Mission Mission

Because A) this bus has taste and knows what Flavor is and why it still matters no matter what you think; B) said flavor is the flavor of toungey white lady skinny dipping in the salsa; and C) it was founded by Ron Swanson’s great great grandpappy. Maybe.

As many a southern transplant knows, it’s damn near impossible to find a decent plate of rolled tacos in San Francisco. Primarily the provenance of SoCal surf shacks, those golden cylinders of high-octane awesome heaped high with cheese and guacamole are few and far between in The Mission’s culinary burritoscape.

For everyone who’s ever craved a clutch of fried taco glory, Taqueria el Buen Sabor has you covered. All of the essential components are there – crispy deep fried tacos inundated with a wanton mess of lechuga, crema, guacamole, and queso.

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On Thursdays, Karen at off the (meat)hook publishes haiku-style restaurant reviews. This week’s edition features reviews of a dozen San Francisco taquerias, most of which are in the Mission. Usually she’s right on the money:

EL FAROLITO
2779 Mission St. (@ 24th St.)
4817 Mission St. (btw. Onondaga & Russia)

good, cheap, open late!
an old standby loved by most.
on the dirty side.

All true.

LA CUMBRE TAQUERÍA
515 Valencia (@16th St.)

I’d say good, not great.
a standard taquería.
used to be better.

Yeah, that’s what I hear.

PAPALOTE MEXICAN GRILL
3409 24th St. (@ Valencia)

clean, well-lit, quite fine.
burritos yes, tacos no.
sometimes a bit bland.

Yep, Papalote in a nutshell.

TAQUERÍA CANCUN
2288 Mission St. (btw 18th & 19th Sts.)
3211 Mission St. (@29th St.)
1003 Market St. (@ 6th St.)

ugh. why? well, it’s bad,
it’s dirty, and it’s not nice.
I don’t get it. blech.

Wait, what!? Actually, it’s good, it’s no dirtier than Farolito, and it’s nice. I totally get it. Yum!

Previously on Mission Mission:

How to Eat a Mission-Style Burrito

La Cumbre Taqueria: Awful Carne Asada, Great Visuals

Carnitas at Taqueria Can-Cun! Finally!

One of our best friends in the world is German. Her name is Anna. She lived here for a couple years while going to school, but now she’s back in Germany, and she moves to Berlin in the fall. She misses us somewhat I’m sure, but even more than that she misses a good Mission burrito. The other day in the Introduce Yourself section, reader Johnny0 delivered some good news:

Last month I took a German buddy of mine to El Farolito for a burrito. At first he was scared, but now he won’t shut up about it.

Just minutes ago he sent me pictures of a taqueria in Berlin he found — Dolores Burritos. I had to share — check out the map on the wall!

Here it is (click to make large):

Photo page here, includes the exclamation “They carry Anchor Steam and Negra Modelo!” and a link to an article about the establishment’s founders:

Having spent considerable time in California, the two compared notes and decided the city had a burrito gap just crying out to be filled by a fat tortilla stuffed with adobo beef, pinto beans and, yes, guacamole.

It also has nice things to say about the Mission, as well as some insights into how the place is being received by locals. Link.

Finally, I told Anna the news, and here’s what she had to say:

OMG!!!!! oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!!!! how excietd am i???? sooooo excited!!

Dolores Burritos official site. Thanks, Johnny0!

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