Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen
$ • Restaurant
Most Recent Reviews
I got glutened here just yesterday😭ordered the crispy chicken in confidence bc I’d never had an issue earlier this year. In pain :// not going back and beware I guess. It’s honestly just okay taste wise imo, so you’re not missing out lol
Updated review Oct 2024 - do not eat here!! It is not gluten free anymore and I’ve gotten sick twice in a row from here.
Totally GF kitchen and AMAZING food! Try everything once and find your favorite. This is definitely my weekly go to because it's dedicated GF and no risk of cross contamination.
this def isn’t safe for Celiacs / allergy sufferers anymore. I weirdly have always felt glutened after eating their shrimp arepas, but fine eating their plain cheese arepas.
I ordered a kids’ cheese cachapa this May and also felt glutened after. I don’t trust them to be GF at all anymore.
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Unfortunately this restaurant is closing at the end of the month, due to the pandemic 😩
More Reviews
DO NOT EAT HERE. I got glutened hard, as have many recent other users. Incredibly disappointing that they clearly have added gluten to a “100% gluten free” establishment. Go to Panchita’s down the street instead.
**Update July 2024: I ate here yesterday for the first time in 2 years and got sick. It is definitely a gluten reaction and feels like cross contact. I'm very disappointed as I ate at Pica Pica frequently 2018-2022 and never had a reaction like this. I got the shredded beef cachapas, which is what I used to order as well. Maybe their sourcing of the raw ingredients has changed :(
Great food and such a relief to have a totally GF restaurant! i have eaten here 3x and haven't gotten sick. The cachapas and the coconut drink are my favorites. Prices are on the high side for casual dining, so this is a "treat" and not a regular stop for me. The restaurant space is small and can be crowded at times, but overall it's a great place!
Dedicated GF
We picked up our order and took it to a park to eat. It does have a few tables though. I had shredded beef pabellon on a sweet yellow arepa. It was delicious shredded beef with a grilled plantain. I also tried grilled chicken on a traditional white arepa. Neither meat was strongly seasoned, just a good meat flavor. The traditional white arepa was like hot water cornbread while the sweet yellow tasted like regular yellow slightly sweet cornbread. I suppose it would be possible to lift it up to eat like a sandwich but they provided a knife and fork and that seemed the better way! Wish I’d noticed the beignets on the menu!
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Dessert, Fries, Cornbread, Arepas & more
I’ve eaten here 3 times now and gotten sick every time. I thought it might be something else but after the third time, I think there must be gluten cross contact here.
The food was really good. I didn't get sick. My husband and I both liked what we ordered and I'd totally go here again next time I'm in SF.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Dessert, Arepas
Food was ok. Feeling the typical symptoms of cross contamination itching and insomnia. See a few other reviews with the same complaints. Be careful if you are really sensitive.
Dedicated GF
Had the crispy chicken strips, sweet plantains and balulu salad. Everything was delicious, generous portion sizes and no one got sick.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Dessert, Arepas, Salad
Super delicious, I got the empanadas, the yucca fries and the beignets. If I ever come back to SF this is on my list to return!
Dedicated GF
Gluten free restaurant, safe for celiacs. Very tasty arepas! Good service. I recommend!
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Fries, Arepas
Other
- — Good for dairy-free
I ordered a fried chicken arepa and the chicken was great but I did not like the flavor of the wrap (I got the white). I also did not like the taste of the yuca fries. Could be a me issue - but the pluses are that it was safe to eat so def give it a try.
Dedicated GF
The yellow arepas are amazing. The yuka fries are awesome. Don’t miss out on their sauces, they are next level (pica pun is my fav). The coconut lime drink is unreal and the coconut dessert is an awesome way to end the meal.
Everything is gluten free and the staff is so nice!
Dedicated GF
I loved it! Unique and so delicious! Everything is glutenfree! I had the Arepa with fried chicken and yellow bread (they said it tastes sweeter than the white one) and shared the Empanadas with my boyfriend. Absolutely amazing.
Dedicated GF
Delicious arepas - we tried the shredded beef, carne asada, pulled pork and shrimp. Both desserts were also delicious. Everything is gluten free although they do sell beers. Great for a takeaway or for a casual lunch or dinner.
Dedicated GF
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Good for dairy-free
- — Takeout
- — Lunch
- — Dinner
I am obsessed with the pulled pork corn arepas here. So tasty and nice to have a gf option in the mission!
Dedicated GF
Dedicated gluten-free!! I felt safe and did not get sick, and I thought the arepa was pretty yummy.
Dedicated GF
Edit: went back again. Cachapa was even better!
We enjoyed it; no problems! Naturally GF foods, but not allergen aware (they serve regular beer in bottles). We had sweet corn & white arepas: Tasty. The desert Quesillo is amazing (and I’m not normally a flan fan). Would happily go back.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Good for dairy-free
- — Lunch
- — Dinner
- — Vegetarian options
No worries about cross contamination. The food is very good. This is one of those rare places where the lack of gluten does not in any way affect the quality of the food. I have not eaten anything that I did not enjoy or that I felt was off the mark.
The only downside to the restaurant is that if you don't live in the area it can be difficult to find parking nearby.
Dedicated GF
Very nice food especially if you like sweet food!
Dedicated GF
This place was delicious! We ordered two arepa’s and some yuca fries, definitely more than enough for two people. Everything is gluten free so no need to worry about cross contamination. Would definitely recommend!
Dedicated GF
Excellent and safe for my son! Such a wonderful find!
Dedicated GF
So delicious and so nice to go to a place where I can just order, no conversation needed.
Dedicated GF
Fun little casual place for tasty food. The entire menu is 100% gluten free. I had a grilled chicken ‘plato’ which includes sides of coconut rice, black beans and sweet plantains and the yuca beignets with dulce de leche dipping sauce. It was all very tasty, and my companions, who are not celiac, also enjoyed their meals, each trying different arepas. The place is small and casual.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Takeout
- — Lunch
- — Dinner
- — Outdoor seating
Authentic Venezuelan food. It’s 100% gluten free and super delicious!
Dedicated GF
100% gluten free menu. I had the Arepa Yellow Asado (the plantains were delicious!) and Yuca Fries (yum!) and their Fruit Fresca Mango - sooo good. And so refreshing to order from a menu where everything was safe for me.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Takeout
Everything on their menu is gluten free. We ordered arepa sampler trio, grilled chicken sweet yellow arepa, caribe sweet yellow arepa, sweet plantains, yuka fries and beignets. Food was delicious. They were very helful answering questions. Food was prepared quickly. We will be back or will have it delivered.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Lunch
- — Takeout
- — Dinner
- — Delivery
Despite this being a dedicated kitchen I got glutened here. I notice here in the reviews I’m not the only one. The only explanation I can come up with is that their corn masa isn’t from a dedicated facility but it was a disappointment to get glutened at a dedicated restaurant.
super disappointed that neither online ordering apps worked for us. what a bummer
Dedicated GF
Amazing food! No complaints.
Dedicated GF
Super delicious food, and so nice to be reassured of no possible cross-contamination since they are dedicated gluten free. Lots of flavorful options, including arepas, fried plantain, coconut rice, and beans, as well as desserts. Kids love it too.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Lunch
- — Good for kids
Full gf menu! Delicious food
Dedicated GF
Food was delicious, my 16 yr old has celiac and is a supper picky eater and she loved it. The fact that everything is 100% gf made it worry free
Dedicated GF
I've been eating here for years. Always enjoyed it. Food is delightful!! I'm always able to bring my friends here, and everyone is happy. Never ever got sick.
Dedicated GF
Stopped by this place on a whim while visiting the bay, and it was fantastic! I did not get sick, and the atmosphere was what I was looking for, as well.
Very good food. Nice flavors! But I got sick here :(
Dedicated GF
Absolutely delicious and safe for gluten allergy! I love Arepa (sweet corn) with grilled chicken! Highly recommend for everyone!
Updated Jan 2023
I don’t know if the owner has changed. The service has gone down and he was pretty angry for no reason.
Dedicated GF
Amazing food and all gluten free!
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Good for dairy-free
- — Takeout
Everything amazing. Go here
Dedicated GF
Everything is GF. As others have mentioned: this is more a street food type place. Some options can be a bit on the dry side, while others have been great (but this may be a personal preference). Their nachos are yucca(?) based and may not be everyone‘s taste.
Dedicated GF
This is a takeout/fast casual style restaurant that was a little dirty to be honest. The food, while safe was very, very mediocre and disappointing. It was a bit of trek to go here and could have saved myself a trip. I will not return. The fried chicken was decent if you are still planning on going.
Dedicated GF
All the food they serve is gluten free. I've eaten here several times and haven't gotten sick. The arepas are delicious though a bit on the expensive side. Their House-Made coconut lime drink is delicious!
Dedicated GF
I love this place. My non GF friends do too. Only bummer is that there’s limited seating.
Dedicated GF
I was visiting San Francisco from Seattle and never even heard of an arepa before, so I wanted to try this place out. It's conveniently not far from the BART 16th Street Mission District Station. I ordered an Arepa with Spicy Chicken Citara filling. I absolutely loved it! That spicy sauce is so delicious! Not cheap, mind you, but a great vacation experience. Wish I could have gone more than once but couldn't fit it into my schedule.
Dedicated GF
Other
- — Lunch
- — Takeout
- — Dinner
- — Healthy options
Was so excited to try the food here! Unfortunate I got violently ill :(
Dedicated GF
100% GF except the beer
Dedicated GF
Always delicious. Usually forgetful of one thing for takeout. Best fried chicken ++
Dedicated GF
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