Gola

One of my favorite spots in SF deserves a Michelin star. The lamb tagine is so tender you can cut it with a fork, and it is flavorful. The branzino served on an olive wood plate is tender and crispy skin seared to perfection. Desert packs flavor and not too sweet. Service is really good, and the atmosphere is upbeat.

Lovely food. My favorite is the Shrimp Deviled Eggs, the Chreime with Red Snapper, and the cocktail Farah Goes to Tunisia. Interior is also lovely and a bit dim with arabic house ambiance music. Service is amazing. Our server was very professional and checked up on us all the time. We’ve also met the owner Rafik and he was very welcoming.

Amazing new Tunisian restaurant on Valencia St. We’ve been waiting for this place to open — none of us had tried Tunisian food before— and are glad it’s finally open with a soft opening menu. We got the shakshuka merghouz arugula salad and eggplant dish. The shakshuka merghouz was so good! Also got both the desserts. Highly highly recommend the orange blossom crème brûlée! Nice cozy vibes, friendly staff. Definitely coming back here to try more of the dishes!

Ciwan Jan

We came to GOLA as a group of family and friends, and since the menu isn’t too big, we decided to try almost everything — and honestly, every single dish was amazing. From the lamb and chicken tagines to the grilled branzino and stuffed peppers, everything was full of rich, authentic Tunisian flavor and perfectly cooked. Even the sides like the cauliflower in harissa sauce and homemade bread were outstanding. The service was warm, friendly, and genuine — you can tell everyone there really cares about the food and the guests. The atmosphere felt cozy but elegant, and we left already planning our next visit.

Jingyi Wang

really good. at first I was afraid that the entrees were too small, but be not afraid I was enormously satisfied by the end. the waiters also made lots of helpful comments throughout (the flavor is in the skin, eat the lemon in the same bite, etc.) would definitely come back!

meriam khouaja

It was a perfect Tunisian meal, great atmosphere and service! Thank you Saad for representing well our country and our culture 🙏🏻

Wendy-Kay Logan

Gola is an amazing gem in SF. Great ambience, inventive food, and attentive staff. But what really stood out was the head chef and owner Rafik. His hospitality and care for our group was top notch. He even went out of his way to fulfill a few unique requests from our group. We have lots of options of where to dine during this holiday season, but Gola is head and shoulders above the rest!

Ashley Acosta

The food was amazing, unique, and truly enjoyed the experience. The chef and owner made the experience even better. Any of the tagines are highly recommended as well as the deviled eggs!

Sylvie Constance

We had the most delicious meal at Gola. Every single dish was a feast to the eye as well a tickle our taste buds. The sauces were all very different in every dish, beautifully balanced with Tunisian spices. As a main, I would recommend the lamb tajine, the chicken tajine and the stuffed eggplant if you’re vegetarian or not. For appetizers, the scallops in turmeric sauce were delicious as well as the Kromb (cabbage) and of course, the Brika. Service was very quick and very kind. This might become our regular restaurant in the mission. It felt like a one night trip to Tunisia. Thanks Chef.

David X

It is always a pleasure to explore a cuisine I’m not familiar with. This was a fun and delicious introduction to Tunisian cuisine with attentive service and flavorful, pretty dishes. We enjoyed the Houriya carrot spread and the La Marisa, both very dippable and shareable starters. For mains, the Chicken Tagine stands out in a signature gola vessel.

Siwar el benna

Gola Restaurant had been on my bucket list in San Francisco since I’d been searching for an authentic Tunisian restaurant in Los Angeles. We finally got the chance to have dinner there on New Year’s, and it was an incredible experience! The ambiance is warm and inviting, with beautiful Tunisian-inspired décor. The staff were exceptionally friendly and accommodating. Every dish, from appetizers to dessert, was a perfect 10 out of 10. We enjoyed Omik Houreya, homemade bread, grilled fish, lamb with vegetables, and baklava. I was pleasantly surprised to see they serve Boukha liqueur in their cocktails! I can proudly say we now have an authentic and delicious Tunisian restaurant to enjoy. Highly recommended! We will definitely come back on our next visit to San Francisco.

Alex

I could'nt've (<- check out my contraction) been more happy at dinner. The food was great, the owners and employees were kind, and it wasn't too loud. We ate around the menu that day, it's not a massive menu, but everything on the list can fend for itself. For starters we tried their crazy-crazy eggs with shrimp and some special sauce. I wasn't familiar with it but it was good. We also got this big folded over thing called Brik. It reminded me of some Moroccan treats that are a lot smaller, but this was more of an appetizer with potatoes and capers. It was really good! We ended up getting Lamb Tajine and Branzino for our main courses. I have to say, the Branzino was probably a little over-salted for most people, but it was right down my alley. I've never enjoyed a fish more. The Lamb was equally delicious, with the dark color and perfect seasoning. Dessert..... Let me tell you about dessert. First, the cream looked delicious, then we knocked it over by accident onto my Baklava, then we ate both and smiled like the Grinch did (ear to ear). What an amazing place. The place is a little cramped, but it wasn't something that we were bothered by, it's the city. Even when the waiter shuffled in between the tables it wasn't like his butt cheeks were relaxing in your soup. It was just enough space. The place had light music in the background and a nice bar, it was a really nice place.

Sarah Klem

Amazing food, great service, very authentic dishes similar to what i'd eat with my Tunisan family. A must try!

Kritika Khetarpal

We need more places like this in SF which introduce us to unique flavours of the world. We loved every single dish we had here. Their house made bread was particularly amazing! The drinks were on point.

E Lee

Great experience, friendly staff. They currently only have a soft opening menu. As for drinks, I really enjoyed that they had boukha which is a Tunisian fig brandy. The brika au thon was stuffed and fried phyllo dough and definitely my favorite thing. The chreime red snapper and shrimp stew was good. I was not a fan of the sausage in the shakshuka. Overall, I definitely want to come back when they have a larger menu.

Kyla Jones

Great new spot with fun flavor combinations. The lamb dishes are great- we love the lamb riblet and the lamb tagine. Get the house bread with either, it's fantastic to soak up the sauces. The orange creme brulee is a consistent star also, even for me who usually doesn't love creamy desserts. Definitely recommend, the staff is a little intense though (you'll get a lot of visits, it seems like they have 3 waiters per section so you'll get asked what drinks you want by multiple people for example.)

Al Kallel

One of my favorite spots in SF deserves a Michelin star. The lamb tagine is so tender you can cut it with a fork, and it is flavorful. The branzino served on an olive wood plate is tender and crispy skin seared to perfection. Desert packs flavor and not too sweet. Service is really good, and the atmosphere is upbeat.

Félice G

Lovely food. My favorite is the Shrimp Deviled Eggs, the Chreime with Red Snapper, and the cocktail Farah Goes to Tunisia. Interior is also lovely and a bit dim with arabic house ambiance music. Service is amazing. Our server was very professional and checked up on us all the time. We’ve also met the owner Rafik and he was very welcoming.

I went with my wife for our anniversary and it was amazing. the chef himself taught us how to eat his food properly and it was a very good experience for me coming from a culinary background , it was very important to enjoy our dinner with the chef recommendations. we DEFINITELY gonna be back . Amazing food , seasoning and vibe !

Gola is something special. The food feels deeply authentic to Tunisia—bold, soulful flavors that taste rooted in tradition while still feeling beautifully refined. The seafood is outstanding, incredibly fresh, and prepared in a way that lets the spices and ingredients truly shine. The dessert was the perfect finish—thoughtful, balanced, and memorable. Add to that a warm, energetic vibe and genuinely attentive service, and the whole experience feels both elevated and welcoming. Gola isn’t just a great meal—it feels like a true taste of Tunisia, done with care and confidence. I’ll definitely be back.

Everything was excellent!! We tried the deviled eggs, brik, and lamb stew and all were incredible. Lamb stew had lots of beautifully tender lamb. Even the bread was really something special. Service was impeccable, ambiance delightful and cozy. Will be back and definitely recommend Also - loved that they asked if we were ready for the next course once we had finished our appetizers. Sometimes I do want a break in between, and lots of restaurants in this area will bring out the entrees while you’re still eating appetizers which is a huge pet peeve of mine. Not at Gola - service was delightful

A friend and I stumbled into here purely based on the decor (gorgeous!) and I’m so glad we did. The food was incredible, and Rafiq (owner) waited on us. He was funny and engaging, and guided us through the menu. I loved learning about Tunisian food through him!

Sarah Vlazny

Everything was excellent!! We tried the deviled eggs, brik, and lamb stew and all were incredible. Lamb stew had lots of beautifully tender lamb. Even the bread was really something special. Service was impeccable, ambiance delightful and cozy. Will be back and definitely recommend Also - loved that they asked if we were ready for the next course once we had finished our appetizers. Sometimes I do want a break in between, and lots of restaurants in this area will bring out the entrees while you’re still eating appetizers which is a huge pet peeve of mine. Not at Gola - service was delightful

Hamm Khoudary

Gola is something special. The food feels deeply authentic to Tunisia—bold, soulful flavors that taste rooted in tradition while still feeling beautifully refined. The seafood is outstanding, incredibly fresh, and prepared in a way that lets the spices and ingredients truly shine. The dessert was the perfect finish—thoughtful, balanced, and memorable. Add to that a warm, energetic vibe and genuinely attentive service, and the whole experience feels both elevated and welcoming. Gola isn’t just a great meal—it feels like a true taste of Tunisia, done with care and confidence. I’ll definitely be back.

Julia Burkhead

My friend and I were visiting from Tunis and found a taste of home here in the heart of SF. The food is delicious, with meat so tender it melts in your mouth. We heartily recommend the deviled eggs with shrimp and the spicy cauliflower. Definitely try the brik! The chef brings a unique twist to classic dishes. If you visit, tell him Julia from El Kef says "Hi!"

Great ambience and friendly staff. I can’t say the seats near the door against the window are the most comfortable though. The food was flavorful and beautiful. Unfortunately the toasted bread that came with the riblets were incredibly hard and inedible. We also thought the portion sizes were on the smaller end (esp the chicken tangine).

Tunisian people know how to remove strong smell of the chicken. Chicken tagine is very similiar with Ddakgomtang or Samgyetang in Korea. Compared to those, it has a lot of complex flavor components to it like sourness, acidity of preserved lemon, freshness, tartness from tomato, earthy peppery tumeric, spiciness from chili pepper, lots of spices going on etc,. It is so perfectly balanced meal in terms of flavor, nutrition. They said it boils for 7-8 hours in clay vessel called “Tagine”. Slow cooked foods are always GOOD! It will make your belly get warm as soon as you start eating. Felfel mehchi is tunisian stuffed peppers. You don’t need any cutlery to chew this. So melt-in-your-mouth tender! House-made bread is baked to order, some fennel seed inside. So authentic! Couscous is so fluffy, going well with spicy harissa sauce, roasted eggplants.

Kai Sheng

Great ambience and friendly staff. I can’t say the seats near the door against the window are the most comfortable though. The food was flavorful and beautiful. Unfortunately the toasted bread that came with the riblets were incredibly hard and inedible. We also thought the portion sizes were on the smaller end (esp the chicken tangine).

Visited hoping for authentic Tunisian cuisine but was disappointed. The menu lacks traditional Tunisian dishes, and what we ordered (lamb tagine, grilled octopus) was basic despite claims of special spices and preparation. Portions are very small for the premium prices charged. The lamb tagine was bland despite the server mentioning 12 spices, and the octopus was simply grilled with olive oil and salt. MAJOR CONCERN: tip suggestions are calculated based on the total including their 4% "Advantage Program" fee and tax, rather than the standard pre-tax amount. For the price point, expected much better food quality and more honest business practices. Would not recommend or return.

cantik

Visited hoping for authentic Tunisian cuisine but was disappointed. The menu lacks traditional Tunisian dishes, and what we ordered (lamb tagine, grilled octopus) was basic despite claims of special spices and preparation. Portions are very small for the premium prices charged. The lamb tagine was bland despite the server mentioning 12 spices, and the octopus was simply grilled with olive oil and salt. MAJOR CONCERN: tip suggestions are calculated based on the total including their 4% "Advantage Program" fee and tax, rather than the standard pre-tax amount. For the price point, expected much better food quality and more honest business practices. Would not recommend or return.