Azalina's

Places like La Cocina are the reason San Francisco is the greatest city. This non-profit allows super small businesses a place to make their product and they help them on the path to realizing their dreams. The staff are some truly amazing and hard working individuals. We were lucky enough to come to a cooking class hosted here and had one of the most fun nights of our life. We had the opportunity to make great food with fun people. La Cocina is truly a special place.

This inspiring non-profit is helping lots of local foodies follow their dreams of running a culinary business. Especially women and people form the Latino community, La Cocina is dedicated to teaching entrepreneurship in SF. Also, every year they throw the amazing SF Street Food Festival which draws more than 80,000 people.

We order the 150 passport package with came with 3 extra small bites and 3 drink tickets. It was hard to figure out how many tickets to order between us friends and found that on average each person could consume about $20 worth of food. Each food coupon was equal to $1.00. The prices per booth ranged from $1 for a mini cup cake from Laluna (which wasn't the greatest cupcakes) to $8 for pull pork sandwich from Zella's soul food. The lines were long and how it worked for us is that we each went and got what we wanted to eat and met up again by the park. I was able to get a Zilla Dog from 4505 meats which was good. Then off to Laluna for cupcakes (they put it in a togo container). For a buck a bite, the cupcakes were nothing to brag about and a big rip off. Three Twins for a root beer float. Kung Fu Tacos had one each of chicken and veggie and then had to go back for another chicken, both were excellent. The veggie had a nice kick to it. Hapa Ramen for a veggie soba noodle that was very tasty. Lastly Zella's Soulful Kitchen for some corn on the cob. We did grab some beef kabobs from one place that was dried and horrible and they had ground peanuts in the season which we couldn't tell had peanuts and my daughter got sick from it. I wish I remembered the name of the place. Things we missed out on was the Hapa Ramen because we got there they only had a veggie soba noodles (which was still good), Anda Piroshki, Creme Brulee Cart, Curry Up Now, Lumpia Cart, Flour + water, and Namu for one or more of the following reasons = lines were too long or they ran out of food. Couple of things that should be mentioned is that it was crazy busy and some of the lines were confusing, don't even try to drive there, take BART or MUNI, the venders do take cash so come with small bills, bring bottled water unless you are fine with drinking what they sell, scope out the map before you go so you know what places you want to hit up. This is not the idea place to bring kids with a stroller because there's very letting room to squeeze that stroller around. Seriously just because you have a kid doesn't mean you get to be a pushy jerk and get upset because you can't make it around the crowds. I do give props to La Cocina for the work they do for the community. Friday was a crazy day for them helping the various venders get food ready and the army of volunteers that to help. We need more organizations that help small local businesses stay in business.