West of Pecos, the Tex-Mex restaurant that has been at 550 Valencia St. for 11 years, will be closing by the end of October.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that October 28th will be the last day at West of Pecos,” reads a Friday social media post from the restaurant. “We are profoundly grateful for the last 11 years of business. It seemed like it went by in the blink of an eye.”
A lively and bustling spot on Valencia between 16th and 17th streets, West of Pecos became well known for their San Antonio-style puffy tacos and other Southwestern fare, like chunky guacamole, creamy Pecos queso and fire-roasted chicken mole.
The restaurant’s owners did not immediately return a request for comment. A worker who answered the phone on Sunday said he had learned about the closure this Tuesday.
Workers and customers alike said business was down post-pandemic, the case for other recent restaurant closures, too.
“People [are] not coming,” said Yaneth, who has worked at the restaurant for two years, as she folded the outdoor tables on Sunday afternoon. “Business is slow, and the space is too big.”
When asked about what she will do after the closure, she was not sure. “I don’t know,” she said. Taking a deep breath, she said again, “I don’t know.”
Rachel Hinson, who was sitting at one of the outside tables on Sunday, said she had also noticed the difference since the pandemic. She and her husband, Chad, have been coming to West of Pecos about once a month since it opened.
“It used to be difficult to get a reservation, but now the business is a lot slower.”
Chad, who’s originally from Texas, said the food at West of Pecos is “the closest you can get” to his home-state fare in San Francisco, and pointed to a bowl of creamy dip on the table. “The queso is the best memory.”
Christina, a worker at nearby Puerto Alegre, said the closure was unexpected, given the popularity of the restaurant. “It’s sad, even though we are both Mexican restaurants,” she said. “It’s surprising, because they are always busy.”
But not busy enough. Still, before the restaurant closes, it welcomes any and all through its doors. “Come on in, share a memory and a marg and let’s go out with a big fun party,” the restaurant’s post read.
Menu prices across the city have gotten very high. It’s getting too expensive to eat out except for special occasions.
So true. I’m in Crete right now and restaurants (high end luxurious ones) are half the price and twice as good….exquisite cocktails are 8 euro. Beer 3 or 4 euro. Right now the euro is $1.05.
Too bad. This place had good, clean southwesty food and excellent cocktails.
At least 4 businesses have closed just on that block in the past months, very sad. Yet our mayor says that SF is booming that she’s filling up vacant buildings. Families think about going out twice due to crime, car break ins, ridiculous parking situation, homeless everywhere. SF just keeps falling and running a business is nearly a lose,lose situation.
Yet Puerto Allegre, Souvla, Yellow Moto, Tacolicious, Curio, Rhea’s, Buen Sabor thrive. Your politicization of this is really myopic and typical.
“Other businesses exist so those that have closed are beneath notice.”
Bummer for the owners and staff, but as a Texan myself that place had some of the blandest food I’ve ever had. I was always puzzled that they could stay open and busy in a neighborhood chock-full of amazing Mexican food. Hope everyone lands somewhere and that the space finds a new tenant soon.
That’s almost always true for restaurants outside their place of origin. People from India would say that about Indian restaurants here. Japanese people would say that about ramen here. Etc.
I liked their queso with chorizo, their green chile cheeseburger and their cocktails. I’m sure they’re better in Texas; don’t doubt it. But I also liked the outdoor fireplace. Not the best spot on Valencia, but I’ll miss it. And let’s face it — a lot of the places on Valencia that were better have closed. Arinell, Locanda, Mau … the list is so long.
Correct. I live a block away and only went their once because it was really poorly executed food.
They used to have a decent duck on the menu some years ago but then just moved to overpriced rice and beans. They were just pushing alcohol without a food culture. See ya.
Is it perhaps due to too (not two) many restaurants in SF—unless the economy is really booming? Too many choices which do not create loyalty to just a few favorite places. And how much are the commercial landlords not cooperating by lowering rents, at least temporarily. And just leaving their sites unoccupied with trash and graffiti accumulating outside, thus creating an ugly situation for adjacent properties.
Perhaps one of the contributing issues is that there are simply too many restaurants in SF—unless the economy is really booming? Too many choices which do not create loyalty to just a few favorite places. And how much are the commercial landlords not cooperating by lowering rents, at least temporarily. And just leaving their sites unoccupied with trash and graffiti accumulating outside, thus creating an ugly situation for adjacent properties.
So sad! It was a reliable weekend brunch spot, no need to wait 2+ hours like others. I loved the puffy tacos they used to serve too, but I did notice they tightened up their menu post-pandemic
I’ve eaten in every Valencia Mexican restaurant many times, except or West of Pecos because it looks like a gringo restaurant and is owned by gringo Tyler MacNiven.
Gringos can have their gringo Chipotle owned by gringo Steve Ells, I’ll stick with Mexican restaurants owned by Mexicans.
Besides that, we’re Californians and don’t want anything from Texas.
People are not coming, because if you drive, your car will have it’s windows smashed and interior ransacked, if you can even find a parking spot first. If you take public transportation you risk contamination from derelicts smoking fentanyl or meth near you, as well as lunatics stabbing you for no reason at all….best to go else where, like Sausalito. I just recommended Sausalito to a lovely couple I met a couple of days ago in Barcelona, for their upcoming Nothern California stop.
What tosh, I’ve been taking public transit here for 3 straight years and have never had a problem
Look, I love taking Muni and take either the J or the 14/49 to Valencia all the time. But to pretend Muni doesn’t have quality of life or cleanliness issues isn’t helpful. Smoking on the bus doesn’t really happen, but I have had people shoot up then get on the bus and nod off at 16th/Mission and 6th/Mission before.
I did have my bicycle’s front tire taken last time I was at West of Pecos…considering the police station is only 1/2 block away that’s pretty bad
Lucky you. I’ve been threatened by a large racist man who hissed an accusation of “white devil “ at me and the very LAST TIME I took transit in San Francisco, I had to hold my breath as who knows what kind of drug smoke was filling the car from users hiding on the floor between the seats. I’m elderly by the way. San Francisco is no longer a place for me after 45 years, I have great memories from the lost world before though.
Almost every time I take Muni in the evenings I come to regret it one way or another