Big changes are on the horizon for Tlaloc Sabor Mexicano, a popular Mexican restaurant serving up dishes in San Francisco's Financial District for the past quarter-century. The eatery, located at 525 Commercial St., announced via a social media post and on its website that, as of yesterday, it is shutting down its current location due to unmanageable costs. The culprit, a sizable rent increase, has pushed the three-story establishment to pursue a new space for relocation, details of which remain in the air.
With the search for a new spot presumably in the city underway, loyal patrons need not fear a complete disappearance of their beloved Mexican flavors. The restaurant's sister spot, Cancun Sabor Mexicano in Berkeley, will keep serving dishes that Sabor Mexicano fans have come to adore, and a catering service will continue to operate, ensuring the same food and flavors from a different kitchen. Meanwhile, the sprawling 5,000-square-foot space on Commercial Street is not only up for lease but also on the sales block, with an asking price just under $3 million, as San Francisco Business Times notes, citing a brochure from Ground Matrix Inc.
For those wondering how to continue indulging in Tlaloc's cuisine, the current workaround involves either pickup in Berkeley or delivery in San Francisco. Orders are coordinated directly through [email protected] or by calling (510) 753-0935. But the once bright and bustling entrance to Tlaloc, which leads into the transformed alley now called the Landing at Leidesdorff, will certainly be missed. Its vivid colors and public art made it an eye-catching feature as part of the Downtown SF Partnership's makeover in 2023.
Jorge Saldana, the man behind the magic, originally hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, has been in the local restaurant scene since opening Cancun Sabor Mexicano in 1994, before establishing Tlaloc six years later. His business also extends to a "Home Made" line of food products available in grocery aisles, for those who would like a taste of Tlaloc at home. The current owner of the Tlaloc building is Terrazza International LTD, connected to Thesia Saleh, President of Pacific Bay Ventures LLC, having purchased it from Saldana in 2009 for $1.9 million, as highlighted by the San Francisco Business Times.
