Starting in August, we’re hosting a weekly Mid-Week Mercado at Salesforce Plaza from 11am to 2pm. We’re drawing inspiration from the vibrant night markets of Mexico City and the celebration of various cultures from the Queens Night Market. Each week, we’re bringing 20 of the Bay Area’s best Latin American food creators cooking up tacos, tamales, pupusas, ceviche, arepas, lomo saltado, ropa vieja, empanadas, churros, and more. We’ll also have performances, live music, and vendors with fresh produce and flowers. Meet the creators below!
Mama’s Papas
Mama’s Papas were named one of the best pupusas in the Bay by the SF Chronicle. Tracie Cabezas started the business as a pop-up during the pandemic. Her dream is to one day open up a food truck. This pop-up has a fun fusion menu that combines Hawaiian and Salvadoran cuisine. The kalua pork and cheese is a can’t miss item on their menu served with a pineapple curtido.
Brigachero
Brigachero specializes in brigadeiro, a Brazilian truffle, made by rolling a sweetened condensed milk chocolate in toppings. Brigachero offers 12 flavors ranging from chocolatey to fruity. You’ll want to try them all, so go for the twelve-pack filled with flavors like coffee, passion fruit, salted caramel, guava, and more. You can’t miss the cute, pin trailer.The business is named after the owner’s schnauzer named Che.
Colombian’s Food Factory
Colombian specialties like arepas, empanadas, and mazorcadas are the star of the show here. They also offer fun hybrids like the salchipapa (a chopped up hot dog served with fries, cheese, and corn). Their arepas come filled with cheese, pork belly, chicken, beef, or chorizo. Jose Acosta opened the food truck in 2020 to make Colombian food more accessible in San Francisco.
Estrellita’s Snacks
This second-generation Salvadoran restaurant specializes in pupusas, tamales, and tostadas. They offer traditional favorites like yuca frita, entomatadas, and chilaquiles — but, they also push the limits with unique creations. Don’t miss out on their pupusas filled with birria or lamb and cheese. They also have Oaxacan specialties like mole Oaxaqueno and tlayudas. Th restaurant is run in honor of Maria del Carmen Florez (Estrellita’s mother). Maria joined La Cocina in 2005 and brought her cooking experience from living across Central America.
Venga Empandas
Venga Empanadas offers empanadas filled with beef, chicken, chorizo, kale, corn, walnuts, and more. They’re baked instead of fried, which makes them a healthy treat. They also offer gluten-free empanadas. The menu also features Argentine croissants and cookies. Romano and Manuel Godino launched in 2008 by selling wholesale to commercial kitchens.
The Tamale Fiesta
The Tamale Fiesta offers a large selection of tamales made without lard. They’re filled with vegetables, rajas, pollo verde, puerco verde, corn, pineapple, strawberry, or beef. They’re made fresh each day to ensure the masa is moist and fluffy. They don’t skimp on the fillings here, they’re filled and nearly overflowing. They won 1st place at the 8th Annual Tamale Festival in Atascadero.
Ta’ Contreras
Ta’ Conteras is a classic taco truck with favorites like tacos, tortas, burritos, and nachos. They offer a full selection of meats including carnitas, tripa, birria, al pastor, cabeza, and carne asada. For breakfast, they offer burritos filled with chorizo, bacon, or sausage.
Pepito’s Paletas
Pepito’s Paletas are a part of new-wave paleterias hitting the Bay Area. They’re a minority woman-owned CO-OP blending traditional Mexican paletas with healthy vegan recipes. Their most popular flavors include Abuelita chocolate, fresas con crema, mazapan, watermelon honey, and honey mango. The paleteria is run by Nancy and Christine Rosales who were passionate about keeping traditions alive and making paletas accessible to people with dietary restrictions.
Churros Mexicano
Churros Mexicano has been serving filled churros since 2003. Hector and his family have been passionately churning out churros for 22 years. You can fill your churro with strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, or cajeta. They also offer fried plantain. It’s the perfect dessert to enjoy while on the move.
