Maria Isabel

A Pacific-coast conversation between Mexico and California

Maria Isabel opened in 2026 at 500 Presidio Avenue. Its name honors executive chef Laura Ozyilmaz's mother, Isabel, and sister, María, while the restaurant's nighttime character recalls evenings in Acapulco. Laura and co-executive chef Sayat Ozyilmaz build the menu around her roots in Guerrero and Sinaloa and the shared Pacific coastline of Mexico and California.

What to eat

The kitchen nixtamalizes heirloom corn in-house and works with Oaxacan corn, Chiapas chocolate, Presidio-grown herbs, local farms and California seafood. The current à la carte menu moves from aguachile negro and ceviche Acapulqueño through sea urchin tamalito, duck carnitas enmoladas, lamb-rib barbacoa, black cod zarandeado and dry-aged Akaushi rib eye. A six-to-seven-course chef's tasting is $90 and requires full-table participation.

Drinks

The current house cocktails are Ser un Sol, Truchita, Claro Que Si, Medianoche, Mas Sabe el Diablo, Vesperado and Pedro Paramo; margaritas include Seasonal Spicy, Classic and Margarita de Tommy. The bar uses fermentation, clarification and carbonation with pox, tequila, mezcal, sotol and corn whiskey. The cellar spans California and Mexico—especially Baja and Querétaro—plus Chile and Argentina; the by-the-glass opening selection highlights women winemakers. Spirit-free options include chilate, tascalate, posol, tea and nonalcoholic beer and wine.

Planning your visit

Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 PM. Reservations open at 7 AM, 30 days in advance on a rolling basis. A few counter and walk-in seats may be available. The indoor-only dining room is wheelchair accessible; street parking is limited, so arriving early or using rideshare is sensible.