Near the corner of 25th and Mission street rests La Taqueria, one of San Francisco’s favorite Mexican restaurants, most known for their traditional, mission burritos.
The name, “mission burrito” dates back to the 1960s in the Mission district of San Francisco. These types of burritos differ from others because of its unique large size and foil-wrapped aesthetic.
At La Taqueria, customers have a wide range of meat selections, including beef (carne asada), pork (carnitas), beef head (cabeza), beef tongue (lengua), sausage (chorizo) or chicken (pollo).
A regular burrito is made with your choice of meat, refried or pinto beans and pico de gallo. However, if customers are interested in a super burrito, the restaurant can add sour cream, cheese and avocado.
After fifty successful years, the owner of La Taqueria, Miguel Jara has been awarded the James Beard Award which recognizes achievement in the culinary arts.
Visiting the establishment is intimidating. Customers have to resort to public transportation; however for those like myself, who drove into the city, finding a parking spot took about an additional 15 minutes. Plus, the drive itself from San Mateo to San Francisco took roughly 30-40 minutes.
When my friend and I finally found a spot, about a block away, the line for La Taqueria was lengthy.
There were various Mexican restaurants nearby but it was clear that everyone waiting was for the one and only: La Taqueria.
We stood in line for about ten minutes until someone came to us and took our order. We both ordered two super burritos and a horchata.
This being my first time trying hortchata, I did not know what to expect yet La Taquieria delivered. The drink had a great milk ratio accompanied by flavors of cinnamon that made the treat especially delicious. As someone who does not like particularly sweet drinks, the hortchata was not too rich in flavor and remained tasty but easy on the stomach.
When it came to trying the burrito, the outside smell and appearance was exciting. The flavors could be smelt outside the bag as we walked back to the car to eat, since there was limited seating at the restaurant.
When we finally sat down and unwrapped the messy burrito, it looked and tasted delicious. The journey to SF was worth the time when we took our first bites. The carne meat was especially flavorful and tender. Additionally, the tortilla itself also provided the perfect base to the burrito.
For anyone interested in burritos or exploring San Francisco, I highly recommend La Taquieria. No other place compares to the deliciousness and simplicity of their food. It remains an authentic and inviting experience for all.
