Taste the Legacy of La Cocina in San Francisco
In San Francisco’s Mission District, pioneers are breaking barriers and creating sustainable businesses that win awards for both food and design.
The History and Mission of La Cocina
La Cocina, “the kitchen” in Spanish, was born out of the informal food economy of the Mission District in 2005. They help chefs from immigrant and communities of color become self-sufficient culinary pioneers and launch their food businesses. The La Cocina program creates equitable opportunities so talented chefs without resources can thrive.
The two- to six-year program—like a mini-MBA for food—moves people, often women, from informal businesses into professional culinary work places. La Cocina helps them to write business plans, create menus, and formalize recipes. They lift up talented food entrepreneurs by connecting them to catering opportunities as they learn the food business and work towards realizing their dreams.
La Cocina offers participants subsidized commercial kitchen space in San Francisco's Mission District, hands-on industry-specific technical assistance, and access to market opportunities, such as catering, a stand at a farmers market, food trucks, pop-ups, or finding a restaurant space. They assist in moving packaged food products or snacks out into the community through national distribution channels as the women build equity in the community.
By supporting these women, La Cocina nurtures the food traditions that makes San Francisco so unique.
The Restaurants and Chefs from La Cocina
La Cocina has livened up the culinary scene across San Francisco with 55 graduates who have achieved operational self-sufficiency. You can dine at and support any of the 33 brick-and-mortar locations in the San Francisco region from the La Cocina program.
In San Francisco
Besharam
1275 Minnesota St.
In San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood, you can dine at Heena Patel's Besharam. Besharam, meaning "shameless," is a creative space to taste Indian street food. Cooking was always Patel's dream and some favorite dishes are dhokla, drunken pani puri, and dahi wada. A mural created by the Indian-Canadian artist Hatecopy frames the open kitchen at Besharam and reflects the creative spirit of San Francisco.
El Pipila
879 Brannan St.
In the SoMa neighborhood, you can savor the flavors of Mexico at El Pipila. Run by Guadalupe Guerrero and her two daughters, El Pipila brings the dynamic flavors of Lupe's beloved Acámbaro to San Francisco. The modern space on Brannan St. received a 2019 James Beard Foundation award for Outstanding Restaurant Design.
Onigilly
455 Market St.
Head to downtown San Francisco to Onigilly and savor Koji Kanematsu's traditional Japanese rice balls with a modern twist. "Onigiri," a staple of the Japanese diet, is known for being healthy and delicious. Here you will find such customer favorites as teriyaki chicken, shiitake mushroom, salmon, and unagi, their number one seller.
Mama Lamees
2948 Folsom St.
Lamees Dahbour, owner of Mama Lamees, started selling her traditional Palestinian food at the Mission Community Market, spent five years in the La Cocina food entrepreneur program before opening her business. Along with three of her four sisters who help with the business, Lamees creates healthy favorites such as ejja (tasty fritters), manazzalet zahra (a veggie cauliflower dish in a flavorful sauce), and chicken shawarma.
Minnie Bell's Soul Movement
1375 Fillmore St.
At her Minnie Bell's Soul Movement in the Fillmore, you can taste Fernay McPherson's favorite dishes, such as mac & cheese, fried chicken, and candied yams. McPherson, a Bay Area native, grew up around her mother's legendary Southern cooking. Fernay's cornbread was voted 2018's best by the East Bay Express and McPherson's establishment was among the 2019 "Top 100 Restaurants" chosen by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Reem's California
2901 Mission St.
Chef Reem Assil operates Reem’s California, an Arabic eatery with a California influence offering halal flatbreads, wraps, and an Arab-style weekend brunch. Reem was a James Beard Award semi-finalist and one of the San Francisco Chronicle's “Rising Star Chefs” in 2017.
Bini's Kitchen
1001 Howard St.
1 Post St.
Enjoy savory tastes at Bini's Kitchen 1001 Howard St., known for their juicy Nepalese dumplings covered with a to-die-for spicy tomato cilantro sauce. Bini serves her famous MoMos, Gurkha chicken, palungo paneer, chai tea, and other Nepalese staple sat this delicious location. They also have small takeout window in downtown San Francisco.
Learn more about Bini's Kitchen
El Buen Comer
3435 Mission St.
Over in the Mission, you can indulge in authentic dishes at El Buen Comer, a family-run restaurant with a large communal table. They are known for their guisados, a homestyle dish of meats cooked in a savory green or sweet mole sauce, and were among the San Francisco Chronicle's "Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants" in 2019.
Off the Grid
Various Locations
You can find La Cocina food entrepreneurs around San Francisco at Off The Grid food trucks at Fort Mason, Ferry Plaza Farmers Market at the Ferry Building, the weekend Alemany Farmers Market, the Heart of the City at United Nations Plaza, the Mission Community Market, and the Noe Valley Farmers Market.
Beyond San Francisco
El Huarache Loco
100 Alemany Blvd.
1803 Larkspur Landing Cir.
Veronica Salazar of El Huarache Loco was the first home chef to graduate from the kitchen incubator program after joining in 2005. She grew up in Mexico City and spent time in her family's restaurant. You can taste her Mexico City street food at the Marin Country Mart at Larkspur Landing and at the Alemany Farmer’s Market.
La Guerrera's Kitchen
907 Washington St.
A very recent La Cocina graduate is La Guerrera's Kitchen, run by the mother-daughter duo of Ofelia Barajas and Reyna Maldonado, who moved from selling tamales in the Mission District to a relaxing space in old Oakland's Swan's Market. Try any of their excellent GMO-free tamales (chicken, pork, or zucchini), barbacoa (beef cooked in chiles), or pozole.
The La Cocina Cookbook
"We Are La Cocina: Recipes in Pursuit of the American Dream” chronicles the delicious intersections of food cultures. The cookbook features cuisines from 17 countries. It is a vibrant cookbook that details more than 40 stories of the people behind the recipes. The stunning photographs are by award-winning photographer Eric Wolfinger, a cook in his own right.
The cookbook is available in San Francisco at Book Passage at the Ferry Building, Chronicle Books on Fourth St., and Alexander Book Company on Second St.
Brenda Tucker is the Director of Arts Marketing at San Francisco Travel. She has lived in San Francisco since 1998, after driving cross-country to a home she secured sight unseen. Brenda enjoys swimming out-of-doors year-round, being inspired by the incredible art scene in the City, and living in the best place on earth.
You May Also Like
From the stage to the club to the streets, San Francisco's dance scene is one of the best year-round.
This self-guided tour of women's history will take you through San Francisco's most famous neighborhoods and past our most beloved icons.
Whether it's the staff, the decor, a parklet for outdoor dining, what's on your plate and in your glass, these are the most unusual places to enjoy a meal in...
San Francisco has a long history with jazz music. Learn about our history and where to find it now, from festivals to clubs and bars.
Put yourself in your favorite stars' shoes by visiting these famous San Francisco locations made popular by film, TV, and streaming.
From ballpark classics to trendy offerings, Oracle Park dining options are just like San Francisco: endlessly innovative and delicious.
Janis Joplin, San Francisco and the Summer of Love represent the face, the place and the time of legendary change.
Did you come to San Francisco just to eat? Don't be embarrassed; this is what San Francisco is famous for!
Explore Our Visitor's Guide
Check out our free San Francisco Traveler visitor's guide and learn how to explore San Francisco like a local.