Skip to main content
Cabeza and lengua tacos at La Taqueria
Cabeza and lengua tacos at La Taqueria

Mexican food in San Francisco

Map of the places on this page

Asada taco with everything at La Taqueria

La Taqueria

Price: $$

It might be called The Place of the Tacos, but trust me, this place really knows how to make a burrito. Go for the carne asada, make it supreme, ask for extra guac if you want. Their tacos are really good as well.

Read my reviewMapsInstagram
Blue masa tostada with bluefin tuna at Californios

Californios

Price: $$$$$

Californios is a three Michelin star Mexican restaurant in SoMa. My first three-star Mexican meal. If you love Mexican food, or you're Mexican, save up a bit and go.

  • Shrimp Aguachile at Californios
    Shrimp Aguachile
  • Bacalao Negro at Californios
    Bacalao Negro
  • Sope at Californios
    Sope
  • Abulón at Californios
    Abulón
Read my reviewMapsWebsite
Tacos Al Pastor at Mosto
Tacos al pastor

Mosto

Price: $$

Their tacos al pastor are amazing because they have a proper trompo. This is a mezcal bar, so a great selection as well. Lately they do smash burgers as well, and that killed the vibe a bit.

Read my reviewMapsInstagram

LoLo

Price: $$$

With love from Guadalajara, the barbacoa and the jicama shrimp taco are pure love. Known for creative tacos. Modern, Mexican and playful, and deeply respectful of innovation in this cuisine. Very creative decoration.

  • Jicama shrimp tacos at LoLo
    Jicama shrimp tacos
  • A plate topped with pickled onions and greens at LoLo
    A plate topped with pickled onions and greens
  • The bar at LoLo
    The bar
  • A shelf of folk art and portraits at LoLo
    A shelf of folk art and portraits
MapsInstagram

Cantina Los Mayas

Price: $$$

The food was good. But the main goal here was to try as many great Mexican wines as possible. That's their superpower.

MapsWebsite

El Farolito

Price: $

Good tacos and burritos, particularly at the North Beach and Mission locations. And supporting their soccer team, El Farolito SC, is a responsibility of the people of SF.

MapsWebsite

La Cumbre

Price: $$

An institution that claims to be where the Mission-style burrito started. It's good, but only when you get tired of the one from La Taqueria.

MapsWebsite

Taqueria Vallarta

Price: $$

Mario reminded me of this place, but it's a classic I enjoy. A very authentic taco the first time I tried it in the Mission. They do tacos right.

Maps

La Palma Mexicatessen

Price: $$

For the carnitas and barbacoa, and because they actually have a molino to grind masa for the tortillas. Estilo Michoacán.

MapsWebsite

The Instagram carousel

I turned this guide into a carousel on Instagram, posted on @cvandercito and @cookfoodie. See it on Instagram

  1. Cover card: "(a guide to) mexican spots i keep going back to, by @cvandercito, cookfoodie.com", tagged "in SF", over photos of a Californios taco, Mosto pastor tacos, a La Taqueria taco and LoLo jicama shrimp tacos.
  2. Californios card: "(three michelin star mexican) californios. my first three-star mexican meal. save up a bit and go. @californiossf", tagged "in SoMa", with photos of the entrance sign, a seafood course, a taco on a blue and white plate and a course served on carved stone.
  3. LoLo card: "(with love from guadalajara) lolo. the barbacoa and the jicama shrimp taco are pure love. @lolorestaurantsf", tagged "in the Mission", with photos of the bar, jicama shrimp tacos, a plate topped with pickled onions and a shelf of folk art.
  4. Mosto card: "(a real mezcal bar) mosto. pastor from a proper trompo. stick to the pastor. skip the burgers. @mosto_sf", tagged "in the Mission", with photos of pastor tacos in a basket, tacos on wooden boards and the sidewalk sign for mezcal, tequila and street tacos.
  5. La Taqueria card: "(my top burrito in sf) la taqueria. an amazing burrito, and the asada taco with everything, fried tortilla included. @lataqueriasf", tagged "in the Mission", with photos of an asada taco with everything, carne asada tacos, chips with guacamole and the storefront.

Some final and important recommendations: I haven't been to these yet. They're recommendations from friends, and I'll write them up once I go.

  • Colibri Mexican Bistro

    Presidio · 50 Moraga Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129 · Price: $$$

    Great location in the Presidio.

    MapsWebsiteInstagram

  • Elena's Mexican Restaurant

    West Portal · 255 West Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127 · Price: $$

    The fancy Mexican at West Portal.

    MapsWebsiteInstagram

  • Maria Isabel

    Presidio Heights · 500 Presidio Ave, San Francisco, CA 94115 · Price: $$$

    Very good reviews, and I also heard great stuff about the drinks.

    MapsWebsiteInstagram

  • Lucho's

    Lakeside · 2675 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132 · Price: $$

    Great chilaquiles. The lady owner gets angry with loyal customers. Beware.

    MapsWebsiteInstagram

  • Pancho Villa Taqueria

    Mission · 3071 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103 · Price: $$

    MapsWebsite

  • Regalito El Mil Amores

    Mission · 3481 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110 · Price: $$

    Maps

  • Chuy's Fiestas

    Mission · 2341 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94110 · Price: $$

    Spectacular pescado zarandeado.

    MapsWebsite

  • La Gallinita Meat Market

    Mission · 2989 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110 · Price: $$

    The place to buy good carne asada for the grill.

    Maps

Worth the drive

Friends also recommend a few places around the Bay Area that are worth the drive. I'm thinking of doing a guide just for those.

From Mario Valle.

  • El Sinaloense

    San Mateo · 1622 Palm Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402 · Price: $$

    Maps

  • La Fonda de los Carnalitos

    Redwood City · 820 Veterans Blvd, Ste B, Redwood City, CA 94063 · Price: $$

    Maps

From Arturo Garrido.

  • Tal Palo

    Los Altos · 149 Main St, Los Altos, CA 94022 · Price: $$

    Maps

After savoring all those amazing flavors from Mexico, how about extending that to the rest of Latin America? The Bay Area has some really good places, and this is our list.

Latin American food in the Bay Area

This is a subset of our main guide to San Francisco, a list of over 100 places we love to recommend.

San Francisco city guide
GuidesReviewsUpload