"If you’re going to order a single taco at El Patrón, let it be the quesabirria, the cheesy, soupy Tijuana-style beef birria tacos (served with a side of consomé for convenient dipping) that this Mission taqueria helped popularize in the city. Really, though, any taco is a good choice here, with the other standout being the namesake Taco Patrón, which comes loaded with grilled shrimp and melted cheese." - Paolo Bicchieri
"The Mission restaurant has a great menu of Mexican food like tacos with housemade tortillas, burritos, and choriqueso. The shining star on the menu, however, are the quesabirria tacos. Each crispy tortilla envelope is stuffed to the brim with tender beef that plays nicely with the melted cheese. We recommend getting at least three—two for now, and one for 15 minutes later." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez
"Tacos El Patrón in the Mission makes massive birria tacos that are overflowing with delicious beef. They’re also extra cheesy (because, balance), and taste even better when you dip them in the rich consomé. The best part? Tacos El Patrón has two Bay Area locations where you can get your birria taco fix—the other is in the East Bay’s Pleasant Hill. " - julia chen 1, lani conway
"Official Tacos El Patrón Shirt ($20) Whenever we’re in the Mission and craving quesabirria tacos, we immediately head to Tacos El Patrón. And we’d be happy to rep their mustached logo loud and proud on any piece of clothing. This black tee is a great start." - julia chen 1
"Easily the most popular quesabirria spot in San Francisco proper, Tacos El Patrón didn’t open with the intention of being known primarily for its cheesy birria tacos. But the quesabirria craze hit the Bay Area just weeks after the Mission taqueria made its debut, and for a long time it was one of the only places in the city where enthusiasts could get their fix. The rest, as they say, is history. But it’s worth noting that the quesabirria here are especially large and filling, the rich consommé is included for free, and the restaurant’s other tacos — all served on handmade tortillas — are also well worth ordering. Diners in the far East Bay should check out the original Pleasant Hill location, which offers the same menu." - Luke Tsai