La Taqueria

LA TAQUERIA
2889 Mission Street between 24th and 25th streets

PRICE: $6.50 (not including tax)

La Taqueria is located near the 24th Street BART station. It has a small outdoor space and a few tables inside. The menu is basic: burritos or tacos with choice of meat (or veggie).

I conducted this taste test on January 20, 2011. I ordered the chicken burrito with whole pinto beans.

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



CONTENTS

Quality of Meat: 7
I ordered the chicken burrito. The meat was moist with a big chunk of breast meat in the center (see photo above).

Quality of Beans: 4
Boring and bland.

Quality of Rice: 4
I don't think there was rice in the burrito. I couldn't taste any.

Quality of Salsa: 4
Very disappointing. The salsa inside the burrito was weak. The green salsa on the table was watery and boring.

Note: The burrito is skinny. I ate the whole thing easily and did not feel stuffed.

EXTRAS
Free chips? No
Free salsa? Yes (A squeeze bottle of green salsa is on each table.)

FINAL THOUGHTS
The burrito is below average. Nevertheless, I would return to try a taco. The tacos look delicious, overstuffed, unlike the burritos. Also, there are no free chips. :-(

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."