Brunch, brunch, brunch. That’s my second priority of the summer—with the first being attending Sunset Media Wave, of course. However, summer is nearing its end and I have barely gone out for brunch. Madness. As I’m making plans for a brunch outing at this very moment, I’m going to enlighten you guys on my latest escapade. From my memory, the skies were blue and Karl the Fog had gone missing for the day. After a long and productive day of thrifting, my friends —Joy and Mina—and I were on a desperate hunt for a satisfying meal. After much speculation, we decided to go to a Pan-Caribbean/American restaurant called Boogaloos on Valencia that specializes in brunch, which was also close to where we were. Boogaloos adds their own special twist to traditional Spanish plates. Surprisingly, the restaurant was relatively empty and the servers were ready to attend to us.
Impressions:
The quaint little restaurant had a nice little homey feeling to it, because the place was filled with colorful decorations and bright lighting. Boogaloos’ aesthetic had a melodious balance of 1970s rock and modernly, colorful Spanish artwork. The comfy cushioned booths and black tables did, however, subtly tone down the eccentric vibe and the vibrant mosaic pillars. Also, everything on the menu was reasonably-priced and there were only a few plates that went beyond $11—perfect for a person with brunch cravings on a high school budget. Moreover, the servers were attentive and recommended us the most popular meals for us, Boogaloos first-timers. There was a short wait for our food after we ordered, but it was all worth it when we got our meal.
The Food:
The menu had a plethora of more traditional South American dishes and Spanish-American fusion dishes alike. I had anticipated on trying the eggs benedict with avocado and bacon, but they only serve that during the weekends. Nevertheless, the menu contained other delicious plates and I decided to order the Huevos Rancheros ($8.75). This plate consisted of two eggs over-easy on a corn tortilla with Jack cheese and hearty ranchero sauce, which is served with black beans, sour cream, and cilantro. They also provided two more tortillas on the side. It may seem like a wild jumble of food, but all of these ingredients somehow blended into a delicious dream. Although I don’t exactly have a predilection for beans, it tasted great with the sour cream on top of the tortilla and egg. The eggs were cooked to perfection and it complemented the slightly grainy corn tortilla. Maybe I was a little biased because I love sour cream with everything, but I thought that it elevated the plate because it added a creamy texture to the tortilla. Furthermore, the portions were generously huge. In the treacherous battle of girl vs. food, I barely won. My large meal easily satisfied my seemingly-unending hungry and I was eager to try other dishes in the future.
Joy and Mina, on the other hand, decided to order the Boogaloos classic ($9.75) which included of two eggs any style, potato hash, and a homemade biscuit— smothered in vegetarian herb cream gravy, topped with green onions. The eggs were your typical run-of-the-mill eggs, but the flavorful potatoes shone brightly on the plate. Finely crisped and delicious, the potatoes came in a heaping portion. Once they took a bite, they couldn’t stop eating it due to the addictive allure. However, the hero of the plate would be the homemade biscuit. Although it does not beat Devilteeth’s buttermilk biscuit, Boogaloos’ warm and delightful version is worth ordering. What set it apart was the creamy gravy because it added more texture and flavor. The Boogaloos Classic packed a punch by adding a delightful twist to simple breakfast foods.
Last Words:
Boogaloos was definitely a unique representation of the diversity in San Francisco. Their traditional breakfast and fusion dishes alike revealed different aspects of the South American cuisine. When we think about South or Central American food, we immediately think about tacos, burritos, or churros. However, the aforementioned foods were mostly originated in Mexico or adapted in America. There are a plethora of tasty traditional or fusions of tradition plates available in this city. You should definitely stop by Boogaloos if you are feeling adventurous and want to get a taste of another culture that is not exactly completely represented.
