calamari was so good,I could have had about 3 more and been amazing. The shrimp tacos were also delicious, and had amazing flavor. Big ups on all the salsas, especially the fiery one on the steak tacos. Please go, please eat family style, and have some cold brews. You will not be disappointed- we'll be making this a part of our annual trip.

Happening and popular place. Good location in North Beach. Very good food. Good service. Decent prices. The only negative point is that the seating is a bit uncomfortable, crowded and the place is very noisy. I recommend it.

I was craving Mexican as the family and I were vacationing in San Francisco. My nephew lives in town and we met up for dinner. While the food was good, it was so dark and loud. I had trouble reading the menu under the dark light and it was so loud that our table of six could barely hear each other as we were yelling to talk to one another. Not a great place to catch up with someone. Would not recommend as a restaurant with children. Great for the young twenty somethings.

This restaurant was a short walk from our AirBnB and we are very happy we made a visit. We started off with the posole it was delicious. We had the al pastor tacos and also the shrimp tacos. The guacamole was amazing make sure to order. The decor and ambiance was warm and inviting. The service was friendly and fast. Would highly recommend it.

Not a full bar, but that's ok...the food is amazing, you can't miss on anything you order here.....the poached lobster and the pork chop are favorites......somewhat of a millennial hangout during brunch time -- so avoid - the bottomless mimosas gather a different crowd...

Wonderful latino atmosphere, great music, and warm welcome. This was the best! Really excellent on all levels, not to be missed! The food was heavenly. Fresh and delicious. The soft tacos and ceviche was divine. The waitress was amused by my husband tasting the salsa verde with a fork ... he was trying to single out the ingredients ... it was such a good vibe in there that we felt right at home. We were so enthusiastic about the tasty food that we were brought free shots! This place is on my must visit again list ... I cannot praise it enough. If you are anywhere near ... go check it out. I only wish I had known about the bottomless drinks, we would have stayed all night x Big thanks to all the staff, it was a top memorie from our trip to San Fran.

Love this place, the tacos are great, enjoy the ribs and take one of the specials. a bit noisy but well worth it, get there early and have a drink

We dropped in for a quick bite on Saturday afternoon. The tamales and ceviche were really good as were our Margaritas. Our bartender was helpful and entertaining.

Walking around North Beach we casualy found this nice mexican restaurant. Mussels and chorizo, pork chop and pollo asado....everything very good. Nice and profesional staff, Good price

I felt a little out of place being in my 40s and wearing a brightly colored outfit, but this place was very good. The patrons seemed to mostly be wearing black and be in their early 20s, but we sure weren't made to feel uncomfortable. The food was very good, drinks were strong and it was really inexpensive. The service was very good too. I would definitely come back if I am ever in San Francisco again soon.

Google this restaurant for pictures. We googled it while walking at Pier 41 when one us craved Mexican food. It was a five minute drive from the Pier and we could have walked it too. This is a casual Mexican restaurant with a lively atmosphere. They have the authentic Mexican food as well as other food to keep everyone happy. Our kids enjoyed the chicken wings which was excellent and the sauce was offered on the side. I tried the fish taco and it was very good. There were mini soft tacos. The picture shows 2 tacos but there are 2 more underneath with plenty of fish and garnishing to split it. Everything is priced very reasonable so you do get a great value in a lively atmosphere with excellent service. The nachos are great and they come with spicy and very spicy green sauce to dip in. I tried the very spicy one and it was just right for me. The only not great was the sangria that my wife tried and she ranked it OK. It sure is a good eat. Enjoy.

The place is not too big and has a good vibe. While I waited to my friend I had a good Margarita on the bar along with nachos and salsa. The Nachos and the salsa were great. Yeah I know it’s stupid to write about the nachos but it shows the spirit of the place. We then shared: ceviches- very good and spicy; calamari that were nice not exceptional and two tacos - fish and shrimp. Both were good. I liked the fish better. I didn’t like the fact that the tortilla itself was too soaked with the sauce but other than that it was good. While waited we ate more of the nachos and salsa - a fact my waistline will regret We didn’t try any of the deserts. The problem with the place is that it’s very noisy- the place was full and it was hard to hear each other in it.

Our group of 4 decided at the last minute to stop in for a late dinner after the night tour of Alcatraz, one of our party had read about this restaurant on line. We were not disappointed. It is a small restaurant with a very friendly wait staff and great food. We shared our dishes and all agreed they were fantastic. Would definitely stop in again. And I agree with one other reviewer who commented on the music, fun and lively!!

Ordered Carnitas taco ($12), Chorizo & Mussel ( $15) and drinks.Great area to eat after a long walk. We missed it at first because the outside does not have a big signage. A met a local and suggested the place. CA surcharge tax SF mandate (4%) will be added to your bill. I have noticed it will all our bills at restos

Do not leave the city without stopping in and having the Mexican sashimi by far the best thing you have had in you're mouth in years. Pete is a magician with food and never disappoints. The tequila bar is legit!

Came in here for an early dinner on my own on my first night in SF. Sat at the bar and was warmly welcomed by a very friendly bar man who kept me entertained and gave me some great recommendations. The tacos I had were good but the stand out items I ordered were the salmon sashimi starter - the flavours just melted right in your mouth and I honestly considered going back just for that. The fresh lemonade was also absolutely delicious. Fairly expensive for what you get I don't begrudge the price at all as I had a great experience there.

As I mentioned in a prior review, we visited Don Pisto's for the first time in July 2018. We were there again in late December 2018 when we returned for the New Year's Eve show at Beach Blanket Babylon.(See my other review on them -- still great after three decades.) Don Pisto's is outstanding; the staff is great (they accepted an email request for a reservation for two); and the food is unparalleled in a city with lots of Mexican options. We cannot say anything that's not positive about this place. Go and experience it for yourself.

Seriously delicious Mexican restaurant. Everything we are was amazing. Staff so sweet to our kids and made cheese quesadillas for them. Sea food tacos are crazy good. Waitress was friendly helpful & sweet. We can not fault any part of our meal tonight. Can not recommend highly enough. Go here. It's amazing !!

We thoroughly enjoyed this unexpected gem of a restaurant. When we arrived, it was nearly empty, but by the time we left, it was bustling with activity. The food was fresh, tasty, and nicely presented. Tortilla chips were warm and salsa was fresh. Guacamole was delicious. Service was attentive and unobtrusive. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for food and an upbeat/busy atmosphere. The food is not cheap, but worth it. We paid about $190 for 6 people for dinner (including tip).

We have been to the one on Lombard st. Great bar tenders. So helpful staff awesome and remember us. Great tequila great food awesome service. Going back today. Nice going to a restaurant that is happy to see you return. We will be back.

Brilliant twists on classic dishes. Loved the "Mexican Shashimi" for starter, the lime came through perfectly over the salmon but not overpowering. Next up the Pork tacos, plenty of meat and lots of flavour. Finished up with the Junior Chicken which was grilled to perfection. Real happening vibe to this place with a very straight forward but exciting menu. Loved it.

This place is small and very noisy but awesome food and drinks. Service is good. I have been here several times when visiting SF. There is no sign with the restaurant name on the outside but you will usually see a line of people waiting outside

The food was delicious and the service was great. The restaurant is a little difficult to find, but once you do it is worth it.

My wife and I were looking for a last-minute restaurant for our anniversary in San Francisco and were recommended Don Pisto's. My wife loves Mexican food, but I didn't want your standard cantina-type restaurant. Don Pisto's definitely is not your typical "cantina". The menu offers your typical tacos, etc, but also has a great list of alternative dishes not found at your typical Mexican restaurant. I ordered the pork chop, which was one of the best pieces of meat I've ever tasted in my lifetime. The place had a great vibe and played 90's hip hop music that was right up our alley. Great restaurant--we'll definitely be returning.

This restaurant must have a new cook because we cannot understand the 4,5* rating at all. This was just embarrassing. We had the calamari and the pollo asado, both had little to no taste outside being extremely spicy. I rarely leave a restaurant grumpy, but Don Pisto succeeded wonderfully in making me feel robbed.

Ate here a couple of times recently and had a great time. Staff are friendly and the menu has some real highlights. Firstly, the chips and guacamole are exemplary,the tuna tacos and calamari terrific and the ribs really tasty & tender...as for the pork chop... You gotta do it! Give the margaritas a miss though- no tequila...

Group dinner with work colleagues - the decibel level was extremely high, so probably not the best place if you want to have a chat with friends or colleagues. But the food was good, the margaritas excellent - and I had a great time!

This is brilliant mexican food for good prices! The hamburguesa is the bomb.The music is maybe a little bit to high music, but still gives a nice fresh atmosphere. Also very nice staff.

What's a great find. The ambiance, food, and service wee outstanding. We got the vegetarian enchiladas and the short rib special. special

I went to this restaurant with my mom. Service was friendly. I liked the red bricks of the service room. The food was great - guacamole,ceviche and enchiladas were fresh made with good products. Cocktails are like in Mexico - the margarita was quite strong! Unfortunately, this restaurant was very noisy and quite dark, hard to hear each other or see each other. Looks great for a young adults' night out because of you want a calm and intimate atmosphere for dinner it might be hard over there.

Great staff and excellent food. We had to drive around for a half hour before obtaining a parking spot. The food was spicy and delicious so it was worth the parking issue.

Wow what a hidden gem this place is. The food is absolutely incredible. You have to try the corn on the cob and their guacamole. We got the live main lobster and made tacos they were delicious to say the least. Gotta check this out for dinner then hike up the hill to Coit Tower.

The food is good. I couldn't quite figure out what the chef was trying to focus on with the menu. Seems like tapas style dishes and tacos but an interesting mix of offerings. Can get loud here with people drinking too many margaritas.

Our group of 11 showed up at the door to this gem after climbing the stairs from the pier toward Coit Tower. They seated us right away, had attentive, friendly staff and outstanding details to the food preparation to maximize flavor!

SHRIMP TACOS!! margaritas and guacamole get it all!! staff was very nice and the atmosphere was great, a definitely a must go if you're in San Fran looking for this type of food!

Lovely little Mexican place with a vibrant atmosphere. Staff were very friendly and attentive. Food was good quality and was brought out quickly. Tacos were very tasty but judt missed that 5* star factor. We prefered the fish tacos over the Angus steak. Overall a quirky little restaurant, we'll worth a stop.

I had the best tortilla chips I've had in a while. Perfectly crisp and salty. Fish tacos and maragaritas were also a win.

We first found about Don Pisto's when we stayed in a north beach rental during March 2015. Fairly understated from the outside, but full of life and good food on the inside. There is a fairly limited menu, but from what we've tried it's all great. The tacos in particular are fantastic; we had the fish, the shrimp and carnitas. My wife also had a Sonoran style taco which had a larger tortilla served open face style. We returned the next year, and caught the tail end of their Saturday "bottomless margarita/sangria" special, all you want (within reason) for $20, from 1:30-3:00. Some patrons were obviously enjoying this and the resultant volume level was near rock concert level but it was all good fun.

Don Pistos is in a nice trendy area of North Beach. This place is all about flavors, no pretentious atmosphere here. Comfortable environment, great staff that is knowledgeable and friendly, and a meal that will not have you sitting for hours. Share small dishes of a variety of tacos that are delicious! Then the pork chop is outstanding, "flavors galore!!!" My only reason for 4 out of 5 was there's no dessert! That being said you can walk a few blocks to Columbus Ave to the many pastry cafe's or gelateria's in the area.

We had a group of six and shared several of the dishes and a couple flasks of sangria. Everything was delicious and plentiful! The prices are reasonable and our server as awesome! Note: there is NO sign on the restaurant and the story about why is interesting! Will be going back for more!

We went at 2pm on a Saturday and although it was packed with locals brunching, we were seated quickly! They had bottomless mimosas, sangria and margaritas- these were yummy! The menu was very small, but the homemade guac and taco was delicious. The service was very slow and not overly helpful.

Don Pisto’s is a small,trendy restaurant which is situated in a non descript Brick building. The name of the establishment is not visible on the building which makes me think most people get there by word of mouth or online reviews. Inside the walls are bare brick there is a youngish crowd of mostly local hipster diners. A long communal table in the center with smaller tables surrounding it. They have a small open kitchen which is visible from the dining room. And a small bar. The atmosphere is merry with people drinking beers , sharing communal tables and laughing , conversing and relaxing . It was quite crowded while we were there. They were very accommodating with my wife’s dietary restrictions ( ketogenic diet). Service was quick and friendly, but not overly attentive which felt right for the type of restaurant Don Pisto’s is The food was quite good , guacamole was a highlight, but the portions were a bit small for my taste .

This is a neighbourhood gem. We brought two other couples for a few days in San Francisco as a customer thank you trip. On arriving we had three servers getting us water, chips and salsa, and the most friendly welcome I’ve felt at any restaurant. The restaurant was busy and I loved seeing the chefs smiling and happy. This place is not fancy, and they don’t have a full liquor license so you can only get beer, wine and they make modified cocktails. BUT .... we loved it!! The waiter suggested family style dining for our group with a varied selection of dishes. They were all delicious. This place would be on my weekly rotation if I lived in the area. Highly recommend!

It seemed like this was the place for the locals. Very good food. We ordered way too much because it did not look like much - but there was plenty to get fed up. Another great thing was that the waiter kept bringing cold water.

Loved our visit to Don Pisto's. We went early (around 7pm) and had to wait 20mins before a table was ready- but was well with the wait!! The staff were great. The tacos are small, but surprisingly filling. The sangria is delicious! How can you go wrong!?

The tacos, guacamole and service here were awesome! No reservations but a Great local restaurant and worth every penny!

While visiting San Francisco, we stumbled across this gem and couldn't have been happier! Not only was the food exceptional, but the service was the best we received anywhere in the city. We sat at the bar and chatted with the bar tender and some of the waitstaff and got a ton of great, local tips for the city. The drinks were great, and the tequila and mescal collection were unique and fun! They seemed to do a lot of carry out while we were there, but I found the atmosphere relaxed, casual, and fun. Can't wait to stop by again when we visit SF!

I didn’t expect to find good Mexican food in the Italian neighborhood of North Beach but this is well worth a visit. Small but well executed menu. The mushroom enchiladas were great-especially when topped with the carnitas pork as our waiter suggested. Great guacamole. My wife loved their fried chicken.

We had already eaten on arriving at Don Pisto's but wish we hadn't! We sat at the bar and had cocktails and beers and chatted with the amazingly friendly staff. Despite being constantly busy they all found time to chat with us and have a joke. When they found out we were celebrating a birthday they bought us both a drink which was a lovely gesture. If we had had longer in San Francisco we would definitely of returned for food. Be warned- this is a tequila bar and the tequila is STRONG!

Loved the food. Spicy but so flavourful. Location is great but small- no sign so you have to locate the number. Worth the trip.

We found this place last minute on our phone and followed our "walking" app to the location, after standing outside the door for 5 minutes (there is no sign!) a very nice woman helped us and pointed to the door and said "they don't have a sign, that's how we keep our little gems hidden" and I can see why. Love love love the vibe. Who plays hip hop/rap in a Mexican food joint, they do! Who has watermelon mimosa's, they do! The chips are delicious and unlike Texas Mexican food that serves red salsa, they serve green and it's delicious. We shared the Carne Asada and Carnitas tacos and again, really really well made. Small servings but just eat more chips! We made use of the mix and match bottomless drink menu (90 minutes of glorious-ness) and it was well worth it. The vibe is cool and you can tell this is a local favorite. Bottom line, go there or be super lame.

I just brought a large group of 20 ppl and have never been treated so poorly. Apparently, $1600 tab is not enough to get proper service. We should have had a private room and was told to leave at a certain time that no one communicated. Food was good, but never hosting a group here again. Embarrassing!

My wife and I were scootering around the West side of SF and we had a hankering for some good Mexican food. We checked the reviews on line, and at the top of the list was Don Pisto's. I was ready to head down to the South of Mission, but when I checked the map the restaurant was in the heart of North Beach! What!? I was familiar with the location -- it had been a small steak place of little note. This is not a "rice and beans" Mexican restaurant. It's patterned off of a "street food" model. One dish is a Neiman ranch pork chop cooked over an open grill with the flavor and moistness of a great steak. They have a wide variety of small tacos -- tapas style. They have a signature hamburger marinated in bacon and onion, served on an Acme roll. (As I said this is not your typical Mexican faire.) I enjoy their tortilla soup and when in season, they have a wonderful ear of corn grilled in aluminum foil with a delicious sauce. There is a small but high-energy bar scene. It can get very busy here so you might have a wait before being seated.

Went here for Sunday brunch, and it was excellent. Had seafood and chips with guaca, which tasted really good. Excellent bartender, and nice crew!

We were in North Beach looking for lunch and wanted something other than Italian so we stopped into Don Pisto's. It was PACKED so we decided to get food to go. We ordered a couple items and walked to the park. Highly recommend!

Tacos are good, Calamari Skewer was good and light eats but If you are hungry and you love pork. Skip all those or one and just get the pork dinner. Probably the best pork i've had in a very long time. Could eat it everyday. Very good. They don't serve any liquor, just beer and wine. Which is unfortunate because it would be nice to get a good margarita with the great food.

We got a delicious dinner and drinks at Don Pisto's. The food was obviously fresh and authentic, as were the margaritas. My only complaint was that the restaurant had a loud almost club-like atmosphere, but the food was worth the wait (and the noise). I would definitely go back again!

I visited with my partner in mid-September. I honestly feel a little bit guilty posting this review because the service was excellent and the food did actually taste very good. So why complain? Well, I had been determined to find a good Mexican in San Francisco and with our limited time visiting, didn’t want to trek out to the Mission District to find ‘La Taqueria’. However, I realise I should have just gone there. We’d had a busy day and walked a long way so were pretty hungry when we arrived. I had a bad feeling the minute I looked in as it looked hopelessly ‘trendy’ from the outside and I did not sense that we would be getting hearty filling food there. We tried finding a restaurant nearby that may be a better option but for some reason all of the other restaurants in the area were ridiculously busy and had long queues. So we nervously went back there. As I’ve implied, service was great. Staff were very friendly, made sure we had plenty of water and brought us nachos and some type of sauce. The sauce was delicious if a bit messy. My boyfriend and I decided to order Tacos to share. We ordered the Camarones and Carnitas tacos - $11 and $10. When our food was eventually brought out we realised the mistake we had made. This WAS a trendy place and whilst the quality was excellent, the quantity was distinctly lacking. This was definitely not enough food for the price we were paying and I started to regret my choice. The flavours were fantastic but I thought there could have been a little more food provided, especially with the tacos which did not include shrimp. I think there was a general expectation that we would probably want to order more food after we finished our tacos but we refrained. I’d already calculated things up in my head and I reckoned we’d spend more money than we wanted to so we decided to settle the bill. My other issue with the visit was that the dinner menu was too limited and didn’t offer the many of the type of meals you would expect from a Mexican restaurant. I understand that a big menu can often compromise quality but this menu was just too small. I was disheartened to discover that the lunch menus included burritos and quesadillas and wish I had gone then. It would be nice if they could incorporate that into the evening menu.

I’m not sure why other people rated this place so highly. We went on a Sunday night. It was loud and we couldn’t talk to each other without shouting since we couldn’t hear each other. Also our waiter forgot to place part of our order so we had him cancel it. The food was ok, we had steak tacos. The chips and salsa were so good and that was the only reason we ended up staying for the meal after being ignored by our waiter for over 15 minutes after we sat down. Also they add an extra tax on to the check that we didn’t see at other restaurants.

Every dish we ordered was amazing!! Sangria was great too and the service was great!! Shame you can't book a table for fewer than 6 though (queues are crazy on the weekend). Highly recommend!

We went there last night with a large crowd and did family style dinner and it was fantastic! The tamales were the best i have ever had. Everything was very fresh and delicious.

Excellent food! Made to share. Sangria was very good. Loved the salsa! Everything we ate was amazing. A definite "must return" on my next trip to San Francisco.

So after searching and searching Zagat and Trip Advisor for a good Mexican Restaurant we finally chose Don Pisto’s. We called for reservations and although they didn’t take same day reso’s i could tell from talking to Amanda this was the place. We were not disappointed. The food, drinks and service were all awesome. My wife had a chicken dish that was phenomenal and i had the pork chop which was about the best i have ever had. The salsa and quac were both equally good. The place has great food and great service and will make you feel right at home. See Amanda and you will be all set in a can’t go wrong place.

We went there with some out-of-town friends for appetizers and margaritas. It is a very noisy place, so if you want to be able to talk, choose somewhere else. Enrique, the bartender, waited on us, as we sat at the bar. We had the guacamole, which was fantastic, the calamari, which was some of the best we have had, and the spicy tuna tacos. The latter redefines spicy, so buyer beware! Some of our party couldn't eat them. The tuna taste was lost, so I would not order them again. Service was excellent.

We found this place almost by accident but really enjoyed our evening. The food is excellent and the staff take real pride in the offerings and therefore describe and recommend dishes effusively. Well they might as everything we tried was excellent in quality and taste. All washed down with a wonderful glass of margarita! Please do go to this restaurant!

This is a great place to go for brunch! Bottomless agave margaritas/mimosas/sangria and delicious! Zakiya was the best waitress who served up those complimentary shots of agave mimosas! They even play great music! Great place to go!

I love Mexican food and this restaurant it´s among my favorites. Truly authentic Mexican flavor and the service is very good.

Excellent Mexican all around. The Tortilla soup is a must, the Enchilada was very good as were all 4 of the 5 tacos we tried. If you like Mexican and spicy, this is the place to go. Service was also excellent.

Great Mexican, full of life and action and great food and staff. Not a place for a romantic dinner for two but great place to spend an evening with friends. Will return next time i'm in SF.

Our original choice was down the street from here but had an hour wait time. We lucked out when a reservation for two did not show up for Don Pisto’s. The service from every worker in the building was amazing and our server was amazing in her own right. We got the clams with chorizo for a starter and it was out of this world - the crusty toasted French bread was to fight for but luckily our server grabbed extra for us(and we don’t eat bread). We split the 2lb lobster special and were not disappointed. Make a reservation and you will not be disappointed!!

Very good texmex food at great price. Quick and friendly service. Would return if going back to San Francisco.

We were visiting San Francisco for a day and decided to walk in here. Needless to say it was about 90+ mins long. Once we were seated, the service was awesome and my veggie enchiladas was one of best I have had in a long time. We will make advance reservations for our next visit for sure.

The food at Don Pisto’s was quite nice. The al pastor tacos were really good, although the batter on the baja fish tacos was not that crispy and they tasted quite oily. We had the queso fundido and fried chicken as starters. The queso fundido was good and was a big portion, but the tortillas it came with were really greasy. The fried chicken had a delicious crispy coating, but the habanero dipping sauce was way too spicy and made it unpleasant. The service was really lacking, which was the biggest disappointment. They didn’t clear our starter plates when they brought our tacos so we didn’t have much room on the table. Once we’d finished our meal no one came over to clear the table or check on us, and there were only 2 other tables with customers in the restaurant. Overall it was a really average experience.

Party of three crashing in on a Friday night. The waiting was worth it. The meals we had was first class. It’s a bit crowded and there is a line for those of us who don’t make a reservation. Probably the best Mexican meal I have ever had.

Amazing food, pork chop with extreme size Corona is a must. Noisy, busy, but since it was a Friday night, best is to make a reservation. Been there with collegues, hard to talk since music is waaay too loud.

This place is SOOO Loud!! and the food is not that great!! They are not flexible with the menu and again the food is not great. If you looking for the mimosas, they were Ok, $21 for I guess 1.5 Hour.. I guess they limit it or watch it. I will not go back.

Craving great Mexican before Beach Blanket Babylon (5 min walk to theatre) Look for the 3 red lights outside as no sign at 510 Union. Delicious Mexican of fresh ingredients(not your basic Mexican ) Mexican sashimi to start in the most delicious marinade, with an agave wine margarita , guacamole chunky with fresh chips so tasty, diced beef tacos on small fresh corn tortillas hot as the waitress pre warned but great!

Very friendly staff but the food was hit and miss from dish to dish. Very noisy, difficult to have a conversation across the table

Don Pistos was the first restaurant we ate at on our first day in San Francisco and it set our standards high for the rest of the week! The chips and salsa starters were delicious and were given two free refills by the staff, who were all very friendly. The taquitos were delicious (and gluten free), but came with a sauce that we were not keen on at all, so stuck with the salsa! Would eat here again :)

Since one of our party was raised in California but now lives in England, it was imperative that he binge on Mexican food. Don Pisto's delivered. It offers creative interpretations of traditional fare, good margaritas, efficient service, and a lively, celebratory atmosphere. And by lively, I mean loud. Real loud. One of those restaurants where shouting-conversation is required. Nothing to buffer the reverb. My one suggestions for improvement is that they consider getting a sound engineer in there to modulate the music. You can still have the music, but when we were there, it was truly more invasive than the typical vibe in other restaurants.

After walking the morning away, we came here about 1:15pm. The place was very full but all 5 seats at the bar were open, so, we sat there. There are about 11 tables upstairs ranging in size from 2 to 6 seats with one large table that has about 18 seats. There was a birthday party there. The bathrooms are downstairs and there is another room down there for larger groups. We perused the menu and talked with Luke the bartender about the menu. We placed our orders. I ordered the carne asada tacos (mesquite grilled steak, arbol salsa, onions and cilantro) and my wife ordered the taco sonora (handmade flour tortilla, queso oaxaca, beans, pico de gallo, and crema). My wife really liked the green salsa that came with the tortilla chips. Our meals were brought to us in a very short time. Both were fabulous. The arbol salsa was a little spicy but very good. Luke, the bartender and our server was awesome! The food was very good as well. The only negative is how noisy it was when it was full and they also play the music rather loud.