It’s always impressive when chefs decide to open another restaurant concept in the same city.

Chefs Sayat and Laura Ozyilmaz, the husband and wife duo behind San Francisco’s Mediterranean restaurant Dalida (we dined there last year), recently opened Maria Isabel, a Mexican restaurant inspired by Laura’s upbringing and heritage. Of course with any new opening in the city, reservations can be hard to come by but I was able to snag an early midweek reservation.

They offer both an à la carte menu and a tasting menu but we opted for à la carte. So many dishes sounded amazing though we were able to narrow down our choices with some recommendations from our server.

Maria Isabel Menu.

Pulpo Enamorada Tostada (8.5/10).

This cold octopus appetizer was one of my favorite dishes of the night. The bite sized pieces of poached octopus were incredibly tender and flavored with satsuma kosho and avocado then topped with a crispy tostada layered with a creamy spread and seasoning. The green aguachile added even more freshness to an already vibrant dish. A very strong start to the meal.

Sea Urchin Tamalito de Maiz (7.5-8/10).

The sweet corn tamal was actually incredibly delicious. Deeply flavorful from the corn crema, Mexican vanilla oil, and fermented habaneros. I rated it slightly lower because the sea urchin felt a bit out of place and didn’t really elevate the dish in any meaningful way.

Duck Carnitas Enmoladas (8-8.5/10).

Another favorite of the night, this dish featured shredded duck rolled inside corn tortillas and smothered in a duo of moles. The mole negro delivered those classic rich chocolatey notes while the cherry manchamanteles (a traditional Oaxacan style mole known for combining chiles, tomatoes, and tropical fruit like plantains), added a sweeter fruit forward contrast. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition between the two sauces.

Chorizos Y Queso Fundido (8/10).

Another standout was the duo of green and red chorizo drowning in Queso fundido with salsa morita served alongside warm sourdough tortillas. Rich, decadent, and very satisfying.

Lamb Ribs Barbacoa (7.5-8/10).

The final savory dish was the lamb ribs barbacoa featuring succulent fatty lamb ribs served with lamb consommé, fermented carrots, and tortillas. While the lamb itself was scrumptious, we both agreed the dish felt like it was missing something. The fermented carrots weren’t assertive enough and another acidic or brighter component would have helped cut through the richness of the meat.

Skinny Churros (8.5/10).

These skinny churros were so good that I wish they gave us more. Perfectly fried and dusted in sugar, they were ridiculously addictive especially dipped into the palo santo chocolate sauce and strawberry chamoy sauce.

Choco Ta-Corn (8.5/10).

What a fun and beautiful reimagination of the beloved Choco Taco. Their version featured a masa waffle stuffed with corn ice cream, strawberry jam, makrut lime, and corn chocolate. Whimsical, playful, and a very memorable way to end the meal.

Maria Isabel feels like a thoughtful and ambitious addition to San Francisco’s dining scene. The restaurant balances refined technique with playful creativity and while a few dishes felt like they were missing a final touch, the meal as a whole was exciting, polished, and flavorful. Maria Isabel is already shaping up to be one of the city’s most exciting new openings so my rating is an 8/10.