La Taqueria

"La Taqueria is to Mission-style burritos what "Jingle Bell Rock" is to songs that get stuck in our heads in the month of December: not necessarily our top pick, but an iconic standby nonetheless. Whether you’ve lived here all your life or visited once for exactly 72 hours, odds are high that you’ve spent a late Friday night in line on Mission Street in pursuit of a riceless burrito. La Taq has been doing its thing since the 1970s, and is more frequently associated with the city than Karl the Fog. Load up your super burrito with carnitas or their carne asada, and always ask for it dorado (crisped up to a perfect golden-brown on the plancha)." - julia chen 1, patrick wong, lani conway

"Everyone in San Francisco has an opinion on La Taqueria. This Mission taqueria has been serving riceless burritos since opening in 1973. Are they Mission-style? It's up for debate, but we will say that they're excellent. Without rice, the meat, pinto beans, guacamole, and cheese really get to show off, which makes for fantastic (if a little messy) last few bites. The carne asada is the best meat here, and you should get it in a super burrito. Then pair it with the free green salsa on every table (ask for the red or for some blistered serranos if you want it extra spicy). For something a little meltier, you can get your burrito dorado style (crisped on the plancha), but getting it as-is is oftentimes satisfying enough. There’s almost always a line outside, and the hours are inconveniently shorter than almost any other taqueria in the city, but we’ll pencil a stop into our calendar anytime. photo credit: Brit Finnegan" - Ricky Rodriguez

"We could start a flame war about the best burrito in town (and we have). El Farolito often comes out on top, there’s something special about La Taqueria. These Mission burritos are (controversially) riceless, but some of us secretly like it that way. Order the carne asada super burrito for its smoky meat, and make sure to get it dorado for a crispy tortilla and melty cheese that will make you understand why burritos have such a chokehold on this city. Expect a line. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

"Seemingly, everyone in San Francisco has an opinion on La Taqueria and their riceless burritos. But by the signs of their constant lines, they’re clearly doing something right. Is it Mission-style? That’s up for debate, but we will tell you the one thing that matters: the burritos here are delicious and worth the wait. Their carne asada is what every thinly cut piece of steak should aspire to be. It’s nicely charred with the right chew, and is among the greatest in the city. It should absolutely be your order. Add some of their free fresh green salsa and cherish your precious moments with this burrito because the last few bites of meat juice, pinto beans, guacamole, and sour cream will be the best. " - ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1, lani conway

"Over the years, the minds behind the James Beard Awards have worked to recognize community destinations, as well as fine dining outposts. Enter La Taqueria, which has won plenty of acclaim for its burritos — which is possibly the best in the nation. In 2017, the restaurant was recognized with an America’s Classic award." - Paolo Bicchieri