There aren’t many places in the country that can compete with the Mexican food offerings in the Mission District of San Francisco. If you happen to find yourself in the area and are craving some tacos, burritos, or even ceviche, you might be overwhelmed with your options. You might even want to book a San Francisco vacation rental in the Mission to be close to all the food. We’ve narrowed down your choices and picked 7 of the best places to get Mexican food in the Mission. Get your appetite ready for some truly delicious grub.
1. Taqueria el Buen Sabor
Known for their super nachos and authentic taqueria vibe, you won’t find any frills here. The super nachos are loaded with your choice of meat, guacamole, beans, melted cheese, pico de gallo, and onions. Grilled chicken burritos are another popular item, and for the non-meat eaters among us, the Super Veggie burrito is a sure bet here. For a classic Mexican food experience, head to Taqueria el Buen Sabor and enjoy some authentic grub.
2. Lolo Cevicheria
For a bit more upscale, but just as delicious, Mexican food adventure, head to Lolo Cevicheria. They’re known for their small plates/tapas and their awesome drink selection, like pitchers of sangria. Try their Aguachile—it’s packed with shrimp, green tomatoes, jalapeno, cucumber, cilantro, lime juice, jicama, chile ancho oil, and a chicharron crumble. Their fried shrimp and jicama tacos are another popular dish here, as are most of their other seafood items. Pro tip: make reservations ahead of time to avoid a long wait.
3. Belmar La Gallinita Meat Market
On the corner of 24th and Harrison in the Mission is where you’ll find Belmar La Gallanita Meat Market. Step inside this unassuming market and do yourself a favor by ordering some cecina, or salted beef tacos. The meat is butchered in-house and soaked in salt for three days before it even reaches the grill. You’ll get to dress your meal with all the fixings you want from their self-serve condiment bar. Their homemade salsas can be fiery, so be warned!
Find the perfect San Francisco vacation rental on Tripping.com. Tripping.com is the world's #1 vacation rental search engine with over 10 million properties!
4. La Taqueria
Burrito fans rejoice; this place is for you. Voted the best burrito place in California by FiveThirtyEight, La Taqueria draws in a crowd daily for their signature dishes. Their carnitas are rumored to be some of the best in the city, too. Broaden your horizons and order a carne asada super taco dorado, which consists of marinated steak in between one soft tortilla and one fried taco shell with melted cheese in between. The whole situation is topped with crema, guacamole, pico de gallo and salsa verde. You might want to place another order immediately after the first round.
5. Taqueria Vallarta
Cheap tacos and massive burritos? This place has both. At $2.50 per taco, these bite sized delights are super authentic. Try their pollo asada, chicken marinated in vinegar, onions, garlic, and salt. Top your tacos with salsa, onions and cilantro to keep it simple yet highly satisfying. If chicken isn’t your thing, try one of the nine other meat options. This place also serves up breakfast burritos, jumbo burritos, and super burritos with all the fixings. They come in the classic Mission-style tin foil wrapper and are absolutely gigantic.
6. El Farolito
If you’ve spent some significant time out at the bars in the Mission district and the night’s winding down, you’re sure to find a huge crowd at El Farolito. This late-night, authentic Mexican restaurant consistently serves up some of the best food in the neighborhood. From carne asada quesadillas to grilled chicken burritos and tacos, this place ranks highly among the post-bar crowd. Their self-serve salsa bar doesn’t hurt, either. Come here hungry and you’ll leave stuffed. Just be ready to wait in line!
7. Taqueria Cancun
This is truly one of the Mission’s best Mexican food places. Other joints in the neighborhood may be a bit more popular, but Taqueria Cancun takes the cake for the best of the best when it comes to their food. A Super Taco is the menu item to get, and each one come with your choice of meat, sour cream, salsa, cheese, beans, onions, and cilantro. Try the Al Pastor; it’s out of this world! They’re closed on Tuesdays, but otherwise, they’re open until at least 1 a.m. on weekdays and weekends.
Ready to go? Check out these amazing San Francisco vacation rentals on Tripping.com.