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
Jon G.
Points +58
Thanks, Mother!!! - Edit
Okay, we live in Los Angeles and make a glorious pilgrimage to Gracias Madre in West Hollywood a few times each year. But I've always wanted to try the original San Francisco location too. And it definitely exceeded our expectations!
Read moreThe service was great and the food was just as delicious as the SoCal version. The grilled tofu special with grilled eggplant and house made chimicurri sauce was delicious! Their flautas and enchiladas were delicious too. Our only regret was the limited bar menu, but they did a great job with sake-based margaritas. Don't miss the incredible peach cobbler with homemade cinnamon vegan ice cream. Yum-my!!! We will definitely be back!
Pros: Great vegan Mexican food!, Wonderful staff and service! , Cool local vibe.
Guest
CatLovesBeets
Points +83
Fabulous - Edit
What a fantastic restaurant!
Read moreEverything is vegan,so there's no worrying about checking ingredients, and you quickly forget there is anything "alternative" about the menu. It's simply delicious food: fantastic fresh ingredients, well put together, with authentic Mexican flavours.
The hostess who assigned our table could have been friendlier, but her slight frostiness was more than counteracted by the lovely barman who fixed us up with some tortilla chips and guacamole while we waited, and our sweet server Pablo.
Definitely SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT! We had the peach cobbler and the strawberry cheesecake and both were amazing, and generously portioned.
The Mexican hot chocolate is also worth trying, as long as you are ok with chilli :)
All I can say is, gracias, Gracias Madre- and I can't wait to be back.
Guest
gayauckland
Points +39
loved the food - Edit
we don't get much south american food in new Zealand, so what a gem. can see the food being prepared in a clean kitchen. the hosts feel like hosts, not servants. loved it and went back!
Read moreGuest
lolacooks
Points +181
mexican vegan food - Edit
This place was great. Delicious vegan mexican food made with fresh ingredients so everything was very flavorful. Traditional mexican dishes that aren't usually vegan so it was cool to be able to try them. Great atmosphere and cool location as well.
Read moreGuest
Charlotta11
Points +28
amazing Mexican food - Edit
Every thing I ordered (around 8 dishes) were so delicious. You get really big portions as well. Quesadilla, grilled corn and cauliflower Fritos were amazing starters. Tacos are really good as well.
Read morePros: Fresh organic food , big portions , cheap
Guest
XOXO
Points +2033
awesome Mexican vegan! - Edit
Nachos are awesome, guacamole, wait, all is awesome!
Read moreEnjoy
Guest
RocketGomez
Points +381
Overpriced and bland food owned by carnists - Edit
I have eaten at three of this chain's restaurants--this one, the Cafe Gratitude in Venice and the Cafe Gratitude in San Rafael (now closed.)
Read moreI am always rooting for vegan restaurants; that's why I gave them repeated chances by visiting the three different locations. But each time was the same--bland and overpriced food with ridiculous names, like "I Am Serene" or something silly like that.
But then I heard that the owners are out-and-proud meat eaters. Ugh.
I'm not saying they should close down the restaurants, but they should sell the restaurants to non-hypocrites.
Until then, I hope vegans and vegetarians will spend their money elsewhere. There are lots of veg restaurant alternatives in Venice and SF.
Pros: None, Zilch, *crickets*
Cons: hypocrite owners, bland food, overpriced
LorenaH
First time I heard this accusation abaout the meat-eating, I thought it must be totally fabricated. No one could even expect a fiction like that to be believed. ... but it's true! was recently in the NY Times! Imagine. How strange. Vegan owners, and kind of creepy cult like people too (I mean all that What are you Grateful For? stuff) actually .. well I won't go into the details. but Yukk.
Read moreAny by the way, I did not think the food bland at all. I was quite fond of it.
Guest
serrarose
Points +532
Vegan Mexican - Edit
This was my first time at the SF location (any chance this is related to the LA location?). The menu is not the same but it's similar. This locations setting is less upscale and more casual. The service was great. The food scored points for being totally vegan and presentation was good but I would only recommend two of the four dishes we ordered. With all the amazing vegan places in SF I wouldn't be in a hurry to come back to this location. I do recommend the tacos with the black beans tho! Delicious!
Read morePros: 100% vegan, Great service
Cons: Dishes not consistent in taste
Guest
catvbc
Points +188
Not an ethical vegan restaurant - Edit
Please be aware that the owners of this restaurant and Cafe Gratitude and Gracias Madre in Southern California own and operate the "Be Love Farm" in Vacaville, California where they raiser and butcher animals and sell the meat to other restaurants and also exploit dairy cows. They are very big on bone stock for cooking. Go and read their blog. Please go eat somewhere else.
Read morePros: None
Cons: Not ETHICAL vegan. Do not trust the food is actual
Guest
AshleyAutumn
Points +126
YES!!! - Edit
Love this place! The food is exquisite and the atmosphere is delightful. It made me so happy to see how crowded it was, they're doing the vegan community proud!
Read moreGuest
kecors01
Points +120
All vegan mexican restaurant - Edit
I was so happy to find an all vegan mexican restaurant. The pomegranate margarita and mocha cheesecake were incredible. The food was good, and I'd definitely go back, but I wasn't completely wowed but maybe it was just my choice in entree. The staff so warm and welcoming.
Read moreGuest
Bird215
Points +241
EXCELLENT! Upscale and Housemade! - Edit
Best all vegan dining place I've been to across the U.S.
Read moreSeasonal menu, original dishes and organic. Great drinks, atmosphere, and ambience. Hip and happening place.
Pros: original cuisine and pairings, authentic atomosphere and popular, organic and 100% vegan
Cons: community seating, mariachi singers beg for money at ur table, long wait, make reservations
Guest
DSpocklington
Points +44
A great new take on Mexican Food - Edit
Real vegan options at most Mexican restaurants are a rarity, but Gracias Madre makes up for all those past experiences of limited choices. This place is a vegan's delight and the food is truly exceptionally good. Note: the food is on the mild side, so if you like some heat be sure to ask for some of their house made habanero sauce, which is rich, complex and hot without being overpowering. Save room for the strawberry cheesecake. Also note that when they get busy the seating becomes communal, so you may end up sharing your table with others, which isn't really a problem because you'll be enjoying the food so much...
Read morePros: Great food/creative recipes, Very friendly atmosphere, Good value
Cons: table sharing
Guest
tiffrob
Points +316
Delicious Mexican food! - Edit
Everything was delicious - guacamole, totopos, tamal, flautas, tacos, no one was disappointed! The pineapple habanero margaritas were incredible and the kids loved the horchata.
Read moreGuest
KatieBatty
Points +1512
Authentic Mexican Cuisine - Edit
This is a great all vegan Mexican place with an open patio area out front and communal tables inside. It was pretty busy when we were there so we were given the option of sitting at the bar or communal tables - we sat at a communal table.
Read moreWe got some home made sodas, pineapple and grape/berry - they tasted amazing and were perfect to offset the spicy food.
We ordered the GUACAMOLE CON TORTILLAS to start. The tortillas came out hot and fresh and tasted amazing. The guacamole was also divine.
For dinner we ordered a bunch of entrees including potatoes, enchiladas and Chorizio sausages. They were all incredible, fresh, authentic tasting Mexican delights. We couldn't finish the sausages because they were a bit spicy, but they were amazing.
For dessert we ordered the STRAWBERRY RHUBARB COBBLER. This was a really incredible dish and the peaches were fresh from the farm. It was a stand out dessert, the crust was amazing and so were the spices. My partner also ordered a Mexican hot chocolate which he loved.
Excellent service, reasonably priced, nice decor, flavoursome food - highly recommend.
Pros: Beautiful restaurant, All vegan, Incredible Mexican food
Guest
kasia
Points +144
Not as good as it seems - Edit
Gracias Madre is definitely a busy and popular place, we had to wait for about an hour to be sat at the bar. I love Mexican food so was quite excited about it. We had gorditas, tamales and some kind of tacos, each dish cost about £16 and sadly I didn't enjoy any of it. They all lacked flavour, the dishes were very simple with strange sides such as pickled cauliflower - which did not go with the rest. For those prices the food should be amazing - and I got that feeling from many cheaper restaurants, but this one just did not do it for me.
Read morePros: all vegan, big selection
Cons: expensive, simple dishes, busy
Guest
thecatacat
Points +30
some of the best vegan food I've ever had - Edit
No questions if you're in the mission, Gracias Madre is the place to go. Vegan, organic, fresh Mexican... Honestly what else could you ask for??
Read moreMy sister and I ordered guacamole and plantains to start, and the tamale and coconut ceviche for entrees. They were so flavourful, beautifully presented and flat out outstanding. I honestly don't have anything negative to say except it is a little pricey.
Pros: all vegan, fresh, delicious, awesome decor, great
Cons: bit pricey
Guest
szeevster
Points +40
Mexican gold in the Mission - Edit
Mission Street runs thru a surprisingly hard-scrabble area SF with parallel upscale Valencia Street just a block away. One thing that it has is Gracias Madre, possibly the best Vegan restaurant I've ever eaten at. Gracias Madre is also organic. The place gives a spacious feeling, despite being typically packed. To maximize space, customers at peak times are seated at unused places at already occupied tables, a strategy that in no way interfered with our enjoyment of the place or the food. I wish I could have tried all of their entres, but their corn tortillas filled with asparagus, broccoli and mushrooms, all perfectly cooked, and the cashew cheese topping were memorably delicious, as was my wife's zuchini, onion and garlic-filled tamales. Both dishes came with rice and wonderfully-seasoned black beans. The food is beautifully presented, competently and surprisingly quickly served without feeling rushed. I can't wait to get back to Gracias Madre, it's a must stop for anyone visiting San Francisco.
Read morePros: food originality, food quality, Servive
Cons: Unlovely immediate neighborhood
Guest
vh089
Points +229
Everything is creative, delicious, super fresh! - Edit
I'm not sure that you can order incorrectly here. From raw coconut ceviche to sweet potato enchiladas with vegan cheese, food here is as good as you can get. A hip environment that gets crowded at night but is usually easy to get a seat at lunch. No matter age, dietary habits, nationality, etc., all of my friends love it here!
Read morePros: creative food, yummy
Guest
Moneyz
Points +497
small portions but tasty - Edit
I tried the tamale here and it was delicious. Overall this place was very clean, with live music, and an intimate atmosphere with dim lighting. however I probably will not go back as the tamale was so small and not worth the expensive price. I would only go here for special occasion.
Read morePros: tasty, atmosphete
Cons: parking , expensive, portion size
Guest
Curiosity Saves Cats
Points +129
Great place, yummy food! - Edit
We (me vegan and 2 omni friends) came here for an early dinner and we were able to catch the happy hour menu (valid until 6pm).
Read moreThe organic wine is really nice, and I had one of each of the happy hour dishes - all of them really really yummy! My friends were happy with the food too - overall a great great place!!
Guest
Sweganic
Points +124
Wanna go back! - Edit
They have their own (?) organic farm, how could they be anything else than great?
Read moreHad their quesadillas with butternut squash and oh would I eat that thing over and over again without a break if only I didn't feel stuffed halfway through the meal...anyway, love it. Go there! Their home made nut cheeses are fab!
Guest
Aanonymouspear
Points +28
GREATness - Edit
Just a great experience. The atmosphere is great, staff great. This restaurant does amazing authentic mexican food with Really interesting flavor combinatinos, excellent drinks, Great wine, and we also enjoyed some live spanish guitar one night. Loved the experience. Had amazing food both nights. Love this restaurant.
Read moreGuest
KurtDavidHermansen
Points +193
Authentic Mexican Cusine - Edit
If you crave delicious flavors, locally grown produce, and authentic, healthy Mexican cuisine in a casual ambiance, this is the place for you. This is, in fact, the best Mexican food in San Francisco, if my Mexican food you mean authentic Mexican fair del pueblo. If you want cheese and meat or Mexican food American style, this is not the place for you. I can't wait to go back.
Read morePros: excellent food, not too loud, whole food plant based locally grown produce
Cons: sketchy (but gentirifying) neighborhood, they don't take American Express, they don't have free wifi
Guest
reallyjilly
Points +118
Wonderful Mexican Vegan Restaurant - Edit
The food was delicious, although different from the typical Mexican fare I'm used to. The corn tortilla smell and taste fabulous. My husband had the tamales, which were totally different than we were used to but delicious. We also had a salad, and I had the mushroom tacos. It was all fantastic including the sides. The restaurant is attractive - it was a nice day so we sat outside. The condiments were good, as was dessert. Can't complain about a thing.
Read morePros: Nice atmosphere, Wonderful food
Guest
Eva*
Points +291
Nice place - Edit
We loved the atmosphere of this place. It occured to us that this often lacks in the Usa, but definitely not here! We had no reservations and after 20 minutes and a beer at the bar we were placed at a communal table. However, everything we ordered looked great, as if there was put a lot of love in it, but it was so hot we could barely taste anything. Neither the appetizers nor the entrees :( maybe i should have informed beforehand but usually we van handel it pretty good. It would be a good idea to put it on the menu or inform guests, cause all I had was a burning mouth.
Read morePros: Great atmosphere, High quality food
Cons: Too hot!!, Very busy
Guest
TKoch
Points +617
Food is delicious, staff friendly, nice atmosphere - Edit
We ate here last May after a day spent at the museum. My husband got the tamales, I got the mushroom taco plate, adapted for my non-spicy palate, son got enchiladas, daughter got a quesadilla. The plantain empanada was delicious, as were the gorditas.The sweet potato quesadilla was incredible. We all loved what we ordered and tasted what everyone else had ordered.Salsas were all quite hot, tasted none, but took everyone else's word for it. Desserts were hit and miss. Pear cobbler with cinnamon ice cream was everyone's favorite hands down.Flan was ok, but needed a deeper caramel flavor and we didn't like the chocolate cinnamon sauce on the chocolate cake.Flavors were complex, fresh, and unusual in a really delicious way. One of my favorite restaurants ever.
Read morePros: Incredible food, Pretty interior, Friendly, knowledgable staff
Cons: terrible neighborhood, can be noisy when crowded, portions a bit small
Guest
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