Prubechu’s patio has all the elements of an ideal backyard get-together. Someone’s car might be randomly stationed in the corner. Tropical greens reach out from planters, string lights twinkle, and reggae beats pump from the speakers. And if you feel the urge to do groovy things with your body while holding a punch-colored cocktail in hand, it wouldn’t be weird if you stood to do so—there’s plenty of elbow room. At this particular outdoor hang, you won't find any finger food platters, bowls of kettle chips, or tubs of Casa Sanchez salsa. This Guamanian spot in the Mission serves knockout Chamorro dishes. Between the floral tablecloths and the occasional pig roast, it’s a full island party. This is the only restaurant in San Francisco spotlighting the cuisine of the indigenous peoples of Guam and the Marianas Islands. The food is a mix of traditional Chamorro dishes with Spanish, Japanese, and American colonial influences. Whether you order a la carte or go for the $96 fiesta table, everything is served family-style. Fluffy achiote-seasoned red rice and spinach braised in coconut milk come alongside crispy empanadas, fried egg-topped tamales, and lemon-marinated chicken wrapped in coconut flatbread. The plump ko’ko’ wings coated in a secret blend of salts and spices are served with a small ramekin of lemon-vinegar fina’denne’ sauce. Your lips will pucker from the acidity. Make a reservation ahead of time for a spot on the patio—dinnertime gets packed. Assemble as many people as can fit around a picnic table, go order-happy, and pass those plates and bowls around like a relay race baton. The only thing missing at this hang is a pool, and the friend who usually arrives two hours late. Everything else you need for a laid-back meal is already here.
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