Nopalito on Broderick Street in San Francisco has been one of the Bay Area’s most celebrated authentic Mexican restaurants since it opened as a spinoff of Nopa, building a menu around the regional Mexican cooking traditions — house-made masa, slow-braised meats, and the complex sauces of interior Mexico — that most San Francisco Mexican restaurants had never attempted. It appeared in Season 17, Episode 12 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “From the Heart,” which aired August 12, 2013. Guy Fieri found a San Francisco kitchen doing authentic Mexican food with the quality, technique, and ingredient sourcing that earns a restaurant its national food media reputation in a city with very high culinary standards across every cuisine.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Nopalito
City: San Francisco, California
Cuisine: Authentic Mexican
DDD Season: 17
DDD Episode: 12
Episode Title: From the Heart
Original Air Date: August 12, 2013
Address: 306 Broderick St., San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: 415-437-0303
Website: https://www.nopalitosf.com
Status: Open
What to Eat
The Carnitas — slow-braised heritage pork in lard with orange and milk in the Michoacán tradition — are the signature that earns Nopalito its Bay Area reputation and the item most regulars consider the best on the menu. The House-Made Tortillas pressed fresh for every order from nixtamalized masa are the foundation that makes everything at Nopalito better than the competition. The Pozole Verde with tomatillo, pepitas, and pork is the traditional Mexican soup that earns its own devoted following. The Tamales de Rajas with roasted poblano and cheese in fresh masa are the vegetarian option that proves the kitchen takes every dish seriously. Find a San Francisco hotel on Trivago.
Plan Your Visit
Check the website for current hours and additional locations — Nopalito has expanded beyond the original Broderick Street location. Reservations recommended.
Address: 306 Broderick St., San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: 415-437-0303
Website: https://www.nopalitosf.com
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the From the Heart episode on Amazon.
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Nopalito appeared in Season 17, Episode 12 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “From the Heart,” originally aired August 12, 2013.