Chevy’s Fresh Mex

This place is alright!
I work nearby, so it’s a great place to pop in for happy hour. Great specials. It’s about the equal of any other Chevy’s you’ve visited: fatty foods, big drinks, salty chips.

Located on one of the sunny top floors of the Embarcadero Center, I’ve been here a couple of times for group business lunches. Their menu strongly advertises how the tamales are hand-​rolled, tortillas fresh-​made from an interesting automated machine, and none of the ingredients ever frozen.
Yet that law for major chains to require calorie counts on everything is a complete buzzkill and their portions are humongous. It’s difficult finding any entrée on the menu less than 1100 calories. The menu isn’t really authentic, but the selection is broad enough where everyone’s able to find something they wouldn’t mind eating. In addition it’s quite easy for a large party to get seating here and the place is clean.
Service specifically gears towards the business lunch set, the help was quick, prompt, and fast to get the check on the table in case we were in a rush to get back to the office. Something that’s not always a given when the gratuity is already added in.
Even after I adjust expectations for this being a major chain needing something to reinvigorate the brand, despite being group-​friendly, and the use of fresh ingredients, somehow this is still not a place I’d otherwise go to willingly.

Nice location, but absolutely dead in the evening. Strangely, with the place almost empty, we still waited FOREVER for basic service. 15 minutes to get a beer, another 10 to order guac… made him take our regular food order at the same time otherwise it would be midnight before we got our dinner.
Overall, food was good, service lacking.

My Jill S (Now Jill D) was the first to indulge my shopping addiction upon my recent release from the hospital. All drugged up and looking to spend, we had to stick to a location with the following:
1.Easy, free parking for her huge ass man-​truck
2.A centralized layout with my standards for a couple of weeks of work from bed (think Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Lucy, etc), easily accessible for a person with a walker (that was MOI)
3.Food. LOTS of food. After a month in the hospital with few hours spent conscious and less hours spent eating, my (then) 105 lb wimpy shell of my former self was looking to load up on grub every chance I got. (This has ultimately backfired, but I digress…)
We ended up at Embarcadero Center since it is close to home, has TONS of free parking and is a fairly contained space. We ended up at Chevy’s because I figured nothing could be better than a 2,000 calorie margarita and a greasy plate of mediocre fauxican cuisine.
Although nearly empty, we were seated in a dark, scary corner booth with a one part scary, five parts scarce server who I’m fairly certain needed special glasses to see us but had forgotten them at home that day. After waiting so long to finally order, we tossed the artery clogging to the wayside (no small feat considering Jill’s eating for two) and ordered soup and little corn lumps for the sake of time. Turns out, putting soup into bowls takes over half an hour. I practically had to beg to get a diet coke (never mind the margarita), the staff asked me weird questions about my walker, and the waiter eye-f*cked me AND preggers Jill (an invalid and a pregnant lady walk into a bar…) for the duration. I’ll stick to the overrated Indian place over next time should I find myself stuck at Embarcadero and in need of high fat cuisine!

Ok don’t laugh.
This is a review for the Sunday Funday specials only.
$ 1 guacamole + $ 2 margaritas + Free Chips & Salsa.
Did someone say recession special? Holler.

Not exactly authentic (I say that as if I even had a remote clue in regards to what authentic mexican food tastes like…) and not the best service — but come on, it’s Chevys.
Despite this being Chevy’s, I don’t think there is a better happy hour deal (in context of food/​drinks) in the Embarcadero /​FIDI area. Yeah — so this isn’t where you take someone you’re trying to impress, but $ 4 for nachos grande (feeds three people easily…) and $ 4 margaritas is damn good in my book. So I have no qualms giving 5 stars strictly for happy hour.
Also, extra points for my server being cool about me coming in at 6:55 (happy hour ends at 7) and ordering three margaritas… for myself. Yeah — I have no shame… but come on, it’s Chevys!

I’m a fan… I work a block away, and if you go for lunch the service is quick and it’s not bad. Now they have lunch menus so you can get something smaller and cheaper.
Happy hour is always fun here, the apps are good and the margaritas are always a hit!

About two weeks ago, my sister and I were in San Francisco, and randomly decided to grab a bite to eat at Chevy’s. After all the negative reviews on Unilocal,we did not know what to expect.
Upon entering, we waited for someone at the counter to greet us or get a table for us, and that didn’t happen. No one was at the front counter and the restaurant was quite empty. However, we were patient and about fifteen minutes later, we were seated but we did not get an explanation or apology for the fifteen minute wait. Our server Laura was really efficient and friendly. Laura brought us free chips and salsa, and refilled it when it was empty! The chips are simply delicious … crispy, super-​thin, and tastes yummy with the salsa!
My sister and I ordered a sampler, which includes mini samples of different kinds of foods, which was so good and so worth it! Drinks were inexpensive due to happy hour, but we did not order any drinks. Chevy’s offers a variety of dishes and they’re inexpensive! Yet, I would not go back to Chevy’s now but if customer service from the front desk was more efficient, perhaps I would.

When you and your friend are so hungry you are ready to cut a bitch, exercising fine dining options is not a strategic plan. Sustenance STAT is a much better idea.
Thus we found ourselves at this Chevy’s on a Friday night. I expect certain things from a Chevy’s: bottomless chips and salsa, water glasses and certain simple menu items served quickly.
NONE of these expectations were fulfilled. We asked for refills on our chips and salsa at least 4 times (lest you think us pigs we only had our basket refilled ONCE). We both ordered the same thing: tortilla soup and a side of the tomatila. Why did it take 20 minutes?! I know you weren’t back there grinding maize and plucking chickens! As for water… NADA! My companion had to keep requesting refills of her Diet Pepsi and I was fortunate to make do with my lone sparkling water because we weren’t getting any other options.
Topping it all off was the general skeeviness of our waiter and the dark, dungeon like booth we were seated in. Though dinner was cheap, I’m not and I won’t be returning.

Despite two coworkers’ recent bouts of food poisoning from Chevy’s we still continue to go back as if their $ 3 margarita is the best deal in town. Maybe we haven’t learned from other’s mistakes or it could be that we’re asian and are suckers for great happy hour deals.
Chevy’s earns an extra star birthday sombreros! Despite the birthday boy leaving early, the wait staff still surprised our table w/​a sombrero and ice cream. Oh, and how can I forget their wonderful tortillas?

I think most Chevy’s get three-​stars from me. This one included. I love the bottomless chips and salsa, the huge margaritas in fun flavors, and the big portions.
I almost always order the tostada chicken salad with salsa for dressing but I also enjoy the huge veggie burrito. There are choices for everyone on their extensive menu.
At this Chevy’s, I like the little outdoor area in addition to the interior. The food is good and consistent though probably not too authentic and not TOO amazing… at least it’s not expensive either!

I’m no chain bitch.
But sometimes, when time is not running in your favor, you have to swallow in your gut and somewhat citified arrogance to step over the threshold of the local Chevy’s.
That’s right, I said it. Was downtown to catch the 7:00pm showing of Gomorra and we had to get something to fill our tummies so as not to bother fellow moviegoers with rumbling stomachs. The issue at hand? Every place in the vicinity of the movie theater was packed with the happy hour crowd flooding in from the FiDi, blowing off their weekly steam by making like sardines by the bar.
I’m not complaining. If anything, Chevy’s has my favorite chips and salsa. Hubba hubba.
We were seated rather quickly and our waiter was on top of everything. This joint was packed too. I ordered the Santa Fe chopped salad because I was still slightly full from the Korean feast the night before. My date had the steak quesadilla. I could barely finish my salad, it was so large. But the dish was good. Lots of chopped crisp romaine, chopped grilled chicken, a large amount of crumbled bacon, ½ avocado sliced, and a red pepper relish/​corn relish with fresh tomatoes. I like my salads to have texture and a little diversity. This plate did it in a punch.
We were in/​out of there within the hour AND still had enough time to wait in line to purchase our tickets AND procure seating during the previews.
For the quick casual bite on the run and the watermelon margarita is not too bad either (fantastic happy hour prices on drinks and appetizers) Chevy’s is a 3-​star for the food since we all know better and cheaper food exists in the Mission, but an extra star here for their chips and salsa!

We go here because the happy hour is good. From 4 – 7 pm and super cheap.
Another reason we go here is because when days at the office suck, we can come get pitchers of margaritas during lunch.
In fact today we did that exact thing!
I did eat too but was more concerned with how much alcohol I can drink at lunch yet still be competent at work. We had a bowl of chippies that were all broken up. Like someone stomped all over the bag and then served it. The salsa was tired looking. Anyway, I was hungry and ate it. By now I am full and ready to leave but my friends remind me that we are there for lunch too. I order the fish tacos and they ordered the chipotle something. Server comes back and tells me they are out of fish. WTF!
I end up getting the chipotle something and didn’t care for it. It gave me gas all day.
The 3 stars are mainly for the happy hour (for us budget minded folks), and the promximity of Chevys and my office. The food is okay. but after a few margaritas you don’t care anyway!

Let me start by saying that their Happy Hour menu is amazing! From 4−7pm, select margaritas and appetizers are just $ 4. My friends and I went here last week after work and got completely trashed while each ordering 1 – 2 plates of appetizers. The final bill? About $ 20 each. Not bad considering we stuffed ourselves with Flautas (which, by the way, are amazing), Steak & Chicken Fajita Nachos, Buffalo Wings and Nachos Supreme and downed glass after glass of Peach, Mango, and Strawberry Margaritas.
Minus points, however, for the painstakingly slow service. During Happy Hour, finding a server is like trying to look for Waldo. The servers seem to know that during Happy Hour, margins are thin, so they make a point to pretend not to see you during that time frame.
Minus points, also, for their food after 7pm. I ate here once after work once their Happy Hour had ended. The menu choices were uninspiring, the flavors bland, and everything a bit overpriced. The best part of my meal was probably the free chips and salsa they serve before each meal.
Bottom-​line: Come here for a pretty good happy hour, but certainly not anytime before or after.
P. S. If you pretend it’s your birthday, they’ll sing and dance for you, give you a free sombrero, and serve a complimentary, delicious deep fried ice cream for dessert! Not worth an extra point, but worth a mention.

I’ve never been a fan of the Americanized «Mexican» food at Chevy’s, since you can get much better food at many nearby Taquerias (like Orale-​Orale, Los Socios, etc.), although their automated tortilla chip maker is very cool.
The nice thing about this location at Embarcadero Center, is that they have a large covered patio area that can be reserved for private group parties. It was very popular with my old office. So we would reserve the patio for bi-​monthly after work staff get togethers. The menu was the same every time: chicken wings, quesadillas, taquitos, margaritas and tequila shots. Who would say no to free food and drinks (our company paid). But after a while you get tired of that routine. My rating is 2 stars for the food, and 3 stars for the venue.
In case you need to organize a cheap group lunch or an after work party, this is a very convenient and affordable venue.

Ok, no one needs to write a review for Chevy’s. If you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into and need to research it on Unilocal you have some serious fooood issssuuuuees.
I came here for free lunch by bossman and peeps, so I could hardly say no.
The 3 stars are for the service and not the food. The people who work here must have the patience of Saints to put up with the fidi crowd AND be as quick and efficient they are.
Three cheers for good service! No cheers for bad chain restaurant food.

I might have drunkenly screamed that this place was getting one star, but I’m sober now (kinda), and after reflecting – it really does deserve just that.
There is a better time to be had at the one in Foster Shitty, but since I now officially deem myself a foodie, I won’t be caught dead in either chain unless a) someone else is paying or b) there is $ 3 margartia happy hour.
The moment I arrived, it was fucking JAM PACKED. Does anyone here like sardines? Well I don’t, so I don’t like being treated like one. I managed to find a seat amongst my fellow alcoholics-​in-​denial Unilocalers, and then went on for about 15 minutes waiting for our server to come by so I could order a drink.
Let’s be real, here – I was having a shit-​tastic day. So for me to have to wait to ORDER, let alone wait again the next 25 minutes to GET the drink really pissed me off. I don’t care if my server was a «Hot Tamale», or if he was really charismatic about asking us how many rounds we wanted, or even the fact that I didn’t get ID-​ed. It took FOREVER.
So when the drinks *finally* came out, my frozen margarita was anything BUT frozen, and just a pool of liquid slush and floating tequila. Thankfully it was warm enough so I could suck that shit down without getting a brain freeze.
They also didn’t refill our chips. WTF.

Where in the FiDi can I get:
— a table for 10+?
— a relatively quick lunch that’s not a food court?
— something within the $ 10 – 15 range?
— decent service?
SERIOUSLY! I don’t want to eat here next Friday. Someone, please provide another option?! Not Osha either. We’re all Osha’d out.
Hooray for free chips and salsa.
Hooray for happy hour specials.
Hooray for the «New Team Member» name tags.
Hooray for not getting the Ooey Gooey Brownie dessert I ordered at the beginning.
Hooray for the General Manager having to come out and help the table out.

Hey.
I like Chevy’s.
The servers are nice, the food satisfies me and you know what? This location serves non-​alcoholic Beck’s.
Good enough!

Walking in on Cinco de Mayo wearing a big ol’ sombrero got us primo servicio.
In fact, the waiter enthusiastically piled on more schwag after we were seated in a booth. Yes, they have booths here now. I’ve been coming here for years. It was a local restaurant when I lived on the Embarcadero, and when I taught at the old SFSU Downtown Center. I’ve had my burrito phase, my flautas phase, my fajita phase, and my tostada salad phase. No matter what mood I’m in, they will have something I like.
This evening my lady ordered Santa Fe salad, which was like a Cobb. I ordered beef tacos with rice and black beans. The waiter made sure the beef tacos were the soft tacos, and the beef tasted like marinated tri-​tip. Of course we had plenty of fresh corn chips & salsa, iced tea and Diet Pepsi. The whole feast came to $ 27.50 plus tip.
I don’t care whether it’s Mexican or not. I like it.