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Today begins the next chapter of Chino’s (RIP) life, as a redesign has officially turned the space into Bar San Pancho, a Cal-Mex cantina from the Tacolicious team. When Chino wasn’t working, owner Joe Hargrave saw the potential for the space to still work, so he pivoted concepts and — as of tonight — will be serving tacos, tortas and Mexican-leaning drinks under the Bar San Pancho moniker instead of dumplings and noodles (you can see the full menu below).
Hargrave came up with the framework for the food menu himself, with the Tacolicious team led by founding chef Telmo Faria bringing it to life. Faria will be in the kitchen during opening week, with Tacolicious chefs executing after that. Tacolicious’ corporate beverage director Jeremy Harris designed the drinks, and Manny Ramirez will be managing the bar day-to-day. Hargrave himself, though, is the driving force behind the space, as he came up with the concept and designed the interior and menu himself in what he calls his "yacht moment."
"You always dream of owning a yacht one day, and for me, my yacht moment was I always wanted to have my own bar that is just like games on, food is good, drinks are good, nothing is too fancy," he told Eater. "Literally it’s a place I would like to hang out. It’s got very simple, Mexican-inspired food. It’s just consistent and well-done and fairly-priced and the game is always on. It's not really a sports bar; it’s a cantina. But it does have a sports bent."
There are five TV’s downstairs and a larger one upstairs, plus two foosball tables are on their way to fill the upstairs loft. A few changes were made to the space, including new hardwood floors, oak high-top tables and lots of wood and metal design elements. Artist Nigel Sussman painted a mural that adorns the main wall.
Hargrave envisions Bar San Pancho as a place to hang out after work. "It’s an interesting thing because if you walk down Third Ave. in New York, there’s pub after pub filled after work and there’s a game on and drinks. But it's different in San Francisco; we don't have that. A little in the Financial District, but not in the Mission so much," he said.
Bar San Pancho opens Monday, April 11 through Friday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 12 p.m., and will be open seven days a week thereafter from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m.
