Restaurant Review: Cha Cha Cha, San Francisco, California

Another one of my Haight-favorites (and quite possibly my favorite restaurant in the entire city) is Cha Cha Cha, a Latin (Cuban?) restaurant at Stanyan on the end of Haight.  There is also one in the mission, but I have not visited and would likely be biased in favor of the Haight outpost anyway.  James and I have eaten at Cha Cha Cha many times and have tried just about everything on the menu, yet still we have a hard time ordering (yes--just about everything is THAT good).

The restaurant is crowded, with tables, people, and random "stuff."  Decorations are stuffed onto the walls, crooked and colorful, and the table cloths are made of plastic and busily patterned; all of this adds to the character of the restaurant.  Upon entering, the restaurant will probably be very crowded (for dinner at least)--come prepared to either squeeze into the bar or stand outside, in which case: dress warmly.  Wait times vary significantly; I have waited anywhere from five minutes to an hour in what seemed to be similar crowds.  Make the most of your wait time by ordering a pitcher of their infamous sangria from the bar; it is the most delicious sangria that I have had outside of Spain.  James likes to eat the fruit inside, but I don't recommend it for those who are sensitive to the taste of alcohol.  We counted last time, and a large ($20) pitcher will serve about fourteen small glasses, which, depending on your sensitivity to it, will be good for 2-3 people for the entire meal.

(courtesy the Cha Cha Cha website)

The first time I visited Cha Cha Cha I ordered the black bean soup; it is served with sour cream, and when paired with bread can be a meal in itself.  Trust me, though, you will want to order as many things as possible!  Other favorites from the appetizer menu include: Jamaican jerk chicken, the grilled marinated chicken wings (nice and spicy), the fried new potatoes (infinitely better than they sound), and Spanish rice and black beans (simple yet effective; the black beans at Cha Cha Cha are as superior as black beans can be).  My absolute favorite appetizer, however, and the dish that keeps me coming back nearly every time I'm in the city, is the fried platanos maduros.  I have a deep-seeded love for fried plantains and crave them often, and Cha Cha Cha does one of my best-loved dishes very well.  They are served with the black beans (more of a black bean puree) and sour cream--add a dash of salt and enjoy!  They are an absolute must for anyone who tries Cha Cha Cha.  One appetizer I will advise against is the ceviche; I am not a fan of ceviche in general, but James describes it as bland and lacking in character--two adjectives I do not prefer my food to have.  I have also not tried the mussels or the calamari (not huge on seafood), but James fully endorses both, for all those underwater creature lovers out there.  Honestly, it is hard to go wrong with anything on the menu.

Generally, I've always stuck with a variety of appetizers to share between the table rather than order an entree (primarily because I enjoy the different options), but I have tried the arroz con pollo, which was good, however not fantastic.  Also, the pargo rojo (red snapper) is notable, however the negative comments include it's small size.  The lechon asada (roast pork leg) is probably the best entree to go for, although I have not tried the remaining two; the pork is tender and delicious and it includes my favorites: plantains (although, to be fair, so do the other entrees).

For dessert, absolutely try the el mango tango mango.  It is just big enough to satisfy the sweet tooth without being too filling.  I haven't tried any of the other desserts yet, but I certainly intend to.  The service is fine, however nothing special, and often the host will be absent when you first enter.  Patience is key, especially if it is crowded.  The food is very, very worthy.  Prices are not exceptionally high, but a bill can easily surprise you as all those appetizers and all that sangria quickly adds up. 

I love this restaurant, and I have recommended Cha Cha Cha to everyone in or visiting San Francisco; if you only go to one restaurant there (and are a fan of Latin cuisine), absolutely visit this one.