Café de Olla

Excellent hot chocolate that's not too sweet but rich in flavor. The chocolate comes from Oxaca and mixed and aerated in a ceramic pitcher. I like it better than Dandelion Chocolate which is a little too sweet and heavy for me. Tamales are solid. I have been here a handful of times and just learned they have roasted grasshopper! It's roasted with garlic and tons of spices so it's super tasty.

We went in with high expectations based on the reviews. However, while we appreciate their effort, unfortunately the food missed the mark.We ordered a chicken mole tamale and memelas. The tamale was the best item from what I ordered, as the mole was very good, the tamale dough was moist and flavorful, and the chicken was a generous portionThe memelas were disappointing. They were tasty but honestly it lacked authentic Oaxacan cuisine flavor. I have tasted Oaxacan food from Oaxacan family and from various places in Oaxaca. The memelas had too much red sauce that overpowered other flavors and made the memela get soggy quickly. It did not taste like a memela should. When the food got to our table, it had some cold parts for some reason which we found odd. Highlights: friendly staff, cozy environment and nice themed decor. Clean restroom. Lowlights: not authentic as it claims.

I had both the memela and the tlayuda.The memela with carne asada and the tlayuda with al pastor. The memela itself was great, but the meat was dry and no flavor. The tlayuda shell was state and the meat also dry and no flavor.If you come here, I would recommend the memela with no meat.I emailed them and gave them my feedback. Someone replied with an apology and offered a refund. I never got a refund and no one ever replied to my followup emails. The memela (with no meat) was good tho. I may go back and just get that. And look at other people's food to see how the meat quality is that day. Maybe I went on a bad day where they keep the old meat.

A colorful and festive cafe. Loved all the decorations, definitely felt homey. There's even some paper coloring materials on each table to draw. Staff were very friendly and gave some food recommendations. Everything tasted homemade and fresh.The tamales tasted incredible. Each dish came with a delicious salsa and side salad. Favorite was the vegan tamale, surprisingly had a lot of unique flavor to it. Just wish the portions were larger, so would order more next time.Want to come back next time to try their drinks!

This place is AMAZING. I couldn't wait for my next visit after leaving, and I mean that because I returned no more than 2 days later and brought 2 friends! The warm, welcoming employees, their actual interest in knowing your preferences and thus suggesting something as you review the menu and can't decide because everything sounds delicious (!!!), and the authenticity of it all. Best vegan tamales I've ever tried (ordered all 3 kinds), best Oaxacan hot chocolate I've ever tried, and best service I have received in a long while. Gracias Cafe de Olla for existing and for being kind...and of course, for sharing your food with the world (and for not forgetting about us vegans!).

Super cute small restaurant off 19th and Mission. Friendly and quick service. Love that everything is handmade. Portions were a bit small for the price but we're still pretty filling. Chicken mole tamale was good though a bit dry despite having the mole sauce inside and on top. Tostada was crispy and packed, and the huitlacoche was good though pretty mild on the funkiness. Overall taste was good but could've used a pinch more salt to really bring out the flavors.

This is such a cute cafe in the Mission. I came in for a Mexican mocha this morning, it was slow and quiet at the cafe which was really nice for a Sunday. The staff was super nice, the decor and interior is very cultural to the Mission and adds a very authentic vibe to the cafe. They have indoor and outdoor seating. While I only got a mocha, they also offer food here. Parking was also quite easy, since it's located off of the prime streets, you can easily find neighborhood parking.

This place is one of my favorites in San Francisco. If you're looking for authentic Oaxacan Mexican food with a rest Latin atmosphere, this is it. It's a small intimate little cafe with great food. The Mexican hot chocolate is my favorite as well as the tamales. Inside it feels like a little casita. You'll feel right at home if you come from a Latin household

Tlayuda is really different and good!It's like a quesadilla, but the home made tortilla is firm, and the base ingredients are refried black beans, cheese and shredded cabbage.I had it that way.... with their amazing smoky salsa. (It comes with a cute wooden serving spoon!)I always enjoy new things!Next time will I be brave enough to try huitlacoche?

We came here for the traditional Oaxacan hot chocolate and and were not disappointed! My partner got oatmeal milk and I got it with water - definitely recommend getting it with milk for the extra froth. The server made it on the table in front of us, and chatted with us about the traditional history. We also got two tamales, chicken mole and chepil (a vegan option that is not commonly served in the US but tasted pretty good.) The tamales are not overly big but are reasonably priced at $6.50 each.