1. Lolinda
8.9
2518 Mission St (at 21st St), San Francisco, CA
Argentinian Restaurant · Mission District · 204 tips and reviews
katie nagl: The croquetas, empanadas de maiz, and hanger steak skewer are awesome. Add a glass of the Chilean Alcance.
Travis Smith: Chicken empanadas are amazing. Highly recommend the Rock and Rolla cocktail as well.
Iris Ng: Steak and empanadas are sooo good! Their chimichurri sauce hmm. Reservations recommended and be prepared for some tasty tapas and steak in dimly lit/kinda noisy restaurant.
4. Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen
8.3
401 Valencia St (at 15th St), San Francisco, CA
Arepa Restaurant · Mission District · 136 tips and reviews
Amina Penoff: get empanadas, they're the best. arepa is my fav vessel for the delicious meats.
Earl Williams: The spicy chicken catira with the sweet corn arepas are delicious. Yuca fries and empanadas are also great.
Bela Pulgar: Arepas, cachapas and empanadas. A bit pricey but the food is worth it. Try the coconut lime water. Can't wait to go back.
6. El Techo
8.8
2516 Mission St (btwn 21st St & 22nd St), San Francisco, CA
Latin American Restaurant · Mission District · 171 tips and reviews
SFist: Stop by El Techo in the Mission after work for their happy hour, which runs from 4- 6, but includes $5 guacamole, beef empanadas, fried green plantains, and fried chicken thigh with habanero salsa. Read more.
Mohit S: The caipirinhas are surprisingly fantastic. The empanadas are also a solid bet, which isn't surprising given they're coming from Lolinda's kitchen.
SFist: The happy hour here runs from 4 to 6pm on weeknights. It includes $5 guacamole, beef empanadas, fried green plantains, and fried chicken thighs with habanero salsa. Also try the $7 margaritas. Read more.
7. Prubechu
8.7
2224 Mission St, San Francisco, CA
Asian Restaurant · Mission District · 11 tips and reviews
Rachel Brooks: Empanadas, ribs, wedge salad, banana doughnuts
Lani M: BBQ Chicken fiesta plate and mushroom empanada were great!
Neel Hajare: Enjoyed the crispy pork belly and red rice. A few interesting wines available by the glass
8. Poc-Chuc Restaurant
8.3
2886 16th St (South Van Ness), San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · Mission District · 32 tips and reviews
Luke Bornheimer: The vegie trio (empanada, panuchos and salbutes) was eclectic, delicious and filing for the awesome price of $9. The complimentary chips (on the crunchier side) and salsas were also solid.
orange smiling: the panuchos and salbutes are wonderful. this is one of my favorite restaurants in the mission. lunch in particular!
Luis Flores: just go for the mayan platter and don't be shy with the citric habanero salsa.. tortillas are handmade and crispy, delicious mayan cuisine.
10. Tacolicious
8.6
741 Valencia St (btwn 18th & 19th St), San Francisco, CA
Taco Restaurant · Mission District · 288 tips and reviews
Tasting Table: Nothing wrong with the tacos here, but don't miss the small plates, including shrimp a la diabla, Veracruz-style squid and fried empanadas filled with Swiss chard and Oaxacan cheese: Read more.
Jasmine: Best Mexican I've had ever! Especially the empanadas.
Marisol Bueno-Brubaker: Perfect if you don't want something too strong. Delicious :)
12. Mr. Pollo
8.8
2823 Mission St (btwn 24th & 25th St), San Francisco, CA
South American Restaurant · Mission District · 37 tips and reviews
Lizzie Agra: Tasting menu is awesome. Manny is awesome. Dessert menu is awesome. Coming back for sure
Tea Dough: first rule of "Fight Club" - order the tasting menu w/an addition arepa.second rule of "Fight Club" - don't ask questions. just shut up, eat & enjoy! ;)
Navin Ramachandran: If you are not in a hurry, sit back, get the tasting menu and have a few laughs with Manny, the artist of the Mission.