Parada 22

If you’re a fan of Sol Food in the North Bay then Parada 22 will definitely make your tastebuds boogie. The get down — hip roll — kind of boogie, where you close your eyes and just lose yourself in explosions of flavor.
Parada 22 is fantastic. It’s intimate size makes it a little difficult for groups and they don’t take reservations — but being that they’re still fairly under the radar — if you arrive early in the evening or are patient — manifesting a table shouldn’t be a problem.
Everything about Parada 22 is low key and accessible. They only carry one white and one red wine, they serve their wine in normal water glasses, and the descriptions of their food are straightforward. I appreciate places like this. There’s no pretension and all of the energy from the staff is directed into the food — which is both made and served with genuine love.
The majority of tables here are made for two people — so being a group of 4 we sat at a communal table. Our server was the sole waiter for the warmly lit room and he was exceptionally kind and helpful. He answered any questions that we had and he was quick to bring out all of our dishes.
We ordered the sampler plate to start the evening, as well as a pitcher of their sangria. The sampler plate is phenomenal and the perfect portion size for a group. It came with Pernil asado (roasted marinated pork leg with garlic, oregano & base sofrito), chicharron de pollo (fried marinated boneless chicken with salsa rosa), maduros (fried ripened sweet plantains), yuca al mojo (cassava root with onions, garlic & olive oil mojo) and tostones (pressed fried green plantains with salsa rosa). We devoured the whole plate in a matter of minutes. The sweet plantains melted on the tongue, the fried chicken was some of the best I’ve had in San Francisco, and the pork was absolutely sensational and was the stand-​out of the evening.
For my main meal I had the Pastelon — which is sweet plantains layered with picadillo (spiced ground beef) served with choice of rice & beans, small salad, and maduro. It reminded me of the homemade Sheperd’s Pie that my Welsh grandmother used to make — with a Caribbean twist. The sweet plantains complemented the spiced beef well and the seasoned yellow rice was buttery and dreamy with it’s beautiful intermingling of sweet peppers, green olives, spices & smoked ham.
In addition to the Pastelon, our table tried the — Camarones a la Criolla — sauteed shrimp in a fresh tomato, onions & sweet peppers cream sauce and the eggplant sandwich, which came with jack cheese and a creamy cilantro-​garlic dressing. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals.
For fantastic authentic home-​style Puerto Rican food — you don’t need to drive over the bridge — Parada 22 is a sure thing boogie.
Trust.

Yummy Puerto Rican food! The yucca platter and shrimp platter were top notch. Although I’m not a big fan of yucca, I absolutely loved the way it was prepared here with the flavorful sauce. The fried plantains were delicious too — I wish they gave me more than 2 pieces of it though. Prices aren’t atrocious and portions sizes are good.

Oh god I’ve been dreaming of this place every night since I’ve had dinner here. Came here on a Saturday night and ended up with a forty minute wait. Its very staggered though and I saw many couples and groups of four walk in without having to wait at all so you might get lucky! They don’t take reservations so its first come first serve.
Its loud, its hot, and the food is so hearty and filling you’re going to wish you had more room to finish everything. I read a random review mentioning how heavy the food is here and when I got my dish, I didn’t believe it but half way through I had the very horrifying thought that they actually gave too many shrimpies but I powered through. I had the Camarones entrée with the cream sauce, red beans, and spanish rice. You have to get the Spanish rice! It has green olives! Even the side salad had the best dressing.
Service is super nice. The two male waiters act like they’ve known you forever. Only complaint is we never got water refills and had to remind them twice before getting some. We noticed all the other tables had pitchers of water though so maybe they’re not used to refilling water. Make sure you try the housemade salsa as well! They’re in jars on random tables so you have to ask for it incase you end up in a table without one.

One shouldn’t even dare think of visiting the Haight without having some of Parada’s homestyle Puerto Rican fare. One foot into the tall minty green building and you’re instantly transported to a small neighborhood in San Juan. Get ready for the juiciest of pollo a la criollas which was sautéed boneless chicken with ham and tomatoes or the pernil asado (roasted pork). Both meats we tried were excellent, but I preferred the chicken. All meals come with fried only once plantains, your choice of spanish or white rice (go for spanish!), a small salad, and red or white beans. The portions were spot on. It is definitely a hearty meal but unlike the typical vigorous meal where you feel the need to unbutton or else you’d pop. it was a happy, warm, please-​let-​me-​stay-​forever kind of feeling you get from a home cooked meal or a hug from your grandmother. Or both.

I took my BF here for his birthday lunch back in August. It’s been a little over a year since the last time we are here … not much has changed, the food is still on point.
I ordered 2 plates while the BF settled for his usual Mofongo.
1. Pastelon — Puerto Rican version of a lasagne using sweet plantains as the pasta, sofrito based sauce with ground beef. I love this dish and reminds me of the little hole in the wall in downtown San Juan, PR — El Jibarito!
2. Pollo ala Criolla — marinated boneless chicken covered in Criolla. I love Criolla but I was hoping for the tomato based Criolla!
All plates come with arroz, salad (I love the salad dressing too so long as you a vinegar based dressing) and habichuelas! I love the beans so much I had to take some to go! The portions are huge and price point is very reasonable.
I just wish this restaurant was located in the East Bay because I would be here at least 2x a week.
This place is so 10x better than Cha Cha Cha next door. And that place is cramp and always busy!

First time trying Puerto Rican food. This was recommended to me from a friend. It’s a tiny place, but really cool. Makes you feel like you could be in the exact same restaurant somewhere in Puerto Rico. It’s simple food that is done really well.
If you do not eat pork or seafood (like myself) then the options here are very limited for you. The dishes are heavy with pork here. I’m not a vegetarian by any means, yet there were still only about 3 dishes I could choose from. Just so you know…
I got the biftec encebollado and really liked it. Done very well and I really liked the plantains on the side. Great portion size as well, and it feels like very wholesome food, unpretentious food very reasonably priced! The mofongo looks awesome but I couldn’t get it because of the shrimp. Staff was really friendly and our food came out rather quickly. I could definitely see myself coming back here. The only thing I would skip is the sangria.

Best PR food in Bay Area, flavor like home. Small location so get there early for seating. Sangria was strong and good.

Thursday, 8:15PM
Quickie:
+ Food quality
+ Friendly staff
— Hygiene
— Slow turnaround
— Space
+ Menu variety
And then???
**********
Stuffed my face in:
1. Camarones a la criolla: sautéed shrimp in a fresh tomato, onion and pepper cream sauce
+ Cream sauce buffered the sautéed salt.
2. Pernil asado: roasted pork, marinated with garlic, oregano base sofrito
— Overwhelming vegetal pork flavor.
3. Tostones
+ Salsa prevents plantains from being too dry.
Constructive comment:
*Source ingredients

This place is amazing. I moved to San Francisco in January, after living in Puerto Rico for 25 years (my whole life) and it is such a nice feeling to have a place I know I can go into and have food just like my grandma makes it. It never fails to be great and just the Puertorrican fix I need to get me going.
Why four stars? The music. Every time I go they have a horrible music selection and sometimes it’s too loud. The best salsa music comes from Puerto Rico! I wish they would play more salsa music and forget about their current music selection which is just plain awful.

This place is supurb. Good atmosphere. Delicious food. Moderate pricing especially for the quality of food.
I had the Mofongo de Camarones (prawns]. Spectacular! For dessert, Flan. Delicious.
The place is clean and quiet. It’s designed decently well. But it’s all about the food. And this place did not disappoint.
I will be back again.

I was in san Francisco for a few hours and decided to look for a Puerto Rican restaurant. Among the few featured on Unilocal,this one stands out. Its not far from downtown, just roughly ten minutes driving. They don’t offer parking, for what you have to pay a meter parking of $ 2 per hour, Which its not bad taking into consideration you are in SF!
The place looks very nice and authentic, it has posters related to the Puerto Rican culture which made me feel at home!
They need to hire better waitresses and staff, they were NOT nice nor welcoming and she didn’t seemed to know the menu at all.
I ordered the mofongo relleno de camarones and it was delicious! Although… Not as authentic as they claim, but still very tasty and I loved it. It was weird the mofongo came with rice and beans, that is not how we eat mofongo with shrimp in PR.
The portions were very generous, so its worth the price! If I find myself in SF again I think I would cone again.

Just the plain flan alone deserves five stars: it pure heaven, worth the calories! They offer a coconut flan but the waitress said that the plain flan is a must-​try.
I got the sampler platter and enjoyed it a lot despite horking it down because I was ravenous :). Huge portions here enough for leftovers.
But the flan… the flan! It was creamy, silky and dense in texture, buttery and egg-​y in the best way with a beautiful browned layer on the bottom, soaked in the caramel glaze that was sheer perfection. That bottom browned layer made it like having a dessert within a dessert: Every spoonful was a dream, then you got to eat that brown layer at the end, with a smoky flavor and chewy texture. I finished all of it, and also the caramel sauce on the plate, that is how good it was! No leftover flan!
The interior is really cute, a tiny place with lots of character, exactly my kind of scene. They have a bar with stools on the side for those dining solo or on the go, and warm wood tables for those who have time to linger.
Definitely will be back, next time with friends! Also, lots of friendly folk who come here and randomly walk up and talk to you; conversation centers on the food and how good it is. Definitely recommended.

Came here on Saturday with a party of 5 and the wait was about 30 minutes.
Judging from Unilocal pictures, it seemed like the Pernil Asado (roasted pork marinated with garlic, oregano & base sofrito) was the most popular so that was what I ordered. The pork was very tender and soft — you can break up the meat simply by scraping it with your fork! The yellow hot sauce that was at every table added a nice kick to the meat.
My boyfriend and I shared the Camarones salad (shrimp salad). The creamy garlic cilantro sauce was what gravitated me towards it and my boyfriend loves shrimp salads in general. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the dressing did not disappoint.
I will definitly come back here again to try other things on their menu.

I had high hopes for Parada 22 since Sol Food is one of my ultimate favorite spots and I’ve heard such great things about them. The restaurant is an itty bitty little cozy spot located next to the popular Cha Cha Cha’s. We were lucky that we came on a slower day without any wait at all.
Between the three of us, we ordered:
— 1 pitcher of sangria: Delicious and sweet, as sangria should be!
— Pollo a La Criolla (Marinated boneless chicken sautéed with a hearty smoked ham sofrito): Not bad, but not on Sol Food level.
— Pernil Asado (Roasted pork marinated with garlic, oregano & base sofrito): This was my favorite dish of the night even though my girlfriends felt otherwise.
— Mofongo De Camarones (Mashed green plantains with smoked ham-​mixed veggie sofrito & camarones a la criolla): Not bad. The mashed green plantains were really interesting and a great alternative to mashed potatoes!
Overall I think Parada 22 is decent. Unfortunately, my taste buds have spoiled by the deliciousness at Sol Food, so I was unable to give Parada 22 a fair try. If you’re looking for Sol Food in SF, I’d recommend look else where. However, I’ll be back to give the sandwiches a try!

I LOVE THIS PLACE.
1 — Entrees. Pernil Asado, the roasted pork entrée, is so good. I have gotten it every time I have been here because its just so good. Opt for the spanish rice, it comes with olives inside and its really good. Red beans are better than white beans so id go for that option too!
2– Sandwiches. My friend swears by their cubano (with added avocado for $ 1). It looks so good and I definitely want to try that next.
3– Appetizers. If you love plantains, go for the Maduros over the Tostones. The Tostones are more specific to this restaurant, but I think the Maduros complement the food much better.
4– Interior. Love the décor and good lighting, feels like you are on vacation.
5– Service is quick and awesome, the boys here know whats up.
Another thing I love is that the put lemon and cucumber in their water and the sweet tea and lemonde are both very good too!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE their mofongo w/​shrimp dish. There’s plenty to share for two (unless you’re a hungry, hungry hippo, or maybe just a normal food eater I guess) and their maduros (fried sweet plantains) are SO GOOD. I could probably eat a plate full of those.
Parking can get tough, but trust me, it’s totally worth coming here. Most orders come w/​the maduros, your choice of white/​red beans, white/​spanish rice, and salad. I’m usually not impressed when it comes to salads that are included w/​dishes, but their salad DRESSING is amazing. There’s a little jar of the stuff at each table, but watch out – this stuff is spicy! It’s kinda tart and pleasant at first, but it builds up!
I’ve only been here for dinner and it’s a nice, chill spot. If you’re here with a group of friends, grab a couple of beers and relax!

Wow… Just wow! This is a must go for amazing food!
Pros: everything from the amazing food to the awesome and friendly servers. I had their pork entrée that the melt literally melted off the bone. The plantains are yummy along with many of their entrees. They seriously represent Puerto Rican food super well! Pair it with a Mexican coke and you are golden! Also the price is reasonable for the amazing-​ness you get!
Cons: there isn’t any a/​c so it could get a little warm in the summer but the food is so worth it!

Ideal for sangria-​induced drunchies! Parada 22 is right next door to Haight Street’s legendary Cha Cha Cha latin bar, so you can grab a pitcher of sangria there, then head next door for a more affordable, and verrrrry filling plate of Puerto Rican specialties at Parada.
This is the kind of authentic eatery every neighborhood needs. The menu is legit, full of yuca, tostones, maduros, smoked ham, braised beans, and garlicky sauces. Just the kind of starchy, fatty grub your belly craves after a night of drinking OR just a day of existing. Prices aren’t dirt cheap, but the portions are well worth the $ 10 – 16 range. Dinner + tip for $ 25 pp is tough to do in this city!
The fast & friendly service, flavorful dishes, plus bright turquoise walls and artsy décor make Parada a truly pleasant spot to feast.

I hardly ever make it to the Upper Haight. It just gets a little too crowded for me. Besides I was a near-​toddler in the Summer of Love so what did I know of LSD and free love? Sorry to burst your bubble but nothing is free. Before I have a psychedelic hot flash, I should tell you about this casual Puerto Rican spot. It’s on the same block as the longer-​standing Cha Cha Cha but probably gets a lot of the spillover crowd since they cover geographically the same type of food. Parada 22, however, has a homier vibe focused on dishes you’d probably get at Sunday supper in San Juan. Stews and sauteed meats are the specialties here. The menu features nine entrees, five sandwiches (including a Cubano, of course), five salads and several side dishes (photo:
).
That appealed to me since I am always up for comfort food no matter what the culture. I thought I’d have trouble finding a seat as a solitary diner, but as luck would have it, a small table opened up just as I entered the compact Caribbean-​style premises. My eyes locked on the $ 12 Pernil Asado, a big hunk of fall-​off-​the-​bone roasted pork marinated with garlic, oregano and their housemade sofrito (photo:
). It was honestly like having a half a pot roast to myself, and the bottle of seasoned dressing on the table brought a nice spike of flavor (photo:
). It came with a cup of their Habichuelas Coloradas, a hearty broth of red beans, a chunky smoked ham sofrito, green olives and a bevy of spices.
Also on the plate was a scoop of Arroz Amarillo, a Spanish-​style rice with green olives, sweet peppers and smoked ham. I liked how they used the same ingredients in different ways on the same plate. There were some mixed greens and their Maduros, the buttery-​tasting sweet plantains pan sauteed (photo:
). It was all quite tasty in a comfortable way that made you feel you were at some roadside café run by your no-​nonsense aunt if you happen to be related to Ricky Martin and livin’ la vida loca. In fact, I was feeling so much at home that I ordered the $ 5.50 Coconut Flan for a sweet treat (photo:
). It was a significant helping with toasted coconut shredded on top like a crown. Definitely a find for comfort food with a Caribbean accent.
FOOD — 4 stars… comfortable Puerto Rican comfort food prepared like you were at someone’s home
AMBIANCE — 3.5 stars… a bit of a tight fit here but find a space if you can
SERVICE — 3.5 stars… quietly authoritative
TOTAL — 4 stars… maybe I should come to the Upper Haight more often

Simplemente Delicioso! Excelente comida, sabor autentico, muy buen servicio y mas que nada tienen buen mayoketchup. Keep up the good work guys. Pa’lante Boricua Bestial!

First time having Puerto Rican food, and the food was absolutely delicious! Came here for lunch w/​no wait, & I decided to order to order the Pollo Encebollado (marinated boneless chicken sautéed w/​caramalized onions) w/​a side of red beans, yellow rice, salad & maduros. The chicken was soo tender & flavorful along w/​the caramelized onions. The salad was refreshing. The red beans which also had pieces of pork were delicious. For the rice, I’m not a huge rice person, but these were amazing — creamy texture w/​pieces of olives. drooling! The whole plate had amazing flavors & all complimented each other so well.
*We didn’t get our maduros until the end b/​c they had forgotten a couple of times, but the waitress was very kind & gave us a few extra pieces for having to remind them abt our maduros.
Overall, really great first experience & def recommend trying !

Puertoricanisches Dinner? Und das unter vegetarischem Vorzeichen! Was das wohl beinhalten würde? Wir waren neugierig und vermuteten zugleich hauptsächlich Bohnen und Reis.
Das kleine Lokal am Ende der Haight Ashbury stellte sich als gute Wahl heraus. Als wir gegen 20 Uhr eintrafen waren alle Plätze in der kleinen Gaststube besetzt — vor uns wartet bereits ein Pärchen. Wir nutzen die Zeit, uns die Einrichtung anzusehen, die Speisekarte zu studieren und die ersten Fotos zu machen.
Vegetarisch wollten wir essen, das schränkte die Auswahl ziemlich ein und wir bestellten spontan eine Auswahl all dessen was da möglich war für zwei Personen! Zunächst wurde uns eine Karaffe mit Wasser gereicht, die wir dankbar leerten und dann wurde ziemlich schnell, ziemlich köstlich aufgetischt: Yuca und Kochbananen, Kürbis, Avocado und Granatapfel, Salat und Dips erinnere ich. Gegrillt und gebraten, mit leckeren Dressings angemacht und ja, sehr fein.
Auf der Speisekarte liest sich das als: PLATO VEGETARIANO (Yuca, maduros, habichuelas blancas & tossed greens. (v) und wir erweiterten diese Auswahl in Absprache mit der Kellnerin um Extraportionen YUCA AL MOJO & AVOCADO, sowie TOSTONES !
Prädikati: Auch für Vegetarier zu empfehlen :-)

Benita, Comida del caribe! Bueno Comida de la isla del encanto! My dearest friend wanted something different, my memories are still with me about Puerto Rico specially a small town in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. I ordered mofongo con camarones (shrimp), oh my goodness I felt like I was in Fajardo, que rico! Came with red beans, plantains and Spanish rice; mu ah! Colorful, fresh, tasteful and great portions. My friend ordered the vegetarian plate which consist of yuca with your choice of beans, and rice oh yes and green salad yum yum! Yes we both had sangria which was sweet, no bitterness just delicious. Small place but the feel of Puerto Rico is there. Until next time, isla del encanto…

Great sangria and food. Bizcocho de ron, pastelon, pollo a la criolla are delicious.