El Rey Taquiza Artesanal — Restaurant Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"What were your first impressions when you arrived? Casual, bright, and easygoing neighborhood place where you'll order at the counter and then grab a seat at one of about two dozen tables, or at a handful of counter stools. What’s the crowd like? This is a neighborhood place where you'll see friends, solo diners, and night owls looking for a quick and good hangover cure. What should we be drinking? You can grab Mexican beer, sangria, and margaritas here, but the standouts are the homemade aguas frescas like the tart and sweet tamarindo or fruit of the day. Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss. While everyone in San Francisco 's Mission neighborhood talks about burritos, this relatively new spot celebrates the best thing that ever happened to Tuesdays—the humble taco. In fact, Taquiza means taco party and the small street tacos popular in Mexico City are king (El Rey) here. You can choose from just about any kind of meat to put between the homemade tortillas, but the Al Pastor Trompo—spit-grilled slices of pork—with a couple of chunks of pineapple, a sprinkling of cilantro, chopped onion, and a wedge of lime is as close to taco heaven as you’ll get. And how did the front-of-house folks treat you? Friendly, efficient, and happy to explain menu items if they are new to you, such as the guisados. What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here? Go for a quick lunch or dinner with friends or solo. When the tacos are this good, you won't be the only one dining alone." - Kimberley Lovato