Atlanta Good Food category interest

Burritos are so integral to San Francisco and the city's Mexican food scene that we wouldn’t be surprised if one was added to the city's official seal. But if you asked five different people about their favorite burrito in town you'd get five different answers. So, we’ve done the hard work of not only narrowing the list down to the 10 best, but we’ve ranked them, too. Time to start checking them off your list.

THE SPOTS

This place is a Mission institution—and it's also home to the best burrito in the city. You’re just as likely to find us here in the middle of the day as you are late at night in line with 50 new friends. But once you get through that line, El Farolito's crispy al pastor and tender carne asada await. Choose one of these meats in super burrito form. Each one is approximately the size of a newborn baby, and stuffed with a wonderful mix of sour cream, guacamole, and cheese. Just make sure to bring cash and stick to the one on 24th and Mission. It’s by far the best of their four SF locations.

The burritos at this Mission taqueria are longer and thinner than some of the other burritos in town. But we’re not complaining, they’re exceptional. Order the super burrito with asada or chicken—the meat is consistently juicy, the tortilla is soft and pillowy, and the salsa is smoky. Each burrito comes with a generous heap of guacamole and sour cream. Eat it at one of their tables outside, pair it with a watermelon agua fresca, and bask in all their glory.

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.

La Corneta’s burritos are for those who love the heaps of shredded iceberg lettuce that test the capacity limits of tortillas. But there's more to them than that. Unlike many of the other spots on this list, their burritos are still made to order in an assembly line with someone guiding you down the table of fillings allowing for easy customization. The creamy refried beans with the smoky carne asada that hits your nostrils as soon as you walk in are our favorites. Top whatever you get off with pickled red onions and the extremely spicy habanero salsa (a rarity in this city). These bad boys are juicy, messy, and hefty. They have four locations around the Bay Area (including one in the Mission), but the one in Glen Park is the best.

The burritos at Taqueria Cancún are all solid, if a bit greasy at times, but it's still a trusty standby. Get the carnitas in the burrito mojado. It's doused in red chili sauce, topped with red and green salsa and sour cream, and is big enough to split between two people. Odds are your first trip here will be a late one because you’ll be hungry after a night out at a nearby bar. Just know it won’t be your last.

Fast service, a no-nonsense vibe, and balanced burritos with flavorful meats are reasons enough to head to Taqueria Guadalajara. The Excelsior spot (located across the street from an El Farolito outpost) holds its own with its big burritos. They have several styles here (vegetarian, shrimp, wet, and ranchero with onions, cilantro, and special salsa), plus a wide list of proteins, including lengua, cabeza, and tripas. The salsas and rice unfortunately don't add a whole lot to the experience. Still, we like ordering the super carne asada, though it’s just never going to match up to that of La Taqueria.

La Palma is a small tortilla factory, grocery store, and taqueria, all rolled into one. They also happen to serve some great burritos. It’s hard choosing between having them filled with carnitas or carne asada, so just grab one of each and call it a day. Just be sure to eat it quickly because they tend to arrive slightly colder than others.

You're going to this convenience store-restaurant hybrid for one reason: the chicharron burrito. It’s filled with spiced rice and tomatoes, stuffed with fried pork that crackles with every bite, and the whole thing is griddled until the outside is just crispy enough. And if you can't get enough, you can order your chicharron by the pound. While the burritos here are tasty, their ratio of ingredients can be off, whether it's an issue with too much rice and not enough meat or the other way around.

This place is on our list mostly because of the grab-and-go proximity to Dolores Park and the best thing on their menu: the breakfast burrito with chorizo and egg. Other items, like the carnitas super burrito with black beans is fine, but the meat and rice can often be bland.

On the best of days, a burrito from El Castillito is a melty cannon of beans, rice, cheese, and crispy al pastor that can satisfy your meat-filled tortilla craving around Duboce Park. And eating one on a sunny day is truly a love affair. Unfortunately, they can also be disappointingly greasy on bad days, making this a tough sell unless you’re in the area and you can’t wait to satisfy your burrito fix.