Sol Food — Restaurant in San Rafael

A Taste of Puerto Rican Paradise at Sol Food: Sunday Pernil Palooza!

If you're craving a flavor fiesta that transports you straight to the vibrant streets of Old San Juan, look no further than Sol Food in San Rafael! This hidden gem celebrates Puerto Rican cuisine, and their Sunday specials, especially Pernil y Pasteles, are nothing short of a culinary carnival!

Stepping into Sol Food is like entering a tropical paradise! The walls are painted in lively colors, evoking the sun-kissed beaches of Puerto Rico. The stimulating aroma of spices and slow-cooked goodness hits you the moment you walk in, setting the stage for a taste adventure.

Now, let's talk about the show's star--Sunday Pernil y Pasteles!

Imagine tender and juicy, slow-roasted pork marinated to perfection. Sol Food takes Pernil to a whole new level. The meat is so tender it practically melts in your mouth, bursting with pleasant flavors.

But the Pernil is just the beginning of the Sunday feast. The platter comes with various sides that will make your taste buds do the salsa! The rice and beans are a flavorful fiesta on their own, offering a comforting earthiness to balance the richness of the Pernil. And the Maduros (sweet plantains) add a touch of caramelized sweetness that perfectly complements the savory goodness.

Let's not forget the ambiance--lively Latin music playing in the background, adding to the festive atmosphere, cheerful staff who radiate warmth and hospitality, and the colorful decor creating an Instagram-worthy backdrop at every angle.

The portions are generous, ensuring you leave with a happy, satisfied belly and maybe a bit of salsa in your step. The prices have increased slightly over the past three years, but they are still reasonable for the quality and quantity of food you receive. This makes Sol Food not just a restaurant but a delicious steal.

In conclusion, Sol Food is a Puerto Rican delights treasure trove, and their Sunday Pernil special is the crown jewel.

Whether you're a seasoned lover of Puerto Rican cuisine or a curious newbie looking to spice up your Sunday, Sol Food is the place to be. So, gather your amigos, head to San Rafael, and let the Pernil party begin!...

After over a decade, soul food has become the premiere boricua food spot in Marin. With some rock solid, and consistent plates like Pollo Al Horno, (baked chicken), Bistec Encebollado, (smothered steak) and Platanos Maduros, (sweet fried plantain), and Tostones (crispy and chewy smashed savory plantains), as well as the national dish of Puerto Rico, Mofongo, (tried and baked savory plantains, crushed, and shaped into a bowl shape, filled with things like shrimp, chicken broth, and other treats).

The Staples are solid too, black beans, red beans, and white rice. With a splash of "Pique", (White vinegar, pickling with habanero peppers, and spices), all these dishes jump just a little more.

The interior is nice, and the staff, mostly Mexican and Salvadorian are absolutely great. I think at some point all cuisine in america, will have to take a bow and thank Mexican, salvadorian, and Central American workers, for any success they have achieved, because 98% of The times they are the ones running the kitchens. And in this particular case they pull off Puerto Rican food very well. I would get it five stars, except the food came a little less than hot.

Back story: Originally, I boycotted this place for years, because when I had an elder friend visiting from the Caribbean and I wanted to cook for them, when they were staying in Marin, I called Sol Food, ask to speak to the chef, and then asked the chef if you would tell me where there was a decent store to buy stuff for Caribbean cooking, and he told me he wasn't going to reveal "trade secrets", to someone who might be a competitor, a move that I thought was suited for a total jerk, when I was just looking for a good local Bodega. I ended up spending the extra hour going to the mission anyway, where there are many, but I really didn't like his attitude, or his unwillingness to help a fellow cook, with just a simple store recommendation. He acted like I was trying to rob his restaurant out from under him.

Whatever the case, as they say, Time heals all wounds, and I decided to give it another try today, and it did not disappoint. So, all is forgiven, and Sol food is back...

I feel awkward writing what I'm about to write about this place - I read all these five stars review, and I wonder what I've missed. Let's start with the good - The sandwiches are REALLY good. We had the Cubano (Roast pork, ham, mustard, mayo, pickles and Swiss cheese on French bread) which was a four and a half stars sandwich and the Bistec (Thinly sliced steak and sauteed onions, avocado, Swiss cheese and garlic mayonnaise on French bread) which was a strong five-star. Ingredients were fresh, the bread was crunchy, and the sauces on the table added the "punch" needed to make it a great sandwich meal. I wish we stopped there, though. We also got the Costillas combo - Rotisserie pork rib dinner served with rice, beans, organic salad, and fried plantain/French fries. Boy, was this a mistake. Pork rib is a thinly sliced steak that was dry and tasteless. The rice was... well, just regular rice. Beans were mixed with olives, which was very weird to me but I guess I'm just not used to this type of beans/olives mix. French fries were uninspiring. We were starving, but we left most of side dishes on the plate. We came with high hopes after reading the reviews but left pretty hungry and disappointed.

P.S - As people mentioned, there might be a line, but it moves fairly quickly. We had a dozen people ahead of us, and we were seated within 10 minutes. You might get a shared table. Service was quick...