Nicaragua Restaurant

(Mission)
3015 Mission St.  
415-826-3672 Map it

$-$$
cash only, cheap eats, good for groups, kid-friendly, lunch, open 7 days, take-out

SCENE: This bare-bones, family-owned Nicaraguan place, a few blocks from the 24th Street BART station, is nothing special to look at—it’s a low-ceilinged space with plastic-covered tables and posters of the Nicaraguan countryside on the walls—but the cheery service and tables of regulars make it feel warm and friendly.

EATS: If you’ve wearied of the taco, Nicaragua Restaurant will be a welcome addition to your Central American eating repertoire. The simple, rustic food is prepared to order—heaping plates of carne deshilachada (shredded beef with a sweet, tomato-based sauce) sided by the trifecta of beans, rice and pickled cabbage; ceviche; and giant bowls of mild sopa de albondigas (meatball soup), accompanied by freshly made tortillas. Don’t miss the fried plantains, topped with deep-fried Nicaraguan cheese, at once squeaky and salty.