The Best Mission Burritos: September 2011

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.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

El Faro

EL FARO
2339 Folsom Street at the corner of 20th Street

PRICE: $6.49 (not including tax)

El Faro is located at the corner of Folsom and 20th streets. The interior walls are decorated with tiles about the taqueria's long history in San Francisco (since 1961). There are a few tables inside. El Faro is the self-proclaimed inventor of the Mission burrito. The menu is basic: quesadillas, burritos, or tacos with choice of meat.

I conducted this taste test on September 18, 2011. I ordered the grilled chicken burrito with whole pinto beans.

OVERALL RATING: 2
(1= lowest, 10= highest)

CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 3
I ordered the grilled chicken burrito. There is the choice of grilled chicken or chicken in red sauce. They skimped on the meat (see photo) and the meat was flavorless.

Quality of Beans: 2
Bland and the beans were swimming in juice.

Quality of Rice: 2
The rice was flavorless. Also, the burrito had too much rice and too little beans or meat.

Quality of Salsa: 2
The salsa is horrible. Basically it was tomato sauce with bits of cilantro. You are given one little cup of salsa for the burrito and chips. I had to add El Tapatio hot sauce to the burrito.

Note: The tortilla was horrible!!! It was very chewy. I left a huge part of the tortilla uneaten. Also the burrito is skinny.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes. The chips are boring too. See photo.
Free salsa? Yes. See note above.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I think this is the worst burrito I have found in the Mission. Nothing stood out.