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A friend who used to live in San Francisco was visiting and asked if we could get burritos in the Mission (classic). At the last minute, they switched to a Guamanian restaurant off Mission and 18th St.
I’d been recommended this restaurant before by people from Guam when I was researching it. My husband once floated the idea of us moving there, and one of my first questions was, “How’s the food?”
Mission Street in San Francisco can feel edgy and chaotic, but walking into this restaurant felt like entering a different world. There was a cozy, unpretentious patio with an acoustic band, who spent the whole evening singing at and for us. They even sang a Korean song.
The food was very good. We ordered everything the staff recommended, but my favorite was the whole fried turmeric and garlic branzino. They also have a tasting menu option.
We ordered all the desserts as a group, but the “bunelos aga” banana donuts were everyone’s favorite. On a chilly Bay Area evening, it was warm and comforting.
For those who are not familiar, Guam is a Pacific island and homeland of the Chamorro people, with a long history of influence by other countries.
Claimed by Spain in the 17th century, Guam was an important stop on the Manila Galleon trade route, which connected Mexico and the Philippines, bringing new ingredients and techniques to the island.
After the Spanish-American War, Guam was ceded to the U.S. under the Treaty of Paris in 1898. Then during WWII, it was occupied by Japan for over two years before returning to U.S. control after the Battle of Guam in 1944.
Today Guam is an unincorporated U.S. territory with civilian government. Chamorros are U.S. citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections and have non-voting representation in Congress.
All these layers of history show up in its food in a unique way, making it simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar to the taste buds.
The chefs, Shawn Naputi and Shawn Camacho, grew up in Guam and opened the restaurant to create a home for anyone missing the island. This is the only Guamanian restaurant in San Francisco.
📍 Prubechu in San Francisco 7 replies
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