Pica Pica arepas available in SF

[tatertot]

A previous topic mentioned getting arepas at a recent festival in San Francisco. I tried one for the first time last summer and was instantly addicted. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find them since then. I contacted them and they said they would have a booth at several events this summer:

SF Carnaval the weekend of the 23rd of May, Castro St Fair, Folsom St Fair, Bay to Breakers (May 17th at the polo fields) and possibly Outsidelands again.

Pica Pica: http://www.picapicakitchen.com/

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Pica Pica Maize Kitchen
610 1st St Ste 5, Napa, CA 94559

[Sharuf]

Please, a little clarification for those of us lacking arepa savvy. Describe "Venezuelan" and "Colombian" arepas and how they differ.

[Melanie Wong]

Here's my old post on the General topics board on Venezuelan vs. Colombian arepas.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/288287

[david kaplan]

Eater reports that Pica Pica is opening soon at 401 Valencia @ 15th, in the old Mi Lindo Yucatan space.

http://sf.eater.com/archives/2010/03/...

Hooray!

[david kaplan]

Opened yesterday. Looks like identical menu to Napa Oxbow Market original location.

[Windy]

With Napa Oxbow prices to match. My arepa was tasty enough, but a messy self-serve sandwich at $9 seems a little high for 15th and Mission. Maybe we're paying for the faux-60s wall coverings.

[vulber]

Not to pick hairs, but they are on 15th and Valencia, not 15th and Mission and there is a world of difference between (on several levels) between being on Valencia street and Mission street.

[Windy]

That corner might as well be at 15th and Mission.

[wolfe]

I didn't like the one I got at the Glen Park Street Fair. Short on filling, dry and not very tasty. Maybe not a good venue but not worth the $8.

[david kaplan]

Let's give 15th & Valencia a bit of credit: Pica Pica, Little Star Pizza, and Four Barrel! I wouldn't put 15th & Mission up against that.

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Little Star Pizza Valencia
400 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Four Barrel Coffee
375 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Pica Pica Maize Kitchen
401 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[Melanie Wong]

dk, if you edit your post to say Little Star PIZZA, autolinking should find the right record. Otherwise, the software matches to "Little Star Cafe" or "Little Star Restaurant" located who knows where when you type just Little Star. Or you could open "manage your links" and click on the "remove" button for Little Star Cafe.

I'm looking forward to trying Pica Pica closer to home. The two times I've been to Oxbow, I didn't sit well with me that there were stacks of pre-cooked arepas sitting on the grill, so I refused to order one. I only want one that's freshly prepped and not dried out and hard. And, it also bothers me that the website misspells Pepiada.

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Pica Pica Maize Kitchen
401 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[david kaplan]

The sweet cornmeal crepe -- the cachapa -- was made to order at Oxbow. Don't know if that's true at all hours (I went at a slow time) or at the SF location.

[chocolatetartguy]

I ended up there Sunday while looking for Mi Lindo Yucatecan, which Pica Pica replaced. I got an arepa with skirt steak, black beans and platanos to go and my plans changed and I didn't eat it until the next evening. I ate it cold and it was still OK. The steak was very beefy and reminiscent of brisket. My arepa had a lot of meat in it. The plantains were tender and sweet. I didn't care for the black beans which had a sour cream edge.

In addition to the traditional grilled white cornmeal bread, they had a cornmeal pancake and some sort of combo of the two. Not sure if there are salsas to go with, but some sauces like aioli and homemade catsup are extra. They have a hot chocolate which is spiced with cloves.

I would go back there on my next Roxie trip.

[chocolatetartguy]

I did go back there later the same week. This time I had the Pernil on the white corn "pancake." It was OK. The pork reminded me of something else that I had had before, but up until a few days ago I couldn't place it. Hawaiian BBQ kahlua pork!

[Camote]

Tried Mr. Pollo on 24th and Mission today. The arepas were really good.
The new chef is sweet, ambitious, and is hooked up to local farmers.
Has daily specials, and also makes vegetarian dishes.

[david kaplan]

Pica Pica is at the Union Street Art Festival this weekend. I really enjoyed the Pernil arepa, with rich, sweet pulled pork, avocado, and tomato.

[tatertot]

Just got word that they'll be in Golden Gate park this Saturday, May 16th, (Life is Good Festival at Speedway Meadows) and Sunday, May 17th (at the Polo Fields for Bay to Breakers). I really hope they'll be as good as I remembered! Looking forward to the grilled cheese on sweet cornbread.

[Robert Lauriston]

They've added pork and chorizo to their list of fillings.

[wolfe]

I am sure Trespinero will be thrilled.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6152...

[trespinero]

Cheers and I am. I lived in Colombia back in the 90's now all we need is a good bowl of ajiaco.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajiaco

[sosdiaz]

Trespinero,
I also lived in Colombia in the 70's and I miss the empanadas and I would also like to find a bowl of Ajiaco!

[Agent 510]

You don't have to wait for Pica Pica's special appearance to have an arepa in SF. Mr. Pollo on 24th and Mission makes 'em and, in my opinion, they're better than Pica Pica's.

[rworange]

link

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Mr. Pollo
2823 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Robert Lauriston]

El Majahual also has arepas.

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El Majahual Restaurant
1142 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Melanie Wong]

Pica Pica makes Venezuelan style arepas. El Majahual and Mr Pollo are of the Colombian type.

[diacbol]

just for you to know, and if you wanna taste a good arepa. the new cheff at mr. pollo is venezuelan, he is giving the place a new twist and it seems is working. he is making venezuelan style arepas, (but he's selling the colombian style, because a lot of people are asking for it.) food is better and it also have other and better choices

[Melanie Wong]

So, I can specify whether I want Venezuelan or Colombian arepas? I liked Mr. Pollo before, sounds like there will be even more attraction.

[bbulkow]

Aye arepas tipico / tipo colombiano?

Si, yo quero arepas tipo colombiano.

[I hope there's a word for 'venezuelian' other than 'venezualianinio', that's a mouthful and a half]

No guarantees to correctness, only effectiveness.

[Melanie Wong]

Ha! Try Venezolano or venezolana.

[diacbol]

yeah.. he makes both.. the venezuelan style, stuffed and also the small sweet colombian ones..

[Melanie Wong]

Getting back to the City late Friday night, I headed to the Mission looking for a quick snack. Remembering your post, I circled to Mr. Pollo, saw the lights on after 10pm and pulled in.

I asked the chef if it was really true that Venezuelan-style arepas were now available here. He said yes, and asked me if I wanted one stuffed with pork, beef or chicken. At this I demurred, then said, “Actually, I was hoping you could make arepa de la reina pepiada. Is that possible?” He looked surprised and asked, “Is your husband Venezuelan?”

Then he set to work to make the filling of avocado, onion, and chicken bound with mayonnaise. Here he is adding a squeeze of lime.
http://twitpic.com/16wgcc

The large size arepa, $6.50, was cooked fresh on the flat-top, then split and hollowed out slightly to make room for the ample filling. The avocado-chicken salad was topped with a huge amount of shredded jack cheese, as shown here. Quite a bigger snack than I’d bargained for.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/4421183836/

Tasty indeed, though I would have liked it more without the cubes of potato. In addition to lime, the salad had a bit of picante from a dash of cayenne. I also had a maracuja juice made with frozen pulp.

August 2007 report on Mr. Pollo
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/3476...