XICA — Restaurant in San Francisco

A Night at XICA with Rude Girl and Perfect Mole!

For months, we'd talked about trying XICA, but our schedules never aligned. Finally, yesterday, on short notice, we decided to take advantage of the unusually warm evening and have a couple of drinks and dinner there, sitting outside with our little puppy.

Chef Maria Elena Esquivel and her husband, Ignacio Perez, opened the restaurant. They previously operated another restaurant called Chica in Oakland. Then, they moved to Levi's Plaza and started as a takeout window. Finally, Chica was closed so that Maria Elena and Ignacio could start XICA.

We had to wait for a table to be set up when we arrived. A few minutes later, we were seated, and our very nice and friendly young lady server was kind enough to bring our puppy some water.

We started with a couple of drinks. Mine was the Nena Grosera, which means "Rude Girl" in English! This "Rude Girl" came in a martini glass with a dried pepper floating on top! One sip and I was in love with this concoction of mezcal, Aperol, and Alma Tepec Chile Pasilla liqueur.

We also shared a very flavorful guacamole, where you could both smell and taste the little dash of oregano that was added to it. As the guacamole was disappearing, we decided to order and share an order of tacos. They were delicious! The presentation was beautiful, and the four crispy-fried tacos filled with potato came on a bed of flavorful beans and salsa. The toppings of cabbage and pico de gallo added to the flavor.

We closed the deal with an order of Pollo Mole Negro! It was delicious! The chicken breast was cooked perfectly - cooked but soft and juicy - and the mole was so good that we literally wiped the plate clean with the corn tortillas that came with it.

I'm a flan aficionado and would have loved to try their flan, but I was full and sadly had to forgo my traditional closing act! But it's no big deal. We both agreed we'd be back here again, so the...

August 2024: Enjoyed a dinner on a Saturday night. We were warned that they were short staffed and were told that we'd have to wait a bit for our mains. It was nice to warn us beforehand.

We started with the guacamole 🥑 and chips. The guacamole was oddly wet. Perhaps they added a lot more lime 🍋‍🟩 juice than I normally do. Chips were a bit weak. Lots of little bits as if we were served the bottom of the lot (where all the bits are). As our second starter, we tried the fried cauliflower. Was good.

For mains, we tried the catch of the day, which was a rockfish, the chile rellenos, and the steak 🥩. People thought the fish was too salty. The chile rellenos was tasty but I prefer the ones made with cheesy goodness. The steak was tasty.

For dessert, we had the waffle churros. Was dry but okay.

Beer menu was a bit underwhelming. My otherwise brewing IPA was a bit light for an IPA without any Juicy dankness.

Service could have been better. They didn't give us any serving spoons to scoop up the sauces and when we asked for serving spoons, the server brought over a soup spoon and a coffee spoon. Disappointing and just not sensing that they were on top of making us feel welcome.

Liked the restaurant space. This place used to be where IL Fornaio was located. They did a very nice job of highlighting the large open dining room. Liked how they made the main entrance from the courtyard. IL Fornaio used to have its entrance from Battery Street and Xica definitely has a grander entrance.

Would I come back? Maybe if I was...

XICA restaurant in San Francisco is a must-try for anyone looking for a delicious and authentic Mexican meal, especially if you have dietary restrictions. I was particularly impressed with the quality of the food and the fact that they have a gluten-free kitchen.

I started with the guacamole and chips, which were made with fresh, ripe avocados and perfectly seasoned. The chips were crispy and warm, and the guacamole was creamy and flavorful. For my main course, I had the chicken enchiladas, which were made with tender chicken, mole sauce, and melted cheese. I was also able to order the enchiladas with gluten-free tortillas, which was a huge plus for me.

Overall, I had a wonderful dining experience at XICA. The food was exceptional, the service was friendly, and the atmosphere was lively. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a delicious and authentic Mexican meal, regardless of their dietary restrictions.

In addition to the above, I would like to emphasize that I was particularly happy with the fact that XICA has a gluten-free kitchen. Someone in our party has celiac disease, and it can be difficult to find restaurants that offer gluten-free options. XICA, however, has a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, which means that I can order anything on the menu with confidence. I am so grateful to XICA for making it possible for my family to enjoy a delicious and authentic Mexican meal without having to worry about getting sick.

XICA is also...