The super burrito from Taqueria El Farolito is about the size of a newborn baby, and it never disappoints. We love getting it with carnitas or the tender carne asada. And if you’re still searching for your number one burrito in the city, coming here (for science) is never a bad call. You can also get quesadillas and nachos, or try one of each meat in taco form. FYI - it’s cash only, so come prepared.

El Mil Amores in the Mission focuses mainly on Mexico City-style breakfast and lunch plates. There are no overcooked eggs here, and only nonstop hits. The Yulis breakfast sandwich is a high pile of scrambled eggs, supple arrachera, cheese, and avocado between the softest telera-like roll. While the CDMX plate is a mix of chilaquiles doused in tangy salsa verde, soft scrambled eggs, and pillowy concha french toast.

This Mexican spot promises "good eats,” and that’s exactly what it delivers. From the moment you step into this homey space in Bernal Heights, everyone makes you feel like part of a family, and the fact that the menu consists mostly of homestyle guisados adds to that feeling. Whether it’s the spicy pozole, the rich chicken mole, or the tangy green pork costillas, the slow-cooked dishes make for the perfect pairing with the extra-corny homemade tortillas and fresh salsas.

When we’re craving carnitas and something quick, there’s only one destination we have in mind: El Gallo Giro. This food truck on 23rd Street in the Mission is serving carnitas tacos for which we’d endure 4x Uber surge pricing. The meat is crispy, the tortillas are pillowy, and the tomatillo salsa has a kick (but if you’re looking for something just as delicious that will also give your mouth third-degree burns, get the extra spicy chicharron).

This counter-service spot in the Mission makes Mexico City-style tacos that are the best in the city. Yes, that's a strong statement, and, yes, we stand by it. There are no wrong orders here. Wonderfully seasoned pastor spins on the spit in the back, the asada is perfectly charred on all sides, and the plump, creamy fish taco will teleport you straight to Baja. This place also has a breakfast menu, burritos, and massive tortas, but you’re here for those juicy tacos.

This upscale spot in West Portal is meant for sexy outfits and sipping on spicy margaritas under live trees and candlelight. It’s a vibrant, rowdy dinner party you’ll want to stay at until they kick you out. Luckily, the food is just as good as the scene. The pozole is rich thanks to the addition of pork trotters, the esquites arrive with bright kicks of lime, and the melty gobernador tacos are covered in a tangy green salsa that we’d love to pour on every dish

Have you ever had masa so outstanding you got the sudden urge to replace your dining chairs with corn stools? If the answer is no, go to Donaji. The Oaxacan restaurant in the Mission will make you want to become one with your chair and spend the rest of your days eating through their menu of fork-tender tamales, fried masa discs piled with juicy brisket, and tlayudas that are so thin you’ll wonder what sorcery allows them to hold up to the heap of toppings.

Nothing says “I’m cool and interesting” like knowing about the most exciting wine bar food in town. Cantina Los Mayas in the Richmond (the sister spot of Taqueria Los Mayas) focuses on Yucatecan specialties, including the juiciest cochinita pibil ever. As for the wines, they're exclusively Mexican, so you can swirl a glass of syrah from Valle de San Vicente while cutting into some mole-drenched chicken. This is the spot to keep top of mind for any and all future dates.

This taqueria in the Castro is one of the first places we tell people to go if they’re new to the city, or are visiting for the first time. That’s because they churn out fantastic burritos with cheese melted onto the tortilla and carnitas that set the bar high for all other carnitas in town. But even if you’ve lived here forever, you should still swing by on your way to Duboce Park, or anytime a burrito and agua fresca call.

La Palma is a tortilla factory, a grocery store, and a taqueria, all rolled into one. And while we’re no strangers to coming to this corner spot in the Mission for fresh masa, mole, tortillas, and chips, we will happily drop by for anything on their takeout menu. You can’t go wrong with their burritos and tacos, and you'll need to make sure to grab some chicharrones on the way out.

If you like your dinner with a side of flashing lights, artificial fog, and reggaeton playing at full blast, Poc-Chuc is the place to be. The casual restaurant in the Mission has karaoke four nights a week, a DJ, and a dance floor. Their Yucatecan food is worth this sensory overload. Order a big spread, which should include their titular poc chuc (citrusy grilled pork), zingy aguachile, and chicken covered in sweet mole, plus a bucket of Modelos for the table.

Whenever the craving for fresh aguachile, incredible ceviches, and tender quesabirria tacos hits, our internal GPS always leads us right to Chuy’s Fiestas. The Mexican restaurant is the perfect place to come with a group and get into a family-style spread of all of the above - the menu is pretty big, but if you focus on the seafood, you can’t go wrong. Wash it all down with one of their massive micheladas with a tamarind straw.

You’ll know you’ve arrived at this family-run Mexican restaurant in the Outer Richmond when you see the bright sky-blue storefront. Inside the counter-service spot, Cielito Lindo serves everything from breakfast burritos to Guanajuato-style enchiladas and fantastic milanesa and carne asada tortas the size of a tank. However, the one dish that keeps us coming back are the quesabirria tacos, which are extra stuffed with well-spiced meat.

Californios is one of the most extravagant meals in town. When you step into the cavernous space with the all-black walls, you’ll feel like you’re at a chic art gallery about to experience a full-blown production. It’ll start with tiny bites, like a masa tart topped with rich sturgeon mousse and caviar and a chicharrón buried in truffle shavings, and head into an entire course dedicated to some of the best tacos we’ve ever had.

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.

Frank Grizzly's is the spot for Cali-Mexican food in Bayview. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu at this casual place. Our favorites include the extra melty quesadillas on spinach tortillas that are toasted to perfection, the juicy birria tacos, and the burritos that you’ll need four hands to hold. The agua fresca flavors rotate, but the not-too-sweet watermelon is a winner.

Zona Rosa is a casual taqueria in the Castro that stands out for its smoky and slow-cooked meats, plus seriously spicy salsa. The interior is small but colorful, with two calavera murals adorning the walls and loud rancheras blaring on speakers. There are no wrong choices, but ordering tacos is the ideal way to go. There are two different styles, but we prefer the El Jefe that’s topped with just cilantro, onion, salsa, and lime.

The moment you step inside Taqueria Los Mayas, it’s clear you’re about to have a memorable experience. This counter-service spot specializes in food from the Yucatán, and the menu here is, simply put, lengthy and exciting—they do everything from gigantic, made-to-order empanadas to seafood dishes to burritos and tacos with homemade tortillas. One thing that makes this spot so special is you can’t go wrong with whatever you order.

When we find ourselves in the Mission really hungry, we instinctively head toward Taqueria Cancún. It’s where we always go for a massive burrito mojado, doused in enchilada sauce and topped with sour cream, melted cheese, and salsa. They also have tacos and quesadillas that are worth your time.

El Rey Taquiza Artesanal is our go-to late-night spot on Mission St. This taqueria is full every weekend as crowds pile in from nearby bars in search of asada tacos and pastor gringas until 1:30am. The inside is spacious, with a couple of TVs used for karaoke on Saturday nights and travel posters for different Mexican cities on the walls. And no matter the time of the day, a meal here is always on the livelier side thanks to big groups who raid the salsa bar and keep the party going.

The tortas at this Mexican restaurant in the Mission live up to La Torta Gorda’s oversized moniker. Sandwiches here come in two sizes (junior or regular) and both are monstrous. Don’t believe us? Kindly refer to the Mega Cubana, a behemoth featuring milanesa, sausage, pierna, ham, chorizo, eggs, turkey, queso fresco, and American cheese that’s large enough to feed five or six people. Share it with friends at a table inside this diner-inspired spot, or under an umbrella in the patio out back.