I love a soyrizo burrito as much as the next person, but where's the love for Cancun?
After the New York Times travel section spent a weekend in the Mission last fall, today they decided to come back to the neighborhood for their “Save or Splurge” section. Naturally we are the neighbor to “save” money in and the rich-folk are advised to steer clear and head to North Beach.
In a daring move, the NYT decided get involved in “the great burrito debate.” Sure to incite controversy, they named El Farolito, El Metate and Papalote the three spots to get a “great burrito.” Also, the word is now out on Little Baobab and their awesome hibiscus margaritas.
I think they got this pretty right.
agree. and i’m generally not territorial, but it’s OK with me for NYT to overlook cancun. cat’s pretty much out of the bag on that one, and i already can’t go there on weekends. but then, i have issues with crowds.
El Metate for the win. Matter of fact, I’m going to go grab one today for lunch.
They should get the word out on Bissap Baobab as well and their delicious plantains and tibi. Their margaritas are just the icing on the Senegalese cake.
I’ve been to El Farolito and I don’t think it’s as amazing as everybody says it is. It’s probably because I have such a huge fondness for Taqueria La Bamba in Richmond (not the neighborhood, but the city). 12345 San Pablo Ave–that’s their address (for reals). Best crispy carnitas in town. Great pupusas too. Taqueria Cancun in the Mission ain’t bad either, though. Better than El Farolito thass fasho. I’d also recommend El Burrito Express 2 on Divisadero–they got the tender variation of carnitas down pretty well.
I have no problem with those three choices.
I strongly support two of these taquerias. Farolito has put queso in my sin queso y crema burrito too many times, and we are on the outs.
If someone could explain El Metate’s definition of “guacamole” I’d sincerely appreciate it; there’s never been any sign of avocado in the burritos I’ve eaten there. Otherwise, love it. Delicious vegetables in my burrito, they are so so good.
As a person from San Diego with lots of burrito experience, I don’t understand why anyone like’s Papalote’s. Really?
Papalote is a fine choice, the salsa great, the food good quality and healthy. But for authenticity I’d head back to Mission St. Personally, I can only eat so many Farolito “lard bricks” a week. I know I’m going out on a limb here, but my own digestive experience has shown La Corneta to hold up well for repeatedly serving my B-needs.
Just so you know, the guys who own papalote are as authentic(whatever that means) as it comes. their parents own tacquerias in the mission, this is just their typical second generation take on a cultural heritage.
olu: Regardless of ownership authenticity, you have to admit to the unaccountable scarcity of Latino clients at Papalote. By contrast, in La Taqueria, La Corneta or El Metate, you see many a Latino family chowing their Carne asada. How would you account for this? I think the flavor of the food might go some way to explain it, and the subtle marketing cues that the place emanates.
Papalote plays a b.s. little game charging for another bowl of chips and then charging for more salsa, as though you only wanted one and not the other. Plus their menu says “Guacamole – A.Q.” That’s a dickhead’s take on a cultural heritage.
who cares? there’s like 10,000 burrito choices on mission between 16th and 24th alone. i say, let everyone eat the burrito they like, where-ever it comes from. publishing a list of “best burrito” is soooo 90′s. and blogging about it is sooo 2008.
no harm intended to mission mission.
(i must have been in a “mood” when i typed that comment)
Eh, burrito quality at any given joint, I think, varies from day to day. I’ve never tried to fetishize food that I’ve eaten since I was yaaay tall (holding my hand down by my thigh). It’s not an “event”–it just is. The best burrito is the one you’re unwrapping in front of you.
“The best burrito is the one you’re unwrapping in front of you.”
nicely said.