The Best Mission Burritos: November 2013

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.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Taquerias La Altena

TAQUERIAS LA ALTENA

2588 Mission Street in between 21st and 22nd streets

PRICE: $5.59 without tax

La Altena is on Mission Street in between 21st and 22nd streets (across from Wells Fargo Bank). There is indoor seating, and it is connected to a pupuseria and a produce market.

My friend and I conducted this taste test on 27 October 2013. I ordered the regular chicken burrito with whole pinto beans.

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

CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 7
We ordered the chicken burrito. The meat tasty and fresh.

Quality of Beans: 7
Good, fresh beans.

Quality of Rice: 6
Good rice.

Quality of Salsa: 6
Nice salsa but there wasn't enough of it inside the burrito.
La Altena has a salsa bar with mild and spicy salsas as well as radishes, pickled whole jalapenos, and carrot slices. I went back for refills on the salsa.

EXTRAS
Free chips? Yes.
Free salsa? Yes. Salsa bar.

FINAL THOUGHTS

La Altena was an experience. I enjoyed the burrito (and the horchata), and the prices are reasonable. However, it is hard to ignore the activity inside the taqueria. After we finished eating, a homeless person asked for the bottom (I call it the "butt") of our burritos. We gave it to him, and then I bought him a meal. Other folks saw this interaction and kept asking us for money. Also, we sat next to the restroom, and there were people using the bathroom without flushing (you get the idea). I was born and raised in San Francisco so I am used to homeless people and drug usage. I just wanted people to be aware.