Casa Borinquena to Close Saluhall Location Amid Downtown Challenges

Casa Borinquena, a vegan Puerto Rican restaurant based in San Francisco’s Saluhall food hall, will shut down its location on January 1. The closure is the latest in a string of exits from the downtown food space, which has already seen the departure of Momo Noodle, Kayma, and Tacos El Ultimo Baile this year.

The restaurant is run by the Nau family, who started the business in 2018 with pop-ups across Oakland. Emerald Nau said the idea originally came from helping her mother realize a long-standing dream of opening a restaurant. The family cooked out of ghost kitchens and accepted spots at any venue that would have them to introduce Bay Area diners to plant-based versions of Puerto Rican staples.

Their current location came through a connection with IKEA, which operates the building where Saluhall is located. After someone from the retailer tasted their food, they were invited to join the food hall concept. But operating in downtown San Francisco has presented persistent problems.

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs,” Nau said. “The area definitely impacts how business works.”

She pointed to visibility issues, noting that many customers are unaware the vendors are located on a second floor. She also cited safety concerns affecting foot traffic around the site, including nearby drug use, vehicle break-ins, and individuals experiencing homelessness. These public safety issues have contributed to lower customer turnout.

The Nau family also faced challenges with management changes at the food hall. Kerb Food had initially managed Saluhall since its 2024 opening, but its partnership ended recently. The hall is now under new oversight from Ingka Centres, IKEA’s parent company. Nau said the transition lacked clear communication and that rising rent played into their decision to leave.

“We’re trying to figure out what’s next,” she said. While they continue operating a sister location in Philadelphia, they are exploring new options in the Bay Area, particularly closer to home in the East Bay. Potential new locations include Oakland, Emeryville, and Alameda.

Casa Borinquena remains open at Saluhall through the end of the year. Ingka Centres has not commented on the situation.

The closure reflects broader tensions for small food businesses operating downtown. While the food hall was conceived as a revitalization effort, it has struggled to retain tenants amid a wavering recovery for San Francisco’s core commercial districts.