Vegan
Organic
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Mexican
Vegan Mexican restaurant by the owners of Cafe Gratitude. Uses produce from the owners' farm. Makes food in-house including the salsa, tamales, corn tortillas. Concise, seasonal menu. Reported closed August 2023.
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2211 Mission St (at Mission District), San Francisco, California, USA, 94110
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 31 Aug 2023 by Zombiecynthia
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Added by rebeccaj on 28 Dec 2009
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282 Reviews
First Review by alexkors
eatinggreen
Points +608
Great concept that fails in the execution - Edit
We love the idea of organic vegan Mexican... what a fabulous addition to the veg'n scene! And coming from the creators of Cafe Gratitude, we expected big things.
Read moreWe've been there several times, the first time being on my birthday one year which was a total bomb-out (and yes that's a bad thing). For some unfathomable reason we keep giving these guys another chance, in the hope that maybe we were just ordering the wrong things. Not so, unfortunately. The food here is enough to put one off Mexican food permanently - and in actual fact we find ourselves avoiding it these days. There's something about the flavour profiles at Gracias Madre that is really off-putting, which is a shame because we used to make vegan Mexican ourselves frequently and it was superb.
Service is usually pretty friendly but a bit hipster-ish for our liking. We love the overall restaurant design and always feel comfortable inside... if only the food was better, it could be something truly special!
Pros: Nice set-up, feels good inside, Service is friendly (but not so sincere), organic, vegan and a great idea
Cons: The food just doesn't taste good
Guest
jennamichelle1
Points +337
Great Food - Edit
We really enjoyed eating at Gracias Madre. Although the surrounding street was a little dubious-really the whole Mission area can be this way, great-but a little offbeat. My husband and I were a little more nervous with our toddler than we were on previous trips when we ventured there before we had kids. The restaurant was really lovely on the inside. The servers were friendly and easy going, and the food was great. Their horchata drink was great, and for our appetizer we had Quesadillas De Camote, a dish of "Sweet potato and caramelized onions folded into tortillas with cashew nacho cheese and pumpkin seed salsa". It was everyone's favorite. We also tried the enchiladas, tacos, and chocolate cake with ice cream. Everything was delicious, definitely worth a special trip to try their food. There wasn't anything we didn't enjoy. We brought a non-veg friend who is open-minded when it comes to food and she loved everything as well.
Read morePros: Excellent Food, Friendly Staff, beautiful restaurant
Guest
vegva4eva
Points +77
Delicious food - Edit
I used to live in the Mission, and I went to Cafe Gratitude a few years ago on my vegan honeymoon. Gracias Madre was on the top of my list of places missed on the that trip. My husband and I went with a friend from Texas, who can also appreciate vegan Mexican. I had the tacos, and they were delicious. One of my dining companions had the posole. All of the food is made with great ingredients and great care. When you live on the east coast, you often find it impossible to get a really good tortilla (unless you make them yourself).
Read moreI had peach cobbler with cinnamon ice cream for dessert.
The price is obviously higher than in a corner taqeria, but it is a heck of a lot cheaper than Millennium. This is San Francisco, so expect to pay a high price for quality.
Pros: quality ingredients, nice ambience
Cons: not cheap
Guest
Malin
Points +33
great vegan food - Edit
Have the empanadas!! Fun vegan Mexican food. Atmosphere ok, food really good but not amazing. Will defenetly be back! Dessert is good, but not amazing.
Read moreGuest
julesthebear
Points +30
Not bad, but not as good as I expected - Edit
After reading the reviews, I was pretty excited to check this place out, but I was a little disappointed. Maybe it was just the dishes we got. Anyway, the plantain empanada was simply exquisite and I highly recommend it. However, the tacos were were kind of hit and miss. The mushroom taco was quite tasty, but the zucchini and pea pod tacos were rather bland, although there was salsa to spice them up a little. Additionally, the service was very slow (taking our orders and getting/picking up the check) even though the restaurant was not very busy (the two of us even had our own table of six chairs). The food was also a little pricey. So it was worth a try, but I don't know that I would go back.
Read morePros: variety
Cons: slow service
Guest
AshleyLorden
Points +1278
Not your average Mexican food - Edit
Gracias Madre is not a vegan version of the Mexican food you're probably used to eating. You won't find any processed foods, like faux cheeses here; you will find lots of nut creams, veggies cooked in surprising ways, and handmade, quality food. They say that the food was grown organically nearby.
Read moreFor me, growing up on west coast of US, it feels like a re-interpretation of what Mexican food was meant to be before tacos took over. But maybe it's just truly traditional Mexican cooking with all-vegan ingredients.
On to the restaurant. It's in a not-so-safe part of the Mission and is a bit like a deep cavern. They have a few tables outside in a gated area off the sidewalk, and more tables inside, although there's limited seating. You should make a reservation or plan to wait a while unless you're cool with sitting at a communal table. Personally, I'm totally fine with a communal table if I'm in a group of 1, 2, or even 3, even when going to a nice meal like Gracias Madre, but I think it's a little weird when my group of 4+ is told we're sharing a communal table. It feels homey, is rather dimly lit and the kitchen is partially open to the dining room so you can sneak a peek of the cooking.
The dishes are rather expensive and look like very little food when they come out, but they are super rich and filling. That said, you're paying for premium food so it's no bargain. It is both delicious and inspiring.
I love to bring guests here who don't believe in Mexican food, or vegan food, or both. It's very different and gives a great new perspective.
You can also get takeout.
Pros: All-vegan, Delicious
Cons: Expensive, Waiting for seating
Guest
sglcklch
Points +3679
Lived up to the hype - Edit
This was one of the vegan hot spots that I couldn't make it to when I was in SF a few years back, so I was super excited to get to check it out at last. My partner and I arrived at around 6:30 on a Thursday. It was already fairly busy, but luckily we got seated right away. (Had it been another half hour later, we would've had to wait.)
Read moreWe hadn’t eaten all day, so we kind of let loose and ordered a tamale with zucchini, the butternut quesadilla, the enchiladas con mole, and the three taco plate with broccoli, zucchini, and mushrooms. All that for two people to share was more than enough food. Still we demolished everything; it was delicious. The freshly housemade corn tortillas made a whole world of difference and brought things up a notch. Just a few thoughts:
- The enchiladas were not exactly what I had in mind. Served open-faced, smothered in mole sauce, and topped with mushrooms, these were more like wet tostadas. (Later I wiki'ed and learnt that this version of enchiladas does exist in certain parts of Latin America.) The refried beans were excellent; even my bean-averse partner loved them. The mole, though, was less than stellar and could use more depth.
- The tacos ended up being similar to the enchiladas. Between the two, I would suggest the tacos simply because you can choose three different toppings as opposed to mushrooms only. There won't be mole (you're not missing much), but you'll get the beans as well.
- The entire dinner felt like a corn-centric feast with the same few vegetables as main ingredients. It was a gratifying one, but honestly everything started to taste the same half way through. Some variety would've been nice - a little tofu/tempeh/seitan maybe? These notable plant-based proteins were nowhere to be found on the menu. True, they are anything but traditional to the cuisine, but so is a meal completely void of meat and dairy.
As full as we were, we couldn't pass up the chocolate cake before calling it a night. It was rather average on its own, but the cocoa-cinnamon sauce added a special touch that turned it into an absolutely scrumptious and comforting dessert. The vanilla ice cream couldn’t be a better complement, and a generous blob of it to boot.
Our bill came to about $70 with tip, which I thought was very reasonable. I can imagine the service getting slow, but it was alright in our case. Food was great; we left happy. This is a 4.5 in my book.
Pros: great food, reasonable prices
Cons: lack of variety
Guest
m@earthville
Points +10392
One of the best Mexican-inspired veg*n eateries - Edit
There's a lot to love about Gracias Madre.
Read moreIt took a long while for a server to find us, but from then on everything was first class.
The food is exquisite — really some of the best Mexican-inspired food we've had anywhere. The flautas and enchiladas have rich and well-balanced flavor and excellent textures. The pear cobbler was divine.
We love that the veggies are seasonal, local, and organic — and it shows in the flavor and freshness of the food.
Be aware that the seating here is communal, so you may have others seated at your table.
We'll have to return many times to try all the appealing items on the menu.
¡Qué rica!
Pros: great flavor and texture, organic, local, seasonal veggies, great dessert
Guest
Seahorsea
Points +132
Wonderful - Edit
I've been here a few times and every time has been very good. The seating outside is great, I love the mural and I love the small menu, which is helpful for me as huge menus for an indecisive Libra spells lots of waiting time for my friends......
Read moreI love the Almond Milk Horchata....expensive but worth it...Get the Larger Size because it will be gone if anyone else at the table wants to taste it!
I like everything they serve, probably because it's all fresh, high quality produce and that's what I'm looking for. The menu items are quite similiar, the same ingredients in different combinations. The guac is superb, as are the home made tortillas.
I am really happy eating greens, mushrooms, beans, zucchini, salsa, guacamole, tortillas, and almond milk horchata! Especially when it's all fresh and organic. If you are into that kinda thing you won't be disappointed.
Pros: all vegan, delicious, ALmond Milk Horchata!
Cons: not a lot of variety, busy busy
Guest
bianchina
Points +167
Excellent - Edit
Good to see a vegan place packed to the gills. This place was more authentically Mexican than I expected. I thought the service was exceptionally friendly and polite - at one point the waitress even checked on me to make sure my food was delicious!
Read moreAny place that is completely vegan scores one extra point from me. The other 4 points I give are for the yumminess and presentation of the food, portion size, service and atmosphere. It was great!
Pros: all vegan, delicious, good amount, authentic , very nice service
Guest
calivegan46
Points +104
Best vegan mexican food ever! - Edit
As a lover of Café Gratitude there was no way I was coming to San Fran and not going to Gracias Madre! My waiter was passionate about the food and made great recommendations. I ordered the tamale with the special sauce and it was delicious. I was surprised at the limited list of entrees but now see that they put so much effort and quality into each dish so I wouldn't have it any other way. I wish they would open a location in LA!
Read moreGuest
asciimo
Points +59
Love This Place - Edit
Papas al horno FTW.
Read morePros: Potstoes
Cons: Nada
Guest
Mellifluoust
Points +827
Original, communal Mexican - Edit
Loved the feel of Gracias - the communal dining tables and the live music. Ordered a yummy empanada, followed by the prickly pear tacos and shared the vegan flan for dessert. All would be hard to find elsewhere. I only wish it was as easy to find such delicious vegan Mexican food in Mexico!
Read morePros: Interesting combinations, Communal feel
Guest
AlanC
Points +81
Oily soft tacos - Edit
If you have had real Mexican this is not,in the same league. They serve an average guacamole with oily soft tacos. The eggplant dish was okay. The tacos were the same oily soft tacos with sparse contents. Save your money and cook at home or find another place.
Read morePros: Atmosphere, Community seating
Cons: Food was less than average, Expensive
Guest
ChickpeaDee
Points +95
GRACIAS A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! - Edit
I had to wait 1 1/2 hour for a table. So nice to see a vegan restaurant so packed that there was such a long wait. They took my name and cell phone number and I went to a bar down the street and waited for them to call me. So nice!
Read moreThe atmosphere is so nice and cozy, great murals on the walls, professional and courteous staff and the food is to die for. Amazing inventive Mexican cuisine. Don't miss the chance to eat there the next time you are in SF!
Pros: friendly staff, healthy cuisine, excellent food
Cons: parking
Guest
veganamanda
Points +251
Not bad - Edit
I had the enchiladas, which were tasty, but nothing special. The waiter spilled a good amount of our sangria pitcher as he was pouring and I was disappointed that there was no offer to replace the spilt drink..l I wasn't blown away, but I would give it another shot. The neighborhood is not one I would walk around in myself, so be safe if you check it out...
Read morePros: atmosphere
Cons: location, not top service
Guest
sovaydesitges
Points +25
best vegan restaurant ever - Edit
can I please live here? Organic Vegan Mexican. so good, it was packed with omnivores. going back for gorditas and black beans. I'm a realllly good vegan cook, so going out to eat is usually a disappointment. they kick my [censored]. amazing yumminess! noisy and family style seating. who cares? eat!
Read morePros: vegan, incredibly delicious, home grown heirloom corn
Cons: noisy, so what? , family seating :-)
Guest
hrefna
Points +142
Just Bliss! - Edit
I went by myself on a busy Sunday night, but they found me a spot on a communal table right away. My food was absolutely perfect, so very delicious & just exactly what I needed to eat. I had the vegetable plate, so I got two choices of vegetable (I chose broccoli & snap peas, both perfectly sauteed with chili & garlic) beans, rice and a basket of delicious steamed corn tortillas. There were two salsas free on the table but I also ordered a side of Pico De Gallo as well as a much needed Mojito (it had been a rough day). Everything was top notch and put a huge smile on my face, and set my tummy back on a happy path after a day where I hadn't treated it very well.
Read morePros: Delicious, Healthy, Friendly
Cons: Not cheap!, But worth it.
Guest
msvegan
Points +377
Gracias Money $$$ - Edit
The food is average at best. Boring to say the least. The owners are all about the money and clearly don't respect their staff. Why give people like this any money? There are plenty of places in the mission that will make veg food much better at better prices and are locally owned.
Read morehttp://sfist.com/2011/11/29/cafe_gratitude_announces_closures.php
These people have no ethics.
Cons: anti-labor, overpriced, bland food
Guest
rvasquez
Points +243
Ho-hum mexican food - Edit
This is one of the places I was most excited about eating at while in San Francisco on vacation, but sadly it was one of the places I was most dissapointed by.
Read moreThe wait wasn't too terrible. We did have to share a table, but it wasn't really a big deal. Unfortunately neither was the food. I will say that the best thing I had was the gordita off of the appetizer menu. I wish I had just ordered three of those. Instead I ordered tacos, which consisted of one type of blandly sauteed vegetable inside of a corn tortilla. Really dissapointing. Apparently the menu changes so perhaps it's just a matter of finding the right dish. Don't think I'll be going back to try again though.
Pros: all vegan, gorditas
Cons: expensive, bland
Guest
marla
Points +109
Gracias Madre - Edit
I want to this restaurant a few weeks ago on a Sat. night. We had to wait 1&1/2 hrs. for a table. Then we shared a table with people we didn't know. The food was so so. The restaurant was so loud you couldn't carry on a conversation. I probably would not go back.
Read morePros: Vegan, Good size portions
Cons: Long wait, Very noisy, small restaurant
Guest
Ryan MTB
Points +491
Gracias = Delicious:) - Edit
I've never eaten at a Vegan Mexican Restaurant before, so I was excited to find this place listed on here for my trip to SF. I brought along 2 skeptical meat eaters and they were both pleasantly impressed, as was I. We loved the empanadas! The handmade tortillas with guacamole were also delicious, as was the celery soup and sauteed greens (kale). The tamales, unfortunately, were very bland,and were mainly just plain cornmeal with very little filling, needed lots of sauce to give them any flavor. Mexican wedding cookies were OK, vegan dulce de leche "ice cream" (caramel flavor) was delish. The area is a little run down so I didn't know what to expect re: decor, and was pleasantly surprised to see the beautiful interior. Definitely check this place out. Overall great dining experience.
Read morePros: Delicious, Healthy, Decor
Cons: Parking, Tamales
Guest
Chia
Points +3631
Totally Satisfying Meal - Edit
I had read about this place on happycow and decided to eat here on a recent trip to San Francisco. Here's my Gracias Madre review.
Read moreI've just added Gracias Madre to my Top 10 Favorites on happycow. My meal was so satisfying and awesome. It's a really beautiful restaurant with great, handmade Mexican food.
My husband and I shared the quesadilla appetizer: handmade corn tortilla filled with butternut squash, topped with spicy cashew cheese and avocado cream, pumpkin seeds. Very hearty and filling.
We also shared the tacos main entree (choice of filling) served with side of creamed black beans. The best beans I've ever had! And the tacos were very yummy, too. Corn tortilla tacos filled with roasted turnip, and with roasted beets, and one with kale. So yummy.
On each table is complimentary salsa: a chipotle one, and a spicy green one. I just kept eating the salsa straight up.
Highly recommended when in San Francisco - a must!
Pros: great food, made in-house, reasonable prices
Guest
estefinparis
Points +870
Not bad - Edit
Gracias Madre was loud, crowded and underserviced when we had dinner here. The food was very disappointing, only the Caesar salad was really good, the rest was pretty bland and not my idea of Mexican food... Still, it seems pretty popular and maybe we were just unlucky with the items we ordered.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Saturday November 12, 2011
Guest
intheend
Points +44
Super expensive and not very flavorful - Edit
I'm Mexican and from Southern Cali so I have very high expectations and this place missed the mark entirely. On top of that, it was more than I'm used to paying. I tried the mole enchiladas and the mole just seemed sweet without any of the complex hints of spices that are supposed to be in the background.
Read moreIf you take the Bart and get off at 16th and Mission and you're from out of town you're going to be shocked at how bad the area looks so just make sure you have your directions ready before hand as someone had already said this is a rough area.
Guest
Gado-Gado Gal
Points +132
The Flan Alone - Edit
I haven't lived in San Francisco for a few years now *sniff* but still rate its restaurants among my favorite in the world. I am a fan of Pokez in San Diego (where I've lived more recently), but somehow the flan alone at Gracias Madre put it a notch above Pokez. I read a previous comment about odd texture of the flan. To clarify, the GM flan is *not* gelatinous like jello nor rubbery like some milk-based flans I've tried. Rather, the GM flan is creamy and smooth and still manages a caramel-y goodness. The restaurant space is beautiful. The portions are only small if you're expecting a middle-American glutton's plate of food. The t-shirts make a great gift.
Read moreGuest
marturey
Points +209
Loved it! - Edit
San Francisco has some amazing vegan restaurants but Gracias Madre would probably be my favorite. The food was delicious. The restaurant is very loud; both times we had to share a table. Even though the restaurant space is large all seats were taken (we didn't have reservations which I don't know whether are required or not). The food is the best Mexican I've ever eaten (it had an authenticity to it). The greens were quite spicy and the black beans were great. The key lime pie we had for dessert was really good too. If you are looking for amazing food and a good time this is the place to check out. Not ideal if you are looking for a quiet evening since we were there both times on weekdays after 9pm and the place was packed. The restaurant was very clean and had an nice atmosphere. Prices were reasonable and service was good.
Read morePros: food and drinks were superb, reasonable prices, fun atmosphere
Cons: loud, had to share table
Guest
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