Maria Isabel Brings Coastal Mexican Flavors to San Francisco

Dalida's chefs balance authenticity and originality at their new restaurant inspired by Laura Ozyilmaz's family.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:05pm by

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A high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeating grid of a single Mexican food item, such as a taco or tamale, rendered in a bold, neon color palette with heavy black outlines, capturing the creative and elevated approach to traditional Mexican cuisine at Maria Isabel.The bold, vibrant flavors and ingredients of regional Mexican cuisine take center stage at Maria Isabel, the new restaurant from the acclaimed chefs behind Dalida.San Francisco Today

Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz, the acclaimed chefs behind Dalida, have opened a new restaurant called Maria Isabel in San Francisco's Presidio Heights neighborhood. The menu at Maria Isabel is rooted in the coastal cuisine of Guerrero and Sinaloa, Mexico, where Laura grew up, featuring seafood, tropical flavors, and Afro-Mexican and Indigenous influences. The restaurant offers a balance of traditional dishes and innovative takes, showcasing ingredients like Kaluga caviar, huitlacoche, and bone marrow.

Why it matters

Maria Isabel represents the next chapter for the Ozyilmaz duo, who have already made a name for themselves in the Bay Area with their acclaimed Mediterranean restaurant Dalida. This new venture allows them to explore their Mexican heritage and bring a unique, place-based perspective to the local dining scene, which is often dominated by more generic Mexican-American fare.

The details

The menu at Maria Isabel is evenly split between seafood crudos, antojitos (small bites), and heartier maize-based dishes and mains. Standout items include the heirloom corn masa buñuelo topped with guacamole, pistachio, and Kaluga caviar, the ceviche Acapulqueño with poached shrimp and raw scallops, and the sea urchin tamalito with a sweet corn tamale base, corn crema, and fermented habaneros. The restaurant also features a robust cocktail and beverage program, including a fizzy house cocktail made with the ancient Tzotzil Maya spirit pox.

  • Maria Isabel opened in the spring of 2026.
  • The Ozyilmaz duo first made a splash on the San Francisco dining scene with the opening of Dalida in 2023.

The players

Laura Ozyilmaz

Co-owner and chef of Maria Isabel, who grew up in Guerrero and Sinaloa, Mexico and is bringing those coastal flavors to the restaurant.

Sayat Ozyilmaz

Co-owner of Maria Isabel and Dalida, who brings his Turkish heritage to the restaurants' Mediterranean-influenced cuisine.

Maria Isabel

The restaurant is named after Laura Ozyilmaz's mother, whose family traditions and recipes inspired the menu.

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What they’re saying

“The fine line between authenticity and originality is one Maria Isabel walks with ease.”

— Shoshi Parks, Writer

“If, like me, you're someone who struggles to get off the fence when it comes to this divisive ingredient, Maria Isabel's take pushes it confidently into favorable territory.”

— Shoshi Parks, Writer

What’s next

Maria Isabel is currently open for dinner service Tuesday through Saturday, with plans to potentially expand hours and add lunch service in the future.

The takeaway

By blending traditional Mexican coastal cuisine with innovative, ingredient-driven dishes, Maria Isabel is establishing itself as a must-visit destination for diners seeking an authentic yet elevated exploration of Mexico's diverse culinary traditions.