The Best Mission Burritos: July 2010

What's this about?

San Francisco's Mission District is synonymous with burritos. Where else can you find multiple taquerias in a two-block radius? It seems like everyone has an opinion on what place makes the best burrito in the Mission. Or you can go on Yelp and find testimonies on the most amazing, mouth-watering burritos. Often, those recommendations have disappointed me every time.

However, what credentials do those reviewers have? Are they from the Mission? Are they Mexican? Do they make Mexican food?

No. No. No.

I am 4th generation San Franciscan from the Mission District and a proud Chicana. My mother is an excellent cook and taught me to make tacos, enchiladas, burritos, posole, tamales, etc.

I have decided to create a blog about my quest for the best Mission burrito. I will eat a burrito from every taqueria in the Mission and rate them according to a scorecard. Check for my results.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

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.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

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."