La Corneta Taqueria

LA CORNETA TAQUERIA
2731 Mission @ 23rd Street
lacorneta.com

PRICE: $6.45 (not including tax)

La Corneta Taqueria has 4 locations in the SF Bay Area. This location is near the 24th Street BART station. It has ample seating.

I conducted this taste test on November 22, 2010. My mother ordered the pollo en salsa verde (chicken in green sauce) and my stepdad ordered a super beef burrito. I ordered a regular pollo en salsa roja (chicken in red sauce) burrito.

OVERALL RATING: 6
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 5
I had the pollo en salsa roja (red sauce). The meat was moist but not spicy.

Quality of Beans: 5
Average.

Quality of Rice: 6
There are two rice options: red or green. I had the green rice. It was a nice change.

Quality of Salsa: 7
There are three different types of salsas: pico de gallo, roja, and verde. Also, I received marinated onions with jalapenos. Yum!

Note: I have seen La Corneta get busy. When I went, it was so busy that the owner was taking orders and getting beverages. However, I didn't wait too long to get my burritos.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes (average)
Free salsa? Yes (4 types: pico de gallo, salsa verde, salsa roja and marinated onions with jalapenos)

FINAL THOUGHTS
Slightly above average. The burrito is a good size. I liked the choice of rice, green or red. However, I expected the meat to be spicier.

My mother is a big fan of La Corneta. Her favorite dish is the combo plate with grilled salmon and steak.

Taqueria San Jose

TAQUERIA SAN JOSE
2830 Mission @ 24th Street
taqueriasanjose1since1980.com

PRICE: $4.87 (not including tax)

Taqueria San Jose is near the 24th Street BART station. It has ample seating and a salsa bar.

I conducted this taste test on July 8, 2010. My brother joined me but ordered a super al pastor burrito. My mother ate the remaining half of my chicken burrito.

OVERALL RATING: 4 (me), 5 (brother), 3.5 (mother)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 5
I had the chicken adobado (red sauce). It wasn't that spicy. My brother said his al pastor was "dry and brittle." He prefers it shredded not chopped in cubes.

Quality of Beans: 5
Average.

Quality of Rice: 4
Mushy.

Quality of Salsa: 4
The pico de gallo in the burrito is bland and a scant amount. There is a salsa bar with 4 types of salsa (pico de gallo, salsa verde, chile verde, and salsa rojo) and marinated jalapenos (with carrots and onions) and radishes. The salsas were bland and not spicy at all. I had to eat my burrito with the jalapenos to add some kick.

Note: What?!?! You have to pay for chips ($1). Boo.

EXTRAS
Free chips? No ($1 for a basket and they are mediocre quality.)
Free salsa? Yes (salsa bar)

FINAL THOUGHTS
Below average. The burrito is a good size and reasonably priced. However, it is bland, bland, bland. The salsas weren't spicy. My mother couldn't believe that they charged $1 for chips.
Very strong. I would eat here again. You get a tasty burrito for a reasonable price.

Taqueria Cancun

TAQUERIA CANCUN
2288 Mission Street @ 19th Street

PRICE: $5.46 (including tax)

Taqueria Cancun is colorful: bright yellow walls, papel picado hanging from the ceiling, and wall murals. There are three locations in the City. This location seems to be popular with hipsters.

I conducted this taste test on July 7, 2010. My friend Nadja accompanied me and ordered a super carne asada burrito.

OVERALL RATING: 4 (see note below)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 7
The chicken was in a spicy, red sauce--very flavorful. Nadja's carne asada was a little dry and chopped too finely.

Quality of Beans: 6 (me), 7 (Nadja)
Flavorful, smoky.

Quality of Rice: 6 (me), 8 (Nadja)
I got some crunchy rice. However, Nadja really liked the rice. She said it was "yummy" and was cooked in chicken broth.

Quality of Salsa: 8 (me), 7 (Nadja)
The pico de gallo salsa inside the burrito is spicy. You are given a container of pico de gallo and salsa verde with your chips. Both are very spicy. I liked them! They cleared my sinuses.

Note: I saw a cockroach on the wall. Yes, I did. On those bright yellow walls, you can't help but notice a brown cucharacha on it. I had already eaten at this point. I know that cockroaches are found in many restaurants but this is the first time I have seen one at a taqueria.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes (too salty)
Free salsa? Yes (2 containers)

FINAL THOUGHTS
Taqueria Cancun serves a good-sized burrito for a reasonable price. I really liked the spices. The burrito and salsas had kick. I really wish that I didn't see that cockroach or I would have given the place a "7."

Doña Tere's Market

DOÑA TERE'S MARKET
2780-21st Street @ Florida

PRICE: $5.50 (no tax)

Doña Tere's Market is located across from Pirate Cat Radio. It functions as a corner store and mini taqueria. A chalkboard outside advertises its menu of burritos, tacos, pupusas, tamales, burgers, and hot dogs.

Going here is quite an experience. I liken it to eating at the home of your friend's mother. Everyone in the family helps out and has multiple jobs. A woman who is also the cook takes your order. Another woman sat in the corner chopping and dicing lettuce and tomatoes. Then she refilled the salsa containers. People come in and out of the store constantly.

While waiting, I watched a movie on Univision. Then I had a conversation with someone in Spanish. Everyone was super friendly.

However, don't be in a rush because the food takes awhile. A party of four had ordered before me so my simple burrito took a long time.

I conducted this taste test on June 30, 2010.

Note: This burrito was 7.25 inches in length and 2.33 inches in diameter.

OVERALL RATING: 6
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 5
The meat was good. However, it was a little dry. See the note below.

Quality of Beans: 6
Nice homemade whole pinto beans.

Quality of Rice: 5
Dry. See the note below.

Quality of Salsa: 6
The pico de gallo salsa inside the burrito is good. The containers of pico de gallo, salsa verde, and jalapenos were on the table. The cook gave me a cup to take the salsas home.

Note: I saw the cook warm up the beans, rice, and chicken in the microwave. That's why the rice and meat were so dry. I did like that the tortilla was grilled.

EXTRAS
Free chips? No
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
I liked this place for its homey feel. The burrito was average but the atmosphere was warm. Also, the burrito was a good size for the price.

Pancho Villa

PANCHO VILLA
3071-16th Street @ Hoff/Valencia
www.panchovillasf.com

PRICE: $7.75 (including tax)

Pancho Villa is located on 16th Street between Mission and Valencia streets north of the 16th Street BART station. When my friend worked nearby, she enjoyed going there to pick up a burrito. However, it has become a hipster hangout. There is also a security guard at the door.

I conducted this taste test on June 29, 2010. My friend Nadja and I rated the chicken asado and chicken verde regular burritos.

OVERALL RATING: 5.5 (6= me, 5= friend)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)

Chicken Asado (Grilled) Burrito


Chicken Verde (Green Sauce) Burrito


CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 4
The chicken meat was dry and flavorless. It surprised my friend since the chicken verde is stewed in sauce.

Quality of Beans: 5
Moist.

Quality of Rice: 5
Flavorful.

Quality of Salsa: 7
The pico de gallo salsa inside the burrito is good: fresh cilantro and crisp jalapenos. The salsa bar is a highlight of the place. There are at least four types of salsas (pico de gallo, salsa verde) and jalapenos (marinated and grilled), cilantro, onions, etc. My friend and I made two trips each to the salsa bar.

Note: This burrito was expensive!! I have never paid $7.75 for a REGULAR burrito in the Mission. RIDICULOUS!

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
I would have given Pancho Villa a lower rating but the salsa bar boosted my rating. My friend said that she would never order a chicken verde burrito again. I would never go there again, because $7.75 is a ripoff.

El Taco Loco

EL TACO LOCO
3274-24th Street @ Mission

PRICE: $5.56 (including tax)
El Taco Loco is near the 24th Street BART station. It opens early for breakfast.

I conducted this taste test on June 26, 2010. My mother, stepdad, and I rated the burrito.

OVERALL RATING: 5 (all three of us)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 5
The chicken meat is in red chile sauce. It was moist.

Quality of Beans: 5
Moist.

Quality of Rice: 5
Average.

Quality of Salsa: 5-6
The salsa is good. There is a salsa bar with pico de gallo, green salsa, cilantro, radish, onions, and jalapenos.

Note: The burrito 7.75 inches in length 2.5 inches in diameter.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
The burrito is very basic and average. As my mother noted, "nothing outstanding."

El Metate

EL METATE (con sabor a Mexico)
2406 Bryant Street @ 22nd

PRICE: $5.50 (including tax)

El Metate is a place people rave about. Chef Joanne Weir made it famous on her cooking show. There is indoor and outdoor seating.

Cook's Night Out: Joanne Weir

I conducted this taste test on June 5, 2010. I went with three fellow San Franciscans.

NOTE: I didn't order a chicken burrito because I didn't like the chicken options (breaded chicken, chicken in red sauce, chicken in mole). Two of us ordered carnitas burritos and the other two ordered carnitas tacos.

OVERALL RATING: 7
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 8
The carnitas is great. However, we commented that the burritos needed more meat.

Quality of Beans: 5
Average.

Quality of Rice: 5
Average.

Quality of Salsa: 7
The accompanying red salsa was good. The cilantro inside the burrito was fresh.

Note: The burrito was small in diameter.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes (but they only gave me 5 chips)
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
The carnitas was really tasty. However, I don't understand why people rave about El Metate. It's good but not a deal for the price and size. I will go back again to try a chicken burrito.

Taqueria Haltun

TAQUERIA HALTUN
2948- 21st Street @ Treat
haltunsf.com

PRICE: $5.00 (no tax)

Haltun is a corner restaurant with a small taqueria on its 21st Street side. You order at a plexiglass window (the menu is written there too). They don't add tax. I also ordered a sandia agua fresca (only $1.50) and it was good.

I conducted this taste test on June 23, 2010.

OVERALL RATING: 4
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 3
The chicken meat was cooked in red sauce but was bland and tasteless.

Quality of Beans: 7
The pinto beans were good...fresh and moist.

Quality of Rice: 4
Bland.

Quality of Salsa: 5
The accompanying green chile hot sauce was okay. Not really hot but it was fresh.

Note: 6.75 inches long and 2 inches in diameter

EXTRAS
Free chips? No (Boo!)
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
This burrito was so bland. I had to pour the entire container of salsa inside. Since Haltun is a Mayan restaurant, I would pass on the burritos. However, I would go back to try the Mayan specialties like salbut', dzoto bi-chay, and pol-can.

Taqueria Guadalajara

TAQUERIA GUADALAJARA
3146-24th Street @ Shotwell

PRICE: $6.02 (including tax)

Taqueria Guadalajara has an impressive salsa bar.

I conducted this taste test on April 13, 2010. My mother and stepfather also participated and filled out scorecards.

And if you are curious, it weighed 1.8 lbs.

OVERALL RATING: 7 (me), 5 (stepfather), and 8 (mother)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 7, 5, and 8
The chicken is grilled. Even though I prefer boiled chicken, it's not bad.

Quality of Beans: 6, 5, and 8
Not bad.

Quality of Rice: 6, 5, and 8
Not bad.

Quality of Salsa: 5, 6, and 8
The salsa bar is excellent. It has 3 types of salsa as well as marinated onions, radishes, and jalapenos.

Note: None.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
Although it was on the expensive side, the burrito was good. I would go back for the salsa bar alone.

El Tonayense- CLOSED

EL TONAYENSE- CLOSED (NOW OPERATES AS A FOOD TRUCK ONLY.)
3150-24th Street @ Shotwell

PRICE: $5.48 (including tax)

Besides the location on 24th Street, El Tonayense also has taco trucks located throughout the City. You can find at least 2 trucks on Harrison (by the Best Buy and Mis Antojitos).

I conducted this taste test on April 13, 2010. My mother and stepfather also participated and filled out scorecards.

And if you are curious, it weighed 1.2 lbs.

OVERALL RATING: 3 (me), 4 (stepfather), and 4 (mother)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 3, 3, and 2
The red chile chicken is dry, dry, dry.

Quality of Beans: 3-4
Average.

Quality of Rice: 3-4
Average.

Quality of Salsa: 3-4

Note: The red chile on the chicken overpowers the burrito.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes
Free salsa? No (Boo!)

FINAL THOUGHTS
Horrible!!! The worst so far. My mother and I didn't finish ours.

Taqueria Vallarta

TAQUERIA VALLARTA
3033-24th Street @ Balmy

PRICE: $4.82 (including tax)

Taqueria Vallarta is a popular place with the hipsters. They serve a wide variety of cheap tacos (brains, cheek, tongue, etc. with condiments).

I conducted this taste test on April 10, 2010. My mother and stepfather also participated and filled out scorecards.

OVERALL RATING: 3 (me), 5 (stepfather), and 5 (mother)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 3, 5, and 5
The chicken meat is grilled. It was dry and had no flavor.

Quality of Beans: 3-4
Dry.

Quality of Rice: 3-5
Average. Slightly spicy.

Quality of Salsa: 3, 3, and 7
The salsa is spicy. The salsa bar has three types of salsa.

Note: None.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
All three of us didn't like it. My stepfather noted that the salsa improved its flavor but it was tasteless without it. We would never eat a burrito here again. My mother and I didn't finish ours.

Casa Sanchez

CASA SANCHEZ
2778-24th Street @ York
casasanchezfood.com

PRICE: $6.02 (including tax)

Casa Sanchez has been a Mission District staple since the 1960s. They are known for their line of salsas, guacamole, and tortilla chips. Many times the outdoor patio is rented for parties.

You may recognize their famous logo of a little guy ("Jimmy") wearing a sombrero riding an ear of corn. You might even see people sporting the logo as a tattoo. Casa Sanchez had an advertising campaign of offering free tacos for life to people who got a tattoo of Jimmy.

Restaurant tattoo will get you free tacos for life

I conducted this taste test on April 10, 2010. My mother and stepfather also participated and filled out scorecards.

OVERALL RATING: 6 (me), 4 (stepfather), and 5 (mother)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 4, 8, and 8
The chicken meat is grilled. My mother and I liked the taste but my stepfather didn't.

Quality of Beans: 4-6
Usually you get whole pinto beans but they serve refried beans.

Quality of Rice: 4-5
Average.

Quality of Salsa: 4, 5, and 7

Note: The burrito includes shredded lettuce, green chiles, and possibly some nopales.

EXTRAS
Free chips? No (Boo!)
Free salsa? No (Boo!)

FINAL THOUGHTS
We were divided on this one. My mother and I thought the burrito was really tasty but my stepfather thought it was "very bland without condiments." My mother also deducted points because we didn't receive free chips and salsa and the burrito was more expensive than others.

Taqueria San Francisco

TAQUERIA SAN FRANCISCO
2794-24th Street @ York

PRICE: $5.48 (including tax)

Since Taqueria San Francisco is close to my home, my family and I eat there often. The guy behind the counter, Vidal, has been working there for a long time; he's great.

I conducted this taste test on April 10, 2010. My mother and stepfather also participated and filled out scorecards.

OVERALL RATING: 6 (me), 7 (stepfather), and 6 (mother)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 6-7
They give you lots of chicken meat. It was moist. You have the option of boiled or grilled chicken. I always choose boiled chicken. It's juicier than grilled.

Quality of Beans: 4-6
Average. My stepfather noted "good beans."

Quality of Rice: 4-6
Average.

Quality of Salsa: 3-4
They give you 2 containers of salsa: pico de gallo and the green guacamole sauce.

Note: None

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
Not bad. We liked the abundance of meat. My stepfather noted that it had "nice flavor." However, it was lacking in the rice, beans, and salsa areas.

El Farolito

EL FAROLITO
2950-24th Street @ Alabama
elfarolitoinc.com

PRICE: $4.87 (including tax)

My family and I have been coming to El Farolito for years. They have 9 locations in the Bay Area. This taqueria draws crowds, most of them locals. When a friend visited from DC, I took him to this location and he ordered a chorizo burrito. He enjoyed it so much that I had to take him there again to get a burrito for the flight back.

I conducted this taste test on April 13, 2010. My mother and stepfather also participated and filled out scorecards.

And if you are curious, it weighed 1.8 lbs.

OVERALL RATING: 7 (me), 7 (stepfather), and 8 (mother)
(1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 7-8
The chicken was moist! You have the option of boiled or grilled chicken. I always choose boiled chicken. It's juicier than grilled.

Quality of Beans: 7-8
Moist.

Quality of Rice: 7-8
Good.

Quality of Salsa: 7-8
There is a salsa bar on the right side of the counter. You have the choice of 3 different salsas and whole jalapenos.

Note: They grill the tortilla. That's great.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes (The sign says that chips are 50 cents but I didn't have to pay for mine. Maybe he knew I was conducting a taste test.)
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
Very strong. I would eat here again. You get a tasty burrito for a reasonable price.

Papalote

PAPALOTE
3409- 24th Street @ Valencia
papalote-sf.com

People rave about this place so I had to try a burrito. I went with two friends on May 18, 2010.

OVERALL RATING: 5 (1= lowest, 10= highest)



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 5
The chicken (with a red chile rub) was very dry.

Quality of Beans: 5
Average.

Quality of Rice: 4
Average.

Quality of Salsa: 9
The accompanying salsa is its saving grace. The salsa is very spicy and good. All of us commented on it.

Note: The burrito comes with a salad of jicama cubes and radishes.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes
Free salsa? Yes

FINAL THOUGHTS
I was so disappointed! The burrito was average. Chicken shouldn't be dry. Thank goodness for the salsa.

The Scorecard

This is the scorecard I use to test and rate each burrito.

BURRITO SCORECARD
(Regular chicken burrito)

Taqueria:
Price: $ (incl. tax)

OVERALL RATING
(1= lowest, 10= highest)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Notes:_______________________

CONTENTS

Quality of Meat
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Quality of Beans
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Quality of Rice
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Quality of Salsa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Notes:_______________________

EXTRAS

Free chips? Yes No
Free salsa? Yes No

The Taste Test & My Qualifications

I have decided to create a blog about my quest for the best Mission burrito. I am going to try a burrito from every taqueria in the Mission district. I will rate them according to a scorecard and post my results on each one.

The Taste Test

To make the test fair and accurate, I will order a REGULAR CHICKEN burrito. A regular burrito lacks the sour cream and guacamole found in a super burrito. Sour cream and guacamole makes anything tastier and hides poor quality meat, rice, and beans. As for the meat, chicken is a good, basic meat. Not everyone orders a vegetarian, carnitas, beef, or shrimp burrito. However, people will eat chicken.

Lastly...

What are MY qualifications?
* I'm from the Mission. My parents AND grandparents are from the Mission too.
* I live in the Mission. My family has lived in the same house in the Mission since 1957.
* I'm Mexican.
* I cook Mexican food: tamales, burritos, enchiladas, tacos, chilaquiles, etc.
* I've eaten burritos all my life. I've eaten burritos from many taquerias in the Mission District (and elsewhere) already but have never rated them nor taken photos of them.