El Pípila

The main reason I wanted to check out The Hall was because of El Pipila, a La Cocina startup. The story of the owner of El Pipila was very inspiring and wanted to check out her dishes and to help support a local, minority business. My friends and I tried some chicken sopes (her signature dish) with the green and red salsas and they were so delicious! I’ve never had sopes before, but I’m in love with the thicker corn tortilla, topped with seasoned chicken, retried beans, lettuce, sour cream, and queso fresco. We will definitely be coming back and having some more sopes!

Love The Hall and the atmosphere. This place is convenient and they serve food fast, but it wasn’t the best. The veggies inside were a little under cooked (potatoes, carrots, zucchini) and needed salt. The red sauce was also a little too sweet for my taste. But I liked the tortillas and the fluffy side of rice! The beans were also under cooked and needed seasoning. I wouldn’t order this again. But my friend got the pozole and said it hit the spot! Only problem is they cook it with bacon and I don’t eat meat. But if you want a hearty soup they give you a good portion and it’s apparently delicious!

Best Pozole Verde ever, the sopes are delicious as well as their salsas, if you want to eat authentic Mexican Food don’t miss this place.
Wonderful entrepreneurs and really hard working women, this place has a homemade yummy taste when I am homesick I run to get a Pozole.

Beans out of a can (or at least it tasted like that). Tostada tortilla fried to obliteration in old oil. Veggies (minera) tasted like frozen. No Mexican flavor. Will never return to this place.

Had Sopas and was not impressed. They were filling but not full of flavor. Rather Gringo food. Their reddish salsa was very good while the mild green was OK. I think the meal was Very overpriced at $ 12.00.

Cat food with really good salsa. +1 star for salsa. Other star for good service. Please don’t serve meat from a can next time though.

There aren’t a ton of Mexican restaurants on Market St. (Chipotle does not count as real Mexican food), so I’m happy this has opened up at The Hall so that I can satisfy my Mexican food craving when it hits.
I love supporting small businesses, especially family-​ones, and this one has a good selection of items on the menu: tacos, enchiladas, a kale salad, sopes, and for brunch they have chilaquiles & huevos rancheros.
The portions are decently sized and will fill you up, and you’re not stuck paying ~$ 5 for one little taco at some over-​priced restaurants that will leave you feeling unsatisfied and ripped off. A meal here, without drinks, will set you back around $ 8-​$ 12, which is not too bad.
I came with one of my friends for brunch and we split the huevos rancheros ($ 11) and the chilaquiles ($ 11). The huevos rancheros were fine — I don’t think I would get them again — not because it wasn’t good, but because I can probably make this at home by myself. It was scrambled eggs with tomato and onion, and was a bit heavy on the onion for my taste. The rice and beans were good (nothing out-​of-​the-​ordinary), and the 3 corn tortillas were warm and went with the meal really well. The chilaquiles are better shared than eating a whole plate of these by yourself, and the green chile sauce was delicious and pretty spicy. I have a pretty strong spice tolerance, so if you don’t like spicy things, don’t get this — it will clear your sinuses. There were 2 fried eggs on top of the chilaquiles and the whole thing was good.
The kitchen is open, so you can see them making the food. Everything seemed clean to me, and they also take credit cards. I’ll be back here again to try the other things on the menu. Worth a visit if you’re in the area and craving some authentic Mexican food and want to support a local merchant.

Time: 11:47am/61°F cloudy
Purpose: When news broke out three weeks ago, they’re going to have a pernament location, I was ecstatic. Try them out at OTG in the past with good results, I came by to check out brick and mortar location.
Set-​up: This El Pipila takes place of former Dignita Coffee vendor. Not much to say here other than its located inside The Hall one of the last vendors before the restrooms. Wood paneling counter with simple decorations of Mexican decors and figurines. Couple of pottery in front, while plates and dishes resting on makeshift wooden peg shelves. Left side have fresh juices in glass containers resting on tub of ice. Small table in center with jar for tips. There’s no register or printed receipts given just iPad. Orders are written on pads manually while a beige cashbox store the funds/​change. Towards the back all kitchen supplies/​equipments not cramp up. Paper menu with binder clips hung on twine string stretches across the length on booth. Seating stays the same, shared among each other.
Staff: Guadalupe and her two daughters on site doing what they’ve already been doing. One back of house worker listen for orders being call out to her while doing other task. The mother stays in the back almost like she didn’t want to come up front. Then it hits me, language barrier. That’s why she’s in the back while two daughters take care of business. No problem here at all, I even spoke some basic Spanish.
Cleanliness: Grade A, impeccable with all supplies and food related goods store away in their proper areas. Condiment organizer was seen for each item separated by acrylic see through cover top.
Eats/​Drinks: Order of tacos $ 8 for two (chips and two sauces included), one housemade spinach pineapple aqua fresca, one horchata both $ 4. First bite, I knew the rest of their offerings is no doubt follow suits. The carnitas was tender and flavorful looks like it was simmer for hours as it was easy on the chewing. I end up using one each of included sauce on the tacos while topping off with lime juice. Really balance carnitas, I would eat this even if onion/​cilantro not present. At least they’re not cheapskate here lot others giving only one tortilla. I get two on each taco, total of four per order. Simple, not messy, pleasing flavors made with love says it all. As for the aqua fresca both were natural tasting no hints of commercial low grade ingredients. Washing it down with spinach/​pineapple juice was refreshing experience. Never had that mix version ever. It even had a spinach leaf settle on bottom of cup afterwards.
Main Features: Tacos, sopes, aqua fresca.
Products/​Services: Sopes, enchiladas, tostadas, tacos, pozole verde, sope salad, kale salad, tamals, chips & guacamole, rice & beans, chips & Lupe’s famous salsa, housemade aqua fresca (seasonal flavors), bottle drinks. Picadillo, pollo, nopales, mineras. Food truck is active (check with time, dates and event functions). Cash only for now!
Punch Lines: Friendly, authentic, zippy service, better than your average, pleasing flavors, drool worthy, sumptuous, light bites, beat cheap eats around, can’t go wrong, well seasoned, crowd pleasing, worth the wait, unpretentious, not to be miss, no slum dog, a home run.
Tradeoffs: El Pipila introduces a new permanent location bringing you their best of the best receipe. In return you’re getting tasty Mexican food without going to the Mission.
Final Thoughts: This place may not carry all your favorites like nachos, quesadillas, burritos etc. You could pay less and get average food or pay more getting authentic healthier offerings made with love. I go with the latter anytime.