Limón in San Francisco

524 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States

★★★★☆
(1949 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant Peruvian restaurant South American restaurant

About

Family Owned Peruvian Restaurant Executive chef, Martín Castillo, and his brothers, Antonio and Eduardo, grew up around a busy kitchen. Their mother, Luz, was well known in her neighborhood for her delicious cooking: her son's friends would always ask her to make their families a dish on special occasions. ​ By the 1990's the Castillo brothers had left Perú and found themselves in the U.S. They continued their ritual of cooking home-style Peruvian dishes out of their apartment for family, friends and, soon enough, friends of friends. It was then that they knew there was something worth sharing. By 2002, the Castillo’s first restaurant, “Limón” opened its doors on 17th Street in the Mission District of San Francisco.

Website
limonrestaurants.com
Address
524 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
Plus Code
QH7H+Q5 Mission Dolores, San Francisco, CA, USA
Time Zone
America/Los_Angeles

Business Hours

Monday
5–10 PM
Tuesday
5–10 PM
Wednesday
5–10 PM
Thursday
5–10 PM
Friday
5–11 PM
Saturday
12–11 PM
Sunday
12–9 PM

Services

From the business
Identifies as Latino-owned
Service options
No-contact delivery Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Fast service Great beer selection Great cocktails Great wine list
Popular for
Lunch Dinner Solo dining
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet Wheelchair-accessible car park
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Comfort food Happy-hour drinks Happy-hour food Healthy options Late-night food Small plates Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Brunch Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Trendy
Crowd
Family friendly Groups LGBTQ+ friendly Tourists
Planning
Lunch reservations recommended Dinner reservations recommended Accepts reservations Usually a wait
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Paid street parking Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
1949 reviews

Most Mentioned

ceviche (170) peruvian food (140) empanadas (59) rotisserie chicken (58) pisco sour (38) yuca (21) pollo a la brasa (15) economic recovery (8) noise level (6) tacu tacu (6)
5 stars
1181
4 stars
484
3 stars
153
2 stars
52
1 stars
79
November 27, 2024

Unfortunately, the least authentic Peruvian food I've ever had and honestly the quality was down right terrible. I ordered the Lomo Saltado and it was disappointing to say the least. There was no sauce or seasoning. Meat was dryer than the Mojave desert. The host was incompetent. Hopefully the dine in service is a lot better. The place looked beautiful but the quality and service was lackluster. For a 40$ dish, I am disgusted. 10/10 would not recommend ordering out.

November 17, 2024

Friend and I went for a reunion dinner but the rice was half cooked (hard like microwaved) with the seafood lukewarm. I got food poisoning that made me stay up all night from this.

★★★★
October 28, 2024

Was good, but the mussels had sand and the chicken and fish were a bit dry.

★★★★
October 12, 2024

Limón is always a good choice for any occasion. Both locations have amazing staff that are very attentive to you and your needs. Atmosphere is always lively and fun! Gracias Limón!

★★★★
October 6, 2024

I was expecting rotisserie chicken to have better taste. Ceviche was ok little be sour. Taro chips are dry not thin and crispy. Oysters are ok and doesn’t have sweetness taste. Mahi Mahi was over cooked so it’s not tender. Food quality needs to be improved although it’s well decorated to present. Good vibes here to hang out.

★★★★★
September 3, 2024

Amazing food!!! Dinner Saturday evening with a reservation for 4. We shared all the plates and loved every one of them. Great variety of seafood, chicken and red meat. Highly recommend the ceviche to start with, fresh and balanced flavor. Appetizer: CEVICHE LIMÓN Mains: Arroz Con Mariscos Paella. Half chicken and we got all the sauce options and fries as a side. The classic lomo saltado. Friendly staff. Good service, not too busy. We sat upstairs.

★★★★★
February 10, 2024

Came with a large group from work. Ordered a large assortment of appetizers and entrees. All of them were really good! They came out quickly, had lots of flavour and good portion sizes. Cocktails were stronger than expected but tasted great! Would definitely go back again

★★★★★
July 13, 2022

Still the best restaurant, work happy hour and dinner, and date spot in all of the Mission. I personally pick it as number one in the city. The Seco is now bone-in short rib made made medium rare and mouth watering tender. There is a new pep and attentiveness to the service; which I appreciate. The music has changed to more trendy secular music; which is a must in this day and age. Overall the presentation of all of the dishes seems to have been up leveled. Dishes start at around $14, but it is now a place that I’m happy to pay $30+ for a dish at. This place has 3 of my favorite dishes in the city. With my new favorite being a recent addition. The fish of the day. The drinks are always fantastic and the service is top notch. It’s lovely enough to be a dinner date spot and casual enough to be a quick launch haunt. I’m a huge fun and I’m sure you will be also.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Good food, but they rush you like crazy even if the restaurant is mostly empty. Also, the constant up-sells are annoying

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

Very good place for Peruvian food, the dishes are very delicious and well served. It has a lot of variety on the menu, I recommend the winning trio. The service is very friendly and attentive.

★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

What exactly is an economy recovery fee? Food was okay. Portions are a little small. Food : 4/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

Everything is very rich. I recommend the empanadas and the Pork Belly Excellent service from our waiter Mauricio

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

The food is excellent, the staff very friendly and efficient, I would always recommend it!

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Good spot for all things seafood! They also have good chicken and slow cooked beef/pork dishes, but seems mostly seafood type dishes take the menu! Great drinks too! Food : 4/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

I havent been to Limon for many years and thought it would be nice to revisit for a dinner with 2 friends as a casual place, centrally located that could accommodate the dietary needs of the group. The restaurant was bustling and a little loud even at our 6:15 reserved time. I was really impressed with the attentiveness of everyone in the service - my water glass never got half empty before it was refilled! Many of the waitstaff hugged and High fived customers as they arrived and were seated. Our drink pours were generous. I had the the kale salad and 1/4 chicken - they did an excellent job of making kale delicious without resorting to excess dressing! The 1/4 chicken was very good and if I could find anything to complain about, maybe the chicken was a tad drier than Id like. My friends both got the lomo saltado and enjoyed their meals, too. When we left, there was a line out the door so reservations are helpful - when I reserved it looked wide open. Price was a bit higher than I expected, but thats the day and age we live in now ... And as I mentioned, nobody went home hungry or thirsty! Will definitely plan to come back, maybe a bit earlier even, so we might linger a bit, but we wanted to let someone else in to take our table. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free, clean eating

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Limon exceeded all expectations from start to finish. The entire experience, from making reservations to savoring the food and enjoying the customer service, was outstanding. As a Peruvian cuisine enthusiast, Im often cautious about trying new places, fearing they might not meet my high standards. However, Limon delivered on all fronts. The lomo saltado was absolutely delicious, packed with flavor and perfectly prepared. The ceviche was fresh and zesty, capturing the essence of this classic Peruvian dish. The pollo a la brasa was a standout - juicy, well-seasoned, and cooked to perfection. If youre a fan of Peruvian food or looking to explore this fantastic cuisine, Limon is a must-visit. Its refreshing to find a restaurant that not only meets but surpasses expectations, especially when it comes to a beloved cuisine.

★★★★
October 22, 2024

Peruvian food is good

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Service was quick, food was delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Great seafood paella and cocktails. Try the polli-papas, it s an amazing appetizer. On my second visit, we ordered the Lomo saltado and the mixto classico ceviche, along with the truffle mac and cheese as an appetizer. The lomo saltado was delicious and savory, and the steak was the perfect texture. Not too tough, not too rare. The ceviche was also delicious and sharp. Truffle Mac was awesome as well. The most impressive thing was how fast everything came out. Under 5 minutes from when we ordered, everything was on the table. And it was a busy time too. I ll definitely be back.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Great local restaurant. Cevice is great, chicken is the specialty, and be sure to try one of the sour cocktails (pisco sour is the best). Highly recommendable.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

How good I loved the experience, it was my first time I was served by Maria and she was very kind and attentive, thank you

September 22, 2024

Lomo Saltado has a 60% markup on delivery apps. From $23 dining in to $37 on the delivery apps. I understand a 10% even 20% markup but how can this restaurant justify that egregious markup? Luckily there s another spot in the mission that has Lomo Saltado with minimal markup on their delivery app menu.

★★
September 22, 2024

The food is very delicious but the service is not good, it is the second time I have gone to this restaurant and I have had uncomfortable moments. The first time I had a bad experience with the waitress Maria P, this was 03/05, I talked to her when I left the place and I didnt make any report. The second time was 08/18 with the same waitress María P and it was the same issue: the service and trying to surprise us with the included tip and making excuses to not give us our proof of payment. I talked to her again before leaving the place but now Yes, I report it because it must be done constantly.

★★
September 22, 2024

Be sure to hold on to your receipt and check your credit card bill the next day. After eating here with a party of 8, I saw that the charge on my credit card was $60 higher than what I had seen on the final bill. After calling the restaurant, I found out that they had somehow added an additional two dishes to my bill after I had already paid. The woman I spoke with gladly refunded me for those two dishes after I sent her the receipt that I had been given, where those two dishes weren t included. But if I hadn t kept that receipt (and I usually don t), I m not sure I would have been able to plead my case otherwise. Other than this issue, the service was fine and the food was ok. The two stars are primarily for the mix-up with the bill, which was a hassle to fix and would have been worse for someone that didn t keep their receipt.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Great ceviche!

★★★
September 22, 2024

Went for a sporadic dinner. The place seemed cool and we love peruvian. Place was extremely loud (upstairs) and waitress felt like was trying to sell us unnecessary items from the begging. Ceviche was okay and lomo saltado too drinks were good. The worst was the waitress who had involuntarily added chips to our bill and once we asked her about it she got irritated proceeded to pull out her tip money and gave us $4 we dont argue for four dollars here I automatically add it to every ceviche because it s not good by itself Shocking end to our dinner - will not recommend or come back even though drinks were good and food was mid.

August 22, 2024

All the food is excellent, very good as is the service. The other day I placed an order through Uber Eats, and I canceled it immediately and they did not refund my cancellation money. Thats from the restaurant.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

We had an amazing time! Food is absolutely excellent. We ordered the ceviche trio sampler plate and the half chicken as well as a passionfruit sour. As a ceviche lover, this place really stood out. I think it s even better than La Mar. Portions are generous, everything was super flavorful. Service was super quick and we got in with no reservation.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Music was a bit too loud, but the food is great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

A lively spot with fresh, vibrant dishes ideal for sharing. The ceviche is a must! If youre meeting up with friends here, make sure you share the address because they have a second location nearby.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Limon has been a go to for years, food and cocktails are always on point and the service is good too unlike so many bay area restaurants where the servers think theyre too cool.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

One of my favorite restaurants ever, this place never gets old. One of the few restaurants where I would try every single thing on the menu.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Pollería Limón offers a delightful dining experience with delicious food and excellent service. I highly recommend this place for anyone wanting to try authentic Peruvian cuisine. The flavors are outstanding, and the staff is incredibly attentive. Don t miss out on this gem!

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Ive been a Limón customer for a few years now and I love the place. Very good food, fast and efficient service. Always very crowded, but they always find a way to accommodate you if you dont have a reservation. Lomo Saltado and Rotissery Chicken are my favorites. The empanadas are also delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Phenomenal Peruvian food!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Unbeatable service, good and very rich product. Everything we asked for we loved it

June 22, 2024

Please make sure to carefully review your bill. Otherwise, you may be charged $2 for each sauce you didnt order, and $4 for the chips you didnt receive. Additionally, only half of the dozen oysters we ordered arrived.Its important to thoroughly check every order you receive and be mindful of potential extra charges for items listed as sides on the menu, not the extra ones!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Drinks and ceviche were great! Staff accommodating and found us a less noisy table

June 22, 2024

Came here for dinner. Service was incredibly slow. Server took 18 minutes just to greet our table and then disappeared.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Fast service

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Best Peruvian ceviche I ve tried in SF. It s addicting. Other items fall short in comparison (have tried 5 other main dishes) Food : 5/5

★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

The fiesta platter was a great way to sample a variety of items. The beef empanadas and chicken were good. I loved the plantains and the yuca fries were great too! The beef from the lomo saltado was tender and my husband was obsessed with the rice from this dish. The preparation was definitely elevated from plain rice. We arrived at opening on Sunday and were seated immediately. It was nice to sit by the window and on a nice day. I hear the ceviche is delicious and excited to try that next time!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Heres a review for Limon: Limon is a culinary gem! The ceviche was fresh and zesty, a perfect start to our meal. The Lomo saltado offered a wonderful explosion of flavors, and the rotisserie chicken was perfectly juicy and well-seasoned. Each dish was a highlight, making Limon a must-visit for any food lover!

★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

I heard great things about Limons ceviche so we ordered the ceviche mixto for pickup during my visit last summer. It ended up being $26. I thought there was a bit too much fish in the ceviche mixto relative to the other ingredients. Fish is definitely my least favorite ceviche seafood component in general, and it didnt taste great. I liked the ceviche sauce but I didnt like the seafood. The sides of big corn and crunchy corn were good. Overall the ceviche flavor was good but the seafood was pretty meh.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Ceviche with the yellow aji amarillo sauce is surprisingly delicious! And can t go wrong with the seafood Paella!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Wordless. This place is amazing. Thank you Maria!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

A must try in San Francisco! I came with a large group for dinner and each dish we had was exceptional. The ceviche was my personal favorite and their cocktails were great!

May 22, 2024

Unfortunately Im going to have to leave them a bad score this time since Im out of patience because every time I order they give me the order without napkins and cutlery. Im a regular customer of Limon. I love their specialty and I always buy my food here, but the attention of I agree, the takeout orders are very poor, I would love to see them improve it since the tip is never lacking, thank you

★★
May 22, 2024

I had dinner here the other night and had an excellent meal. However, when the bill arrived it was much higher than expected. You dont receive a paper itemized bill, instead they just tell you the total and you pay on a portable device. We tipped and left but realized afterwards that we were overcharged by $20 not including tip. Were still unsure of the extra charges so beware of the lack of transparency when paying at this restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Excellent ceviches and pisco sours! The octopus (pulpo) was equally fabulous! Service was friendly, attentive and top notch... Sight negative, its a bit pricy.

★★
May 22, 2024

Good and professional service, OK food, terrible seating experience. We were seated on the mezzanine, right next to some sort of service room (maybe part of the kitchen?), which was extremely loud and smelled terrible.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Limon on Valencia ALWAYS a good choice. Perfectly executed Sours. We had the regular Pisco, the lychee and the passion fruit sour. All delicious, the passion fruit was the most tart, reminiscing of kalamansi. All 3 distinct, all 3 delicious. That Peruvian Pollo is always a winner winner chicken dinner. So moist, such full flavored skin, served as a mountainous family portion. Ceviches all delicious, again perfect execution. Really accessible flavors, homey, not overly refined or designer like LaMar, better in my opinion. Large selection of ceviches and other sea food, so enticing! Didnt get to dessert. Service was perfect, super friendly and accommodating. Provided explanations that were short, concise, relatable. Our waiter was training a new waiter and they worked seamlessly in unison, never missing a beat nor intrusive in our merriment. We were a table of 8 and closed the joint down on a Tuesday night. Place was fully booked. Highly recommend! Super fun, not a missed flavor at all. Oh, when we arrived, the fan was out and the room was smokey and way humid. They did something and 10 minutes later, all was clear. No smoke and perfect room temp.

★★★★
May 22, 2024

Ordered via übereats. Empanadas were great. But Lomo Soltado was overcooked and dry.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Exquisite food. Super friendly staff. Love it!

April 22, 2024

Service is not good to slow

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Excellent

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Food is well prepared every time. Service is better than most. I have not had one thing on the menu that I have not thoroughly enjoyed. My favorite is the ceviche and the Lomo saltado and the pork belly

★★★★
April 22, 2024

Food is good, but a little overpriced. The restaurant is pretty loud,so youre almost yelling across the table. Its great to have a place to get Peruvian food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Food is amazing, price is ok. Good price/quality balance. Worth to visit

Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Ordered the rotisserie and it still had feathers!!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

I cant tell you how delighted my family and I are to have found Limón on lively Valencia Street in San Francisco. We were able to get a reservation during Geezer Hour (5-6:00pm) when the upstairs had few people. This is relevant to the sound levels which, by the time we left, found quite loud. The excellent service and inspired dishes compensated for the difficulty we had in speaking over the music and voices of other patrons toward the end of the meal. We look forward to eating at Limón again! March 2024: Discovered Pisco Sours by the pitcher, tasty cauliflower and other delights.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Service is really slow, but maybe it was just the Sunday and maybe understaffed. Ceviche is incredible!!! So delicious and cocktails are generous.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Always fun and delicious. I love their chicharrones and empanadas, but everything is good there, including the cocktails!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

A cozy setting to enjoy delicious Peruvian food with family and friends.

February 22, 2024

They engage in DRIP pricing and add a hidden fee (4% economic recovery fee ) to their bill. They also start the tip machine at 20% and watch you like a hawk as you enter the amount on the terminal at the table. Terrible business practices, won t be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Only had the ceviche but it was excellent. I will say though I disagree with the Economic Recovery Tax that they charge. Seems to be I am a contributer to your economic recovery by dining there. Hope thats enough for your establishment.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Very good and helpful especially Jasmin Everything delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Great Peruvian restaurant in the Mission. You cant go wrong with any of the ceviches, and the lomo saltado is delicious. In the cocktail section, I recommend the maracuyá sour!

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Mauricio was our server and he was EXTREMELY attentive ! The food was amazing and the service was just as good ! We went to celebrate my brothers birthday and they sang happy birthday to him and made him feel so special ! Will definitely be returning again

February 22, 2024

Really bad service. Rude waitress. Brought me food with allergens after I told her I had a severe wheat/gluten allergy. Awful timing bringing dishes out. Very expensive and small portions. Before I ordered I told our server I was allergic to gluten and she arrogantly told me gluten could not be in a sauce, that gluten is a food. After I politely insisted she check with the chef anyway whether or not the soy sauce was gluten free, she begrudgingly talked to him, only to come back and tell me what I already knew- that gluten can in fact be in sauces and the thing she just told me was gluten free actually did have gluten in it. I could not believe how rude she was about it. Gluten free soy sauce is indeed a thing. And I shouldnt have to beg a server to check on a common allergen like that. After all of that she let me order a food item that said crispy in the description. Im not sure how it is my fault that crispy did not translate to battered and deep fried. And after having a very uncomfortable back/forth with her about my allergies she let me order it without mentioning it had wheat in it and was deep fried. Ive never had a waiter fail to connect the dots and warn me about something with allergens in it after bringing it up. She acted like it was my fault for ordering it after I specifically told her I was allergic to wheat and gluten and rudely shoved a menu in my face to prove her point. At no point was I rude to her so I have no idea where she got off acting like that. Service was bad, all of this aside. They brought our appetizers out quickly, then almost immediately brought my partners entree out, which was beef. I ordered ceviche. It was almost comical watching the staff try to cram so many dishes on our small table when we hadnt even finished our salad. They did not give us enough time to make space at the table and it was nearly impossible to eat without bumping something. My *first* ceviche came out about 15 minutes after my partners beef entree so my partner sat there letting her food get cold because she didnt want to be rude and eat without me. Ive never eaten anywhere that served entrées so far apart. She had time to completely finish hers before mine came out. I insisted she do because I didnt want it to get cold. After sending the first ceviche back it took another 15-20 minutes to get the next one. So before I had a single bite of my entree, my partner had been done eating for 30~ minutes. Not to mention our server ignored us the entire night except when my partner had to flag her down as she raced past our table. She came to replace our cocktails once but made very little effort otherwise. She left the empty glasses on our table and a few minutes later a random busboy came and took them. She didnt even bring us the dessert menu and this was on my partners birthday. We wanted to get cake but at that point we were both feeling like the server was either being homophobic or just otherwise rude to us so we paid and left. I only tipped because I didnt want to make a scene but for a $190 dinner they could do a LOT better. I would not go back after this experience. Its a shame because the food tasted good and I love the Walnut Creek location which is a completely different experience. Dietary restrictions: Server was rude and argumentative about food allergies. I had to beg her to check with the chef about common allergens. After all of that she let me order a plate that had the exact thing I told her I was allergic to and she held a menu to my face like a lunatic showing me I was wrong for ordering it. It was her responsibility to point that out in my opinion. If you have allergies avoid this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Ive been a client for years in a row. Starting November 2023 I started noticing a sharp decline in management and also experience. Every time there was an awesome experience before. Not after a new manager named Ramirez. Extra rude & loud to the employees. The main issue is that he screams to the top of his lungs when he feels like it. It wasnt directed to clients, it was though to my best waitress and most helpful worker at this place, Maria de los angeles. Youre a trooper for putting up with that abuse from someone thats breaking every labor law in CA. Ill notify the Federal Trade Commission and the CA B P Best business practices.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

One of my favorite Peruvian spots in the city! The ceviche mixto is the way to go!

★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Great service, varied Peruvian menu with something for everyone (even if you don t like cilantro). Especially good seafood dishes. Restaurant is a bit loud but still able to carry on a conversation.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

This is one of my favorites Peruvian restaurants in SF

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

The food was delicious. The Ceviche Limón was outstanding. They went above and beyond supporting customers and creating a positive environment! Food

Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Too loud and everything is fried.

★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Food was pretty good, ambience is really loud - but feeling robbed. They charged a 4% economic recovery fee in 2024.. No one else is doing that anymore and 4% is high on top of already quite high prices. I don t believe sales tax was properly calculated either. Not good business practices grand total was more than $100 over the subtotal

January 22, 2024

Im not sure why mac & cheese is on the menu, but please dont get that, disgusting , DRY , worst item they could ever put on the menu

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Loved everything, except that they changed the name of La copa ceviche to the plomero feliz or something like that... what for? If it aint broken dont fix it.

★★★
December 22, 2023

I ordered a polli papas, the chicken was dry and hard to chew, and a grilled chicken, the salad was nothing like what we usually find in Peru, the chicken lacked salt and my order arrived cold but that could be because the delay of Doordash.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I used to love this place but things seem to have gone downhill lately. I had dinner with a couple of friends last night and we ordered the lomo saltado, half a chicken, some pisco sours and other sides. My main complaint is about the main dishes quality and quantity: the lomo saltado was lacking flavour and they brought a bunch of potatoes (as they should) with very few pieces of meat. The beef was also overcooked. As for the chicken, the taste was OK - but we ordered yuca fries as one of the sides and not only were we charge $2 extra for that side (on a dish that is already $24) but it literally came with THREE yuca fries. Also, want any sauces? Be ready to dish up another $2 for a few droplets. Anyone who knows anything about Peruvian food knows that abundance is part of the culture, and Limón definitely used to deliver but theyre just stinging out now. Will need to find a new favourite in SF.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Ceviche was great! Good portion to share. Was a little underwhelmed with the octopus. Really tiny compared to the price and not that tasty. I d see this as a good place to catchup, but only if you get seated upstairs or away from the kitchen. Was really loud during dinner so hard to hear and enjoy food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We tasted red snapper with three different types of ceviche (trio ganador), seafood mix ceviche (el pirata), pork belly with chilli (chanchito a la diabla), and grilled chicken... all good choices.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

First Peruvian food, great experience!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Excellent as always Ceviche 10/10 Chocolate dessert 10/10 Piscos 10/10

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very good food..!!! but if you are Latin the service is very bad unlike people from other countries..

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Good place. Everything taste good and nice service.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food was alright, but the atmosphere was way too loud. Had to yell just to talk to someone sitting next to me. If you come here Id try to come when its less busy and sit downstairs to avoid the noise. We also sat upstairs, which had low ceilings and a bunch of tables crammed together (often ~1ft apart) with poor acoustics, which definitely contributed to the noise level. Again, the food itself was fine, but underwhelming. The ceviche was the best, but portion sizes were incredibly small. We also got the empanadas and chicken with a side of veggies and fries. Id say the chicken was very average & the empanadas were good. The veggies were literally just zucchini; was definitely a bit surprising that there was only one kind of vegetable. The fries were fine, maybe a tad under-salted. Overall I probably wouldnt come back and if I did Id try and come during off hours, sit downstairs, and order the seafood.

December 22, 2023

Very bad place to eat.. very high prices and also bad service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Always great food and cocktails. A bit noisy so its hard to hear conversations.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I really love the chicken!!! The space was filled with people but the service remained the same. I highly recommend it!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Most popular Peruvian restaurant in San Francisco, California. And rightly so. The restaurant is known for its vibrant and colorful ambiance, as well as its flavorful and innovative Peruvian cuisine. Some of the signature dishes at Limon include the Lomo Saltado, a classic Peruvian stir-fry with steak, onions, tomatoes, and french fries, as well as the Ceviche Mixto, a fresh and tangy seafood dish with shrimp, squid, and scallops marinated in lime juice. In addition to its delicious food, they also offer an extensive wine and cocktail menu, featuring a variety of Peruvian-inspired drinks and unique international wines. It has received numerous accolades and positive reviews from food critics and diners alike, and has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Michelin Guide. It is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the vibrant flavors and culture of Peruvian cuisine in San Francisco.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

OK, but a bit overpriced for the quality

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nice restaurant with amazing food and great, kind service!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very authentic Peruvian with nice plating. All seafood are pretty spot on. We went on a Monday evening where there were open seatings. But the servers were keeping sending us away.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Everything was very delicious, the person who served us was very attentive, recommended

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We were seated at appx. 9pm. Our server was pleasant. We ordered our drinks. Once we received our drinks we ordered our food. Appetizer and our entrees. We received our entree appx. 10seconds after our appetizer was set down. I had the lomo saltado. It was bitter. Burnt. I couldn t tell if it was from the sauce or the steak itself. It must have been an off day for the kitchen team. We also had the panna cotta for dessert.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Phenomenal. Expensive, but generous portions and great food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great Peruvian food with wonderful service - but get ready for high noise levels during peak hours. Screaming over dinner isnt for everyone, but if you enjoy a high energy space to begin your evening out you cant lose. Great cocktails as well - glad to get a solid Pisco Sour in SF!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The meat was at the perfect point! The chocolate dessert was a delicious match with just enough sugar. And the service was super efficient and friendly. I was served by Roy, a Peruvian boy. I will definitely come back to this place.

★★★
December 22, 2023

Lomo saltado was too salty and overpriced, but service was great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Everything was great here. Terrific food, wonderful service and great atmosphere!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Huge portions, solid food. Didnt order wine, but some nice bottles on display.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Order anything, pretty sure you will love it

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food still good and service and atmosphere is warm

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food and drinks were really good. The cauliflower is my favorite

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The first time I eat Peruvian food and it was an excellent experience, everything was very delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very good food and friendly staff. My Peruvian GF really liked too

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The empanada sampler is not to be missed and they are big empanadas so plenty to split. My favorite was the veggie one, which says a lot as Im usually quite the carnivore. Cucumber margarita was delicious and our server was lovely!

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Mahi mahi with mashed potato and roasted cauliflower was excellent, as was my pisco sour cocktail. Service wasnt paying attention, maybe it was a language issue, but I think the former - a slightly impatient and disrespectful attitude. The sponge to the chocolate bandido desert was both dry and pasty, although the chocolate filling was rich, and unfortunately it was served with cream from a spray can. From the main dish though I get the feeling the food is generally immaculate, but it may be hit and miss. Note: there is no coffee machine, so it was filter only with the desert, but gratis so hey.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

An incredible experience all around. The service was outstanding, the food was spectacular, and the drinks were delicious. Can t speak highly enough of this location!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Authentic & good tasting Peruvian food. Fried chicken with yuca fries was my dish & liked it. Met a friend here for dinner for the first time & enjoyed the place although the music was a bit loud for me.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good beef ribs, portions could be a bit bigger, I have a big appetite. Awesome service, very kind!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This is my second time visiting the place and their customer service and food are excelente. A little pricey but overall great place to try peruvian food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best taco in Mission SF

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Very loud when its full but the food is great! Try the paella

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Phenomenal food. Perfectly cooked. Interesting dishes. Worth it.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great drinks, with okay food. The maracuya sour (passion fruit) was stunning, but the rotisserie chicken gave me $5 Costco vibes. It s okay, that s what they serve, but the price tag may not be justified.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was very good as well as the service. Its a nice atmosphere but the music is a bit loud.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was good, but the signature dish - the chicken - was quite dry. The atmosphere is generally nice but noisy.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious food served within a pleasant atmosphere by friendly staff: definitely worth a visit. Just understand that on a Saturday, they are very busy.

★★★
December 22, 2023

The rice with seafood is delicious, the service is very good but the new manager with an unfriendly face makes us feel uncomfortable, it seems that Latinos dont like us, very bad

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent ceviche, the attention is super good, the dishes, in addition to being delicious, pay attention to detail in the presentation of the dishes. Congratulations, Ill come back

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Looking for great food with different flavors, try Limon. You can t go wrong with any dish!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Friendly staff. Food was good. Indoor and outdoor seating.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The service/servers were awesome.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good place to eat and enjoy with family.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nice place with delicious Trio Ceviche I also had lycheemelon cocktail and it was a good refreshing cocktail perfect for my ceviche. Im just not impressed with their empanada sampler. Friendly servers and loud ambiance. Overall a great place to have dinner and cocktail.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

ABSOLUTELY LOVED! Make a reservation to guarantee seating, friendly staff & food was beyond delicious! Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious food, great service

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

First of all, the server stole money from me by incorrectly reporting the total bill (left themselves an even larger tip). I suppose this could have been an accident but the amount I left was written very clearly... Unfortunately the food was really disappointing. Despite the nice presentation and high prices, both seafood dishes were gross, and overly salty as others have said. It was mostly over cooked calamari and not much flavor aside from salt. I had come here years ago and liked it so it seems to have gone downhill.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. It has authentic Peruvian food. I particularly like their ceviche and lomo saltado. It has a fun atmosphere on Friday and Saturday nights too.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious food . But is you go with a date! Is hard to hear or communicate with other person. Too loud atmosphere. Is like a been a club!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I loved this place. My friends took me here for my birthday. The staff were kind enough to sing Happy birthday for me. Our server was very nice and changed our order after they brought the food and we realized we made the mistake of ordering the wrong thing. The food was amazing. I had a blast.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

the paella was faccckkkkkked if i could leave a voice note i would show you just how good it was was. WOW

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We really wanted to like this place, second time visiting and they put a half cooked dish on our table after 45min wait. When we told them that it s not cooked they took it to the kitchen and brought back a bad looking dish that still wasn t cooked and offered 25% discount for the dish that wasn t edible, it took them overall an hour to bring that half cooked dish. Such a horrible experience

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Some of the best food I have ever had! In town for work and my husband and I had dinner here. Full of flavor and spices, the drinks are amazing and the service is great! It is a smaller place and very busy. It was a little hard to hear each other but other than that its great! We live almost 2 hours away and thats probably a good thing, we would be there all the time!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Overall: A good staple to come to in the mission. Would I come back: Yeah I would The extended review Food: Yuca Fries - 3.5/5 - Yummy but much starchier than potatoes. Ceviche Mixto - 4/5 - A tasty ceviche with a good representation of other seafoods Mar y Tierra - 4/5 - Why not I say. Basically it s Lomo Saltado with some shrimps. Who could deny that. Service: 4/4 - Friendly attentive service. Ambiance: 3/5 - A bit on the louder side. It s also a bit packed so it can be slightly claustrophobic for some people depending on how you deal with crowds.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Very good food and service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious Peruvian food! Good place for big groups

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food was amazing. Music a little too loud and service a little slow.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Dining solo can be tough wanting to try as many dishes as possible. Ceviche is a must when at Peruvian restaurants. Chose fish only ceviche & a pisco sour to go with. Love the tanginess, dish was piled with many thick slices. Yums! Food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The el pirata and the lomo saltado were good and had great presentation! Service was fast and very friendly! I thought the music was too loud and it was difficult to have a conversation.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I love Peruvian food and I love Limón! The food was delicious, as always, and the service is very fast, which I love! The food came pretty quickly and we really enjoyed everything so much. I always love going back :) thank you!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent roast chicken,empanadas, sweet potato fries!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Ceviche and veggie empanadas were delicious. Passion fruit pisco was also fantastic.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Really Good Food and Awesome Attention!!! Thanks

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I dont think its very Peruvian, but its really pretty good. The aji sauce in particular is very good and the ceviche is exactly what you might expect. But really thats about the most Peruvian thing there. Most of the rest of it is more like Peruvian Asian fusion. If thats what youre going for though I think its a fine choice

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Loved calamari + ceviche menu and drinks! Good vibe and food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Our dinner here at Limon was excellent! Flavors on point. Our server was Star & Pancho, friendly and attentive. Chef Rolando and manager Ramez were so welcoming! Thank you, everyone, at Limón!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This is a must anytime Im in San Francisco

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Average at best. Server said there was no bread to purchase to eat with dishes that looked more like a soup and payment rules. The veggie empanada was subpar.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I come to this place with an expectation that the roast chicken would be unprecedented because of the hype. Well, the roast chicken is indeed good but not to the level that surprised me. However, the ceviche! I am usually skeptical with the ceviche because it tends to be small and one dimensional flavor - sour. Worse than that, bland. However, the ceviche here is rich. I love how creative it is to put fried items in the ceviche without being soggy. There are fun things to chew on along fresh seafood. Oh yes the snapper is very fresh. And most importantly, the dressing for the ceviche that we got is not only sour but had a kick of chili and shallots. I wiped the plate with the yuca fries and chips. Would love to try other ceviches and other dishes more next time.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

One of the best restaurants Ive ever been. Absolutely wonderful food and atmosphere. It was 2022 but I will be back soon definitely to check if its still valid.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Everything is so delicious here. My favorites are their chicken, ceviche, empanadas, and yuca frita.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good food but way, WAY too loud and each persons food comes out when its ready, not all at once. Also they dont make it easy to split checks.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Really great Peruvian in the mission. The Pisco Sour was spot on, and the ceviche and lomo saltado had great flavor. The service was also excellent and attentive.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was quite overpriced and not that fantastic. They nickel and dime you for everything. Got the ceviche, chips were extra. Got the half chicken with 2 sides, the yucca fries as a side were 2$ extra and they gave us a whole 4 fries... Sauce to go with your dry chicken, extra. The service was fine, they were attentive and quick. However they were really pushy on trying to upsell everything.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The oysters, ceviche, and arroz con mariscos are amazing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Difficult to hear the conversation of my partner but the food was a good balance between flavor and beauty.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great ceviche and roasted chicken. The yellow ahi Amarillo sauce is delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Love everything about Limon. Staff is super friendly and food is amazing.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The grilled chicken had neither salt nor flavor. I do not recommend bad service at all.

December 22, 2023

I have been to Limon numerous times throughout my years living in SF and I never have anything bad to say about this restaurant. However recently I came back and I can t believe they pulled a tourist trap on me. The server asked if I wanted still or sparkling water, and I asked for still. Which in all other restaurants in SF means tap water aka free water, not Bottled Still Water. She came back with an opened $7 Bottled Still Water - her defense was that it said still on the bottle. What a clown, I am not a tourist and experienced restaurants patron. It s pathetic to pull off something like this on local customers. Sorry to say it s Limon it s somewhat upscale, but you are not at the level of restaurant that will automatically sell Bottled Premium water to your customer as default. I ve been to numerous Michelin starred restaurants and they served tap still water when asked for still. After having the $7 water I realized the chicken are actually fairly bland now, nothing more special than the one sold at grocery stores. They removed the beef tounge and the crispy chicken with lime from the menu long time ago. Well no more reason to comeback.