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Great Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco

Cinco de Mayo is on the horizon so I thought I would share a list of some of my favorite Mexican restaurants in San Francisco. Whether you love tacos, burritos or anything with mole sauce, San Francisco has got amazing Mexican food.

Great Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco
Photo credit: Annie

And while there is a large abundance of Mexican restaurants in San Francisco, especially in the Mission District, you can find really great Mexican food anywhere in the city! Even for vegetarians!

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You will definitely have food coma after eating at any of these places! I've broken them into three categories: General Mexican, The Mission (because hey, it deserves its own category!) and Breakfast Burritos (because in San Francisco the breakfast burrito it's its own food group!):

General Mexican:

Arguello (50 Moraga Ave in the Presidio Officers Club, Presidio) Traci des Jardins is a fixture on San Francisco's restaurant scene (plus I really love her restaurant in the Ritz Carlton in Lake Tahoe!). Her restaurant Mijita in the Ferry Building has one of my favorite burritos – chile verde that in my opinion, is to die for! Now she has added Arguello, an upscale Mexican with a nice heated patio (it can get cold in San Francisco) where you can also watch tortillas being made!

Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco - Arguello
Photo credit: Arguello

Nopalito (1224 9th Ave, b/t Lincoln Way & Irving St) Where to start? One of my absolute favorites. I like the Panucho de Pollo al Pibil which is a masa/black bean cake with chicken on top; the pork belly quesadilla, the grass-fed shredded beef Empanada the carne asada with nopales and delicious pork carnitas braised in orange, bay leaf, milk, cinnamon, and beer!

Colibri Mexican Bistro (438 Geary St at Mason St., Nob Hill) Great regional dishes and made-to-order guacamole plus creative cocktails from an extensive tequila collection, my favorite is the jalapeño margarita. The carnitas are a big hit here, but I am a sucker for sopes, check out the Sopes Surtidos (an assortment of meats with beans and sautéed vegetables with crumbled queso fresco.

Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco - Mamacitas-Guacamole
Photo credit: Jeanette

Mamacita (2317 Chestnut St, b/t Divisadero St & Scott St)
I know it is weird, but they've got the creamiest guacamole in the city! I like their short rib flautas, but they also have delicious beef gorditas, and pork meatball enchiladas, something I haven't seen anywhere else! If they have lamb tacos on the menu…get them!

Azucar Lounge (299 9th St, b/t Folsom St & Clementina St) This is the place for Taco Tuesday for vegetarians and carnivores alike! But also check out the queso blanco and cactus fries and get a tamarind margarita.

Padrecito (901 Cole St, b/t Parnassus Ave & Carl St) Duck chilaquiles? Yes, please! Duck tacos too! Their pork-belly chilaquiles are equally good. A good place to try goat barbacoa.

Mission District

El Metate (2406 Bryant St, b/t 22nd St & 23rd)  I ate at this spot a lot when I worked at Dolby and besides their awesome aqua frescas, they have some pretty amazing burritos including a veggie burrito that will knock your socks off. I am also a sucker for homemade tortilla chips and salsa bar!

Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco - Pierna-Enchilada-Torta-La-Torta-Gorda
Pierna Enchilada Torta, Photo credit: pmeikim

La Torta Gorda (2833 24th St, b/t York St & Bryant St)
It is all about the torta here. If you aren't familiar, it is a Mexican sandwich. At La Torta Gorda, theirs features meat and queso fresco, refried beans, accompanied by avocado, onions, mayo, and jalapeño on a torta roll. Great vegetarian option as well. If you don't think you are up for a sandwich, check out the pierna enchilada torta with pork in enchilada sauce served on a crispy bun – trust me!

El Techo de Lolinda (2518 Mission St, b/t 21st St & 22nd St) Besides the cool rooftop bar make sure to get the skewers. Whether it's the chorizo, steak or veggie one, it will be enjoyable.

Gracias Madre (2211 Mission St, b/t 19th St & 18th St) Mentioned in my San Francisco for Vegetarians post, this is a great spot for vegetarians and vegans alike. Their menu is sustainable and packed full of flavor which you will enjoy even if you are a meat lover!

Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco - Gracias-Madre
Photo credit: Bob Penrod

La Palma (2884 24th St, b/t Florida St & Bryant St)  It is all about the tortillas here. Made fresh all day for themselves and for other Mexican restaurants all over the city, don't miss their carne asada burrito.

Breakfast Burritos

There are a TON of spots with really good breakfast burritos (especially in the Financial District where I work) but I stuck with restaurants that are Mexican as opposed to the many other types of restaurants that serve great burritos but aren't technically Mexican restaurants.

Green Chile Kitchen (1801 McAllister St) an excellent burrito with roasted potatoes, pico de gallo, cheese, chile, and eggs of course. You can also add steak which will really get your morning off to a good start.

Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco - Green-Chile-Kitchen-Breakfast-Burrito
Photo credit: Dan

El Faro (82 1st St, b/t Elim St & Mission St ) A popular FiDi spot (so it's only open during the week) that is favorite amongst young professionals who need a cheap, fully loaded breakfast burrito, perfect for those who are recovery from the previous evening. Not known for their service, but praised for the fact that the burrito has bacon, ham, and chorizo!

Don Pisto (510 Union St, b/t Bannam Pl & Grant Ave, North Beach) The breakfast burrito is dynamite with eggs, housemade chorizo, queso oaxaca, sliced avocado, salsa fresco, and pickled jalapeno. [At lunch check out the tacos, both carne asada, and carnitas, as well as the tamales. If the lobster special is going on, don't pass it up!]

Little Chihuahua (292 Divisadero Street, b/t Haight St & Page St) They serve a wet-style breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, jack cheese, salsa, beans, Mexican potatoes, roasted poblano chiles, cilantro and onions, and choice of meat (bacon or chorizo or mushrooms).

Bonus: Mexican Food Trucks

El Tonyaense Tacos
Photo credit: SFGate

San Francisco is a great food truck town there are lots of new trucks and parks popping up all over the city. But the OG of food trucks in San Francisco has got to be the taco trucks! And I wanted to mention my two favorites, which get listed as the best in write-ups all the time.

The first is El Tonyaense truck on Carrol Street (at the Best Buy parking lot). They have amazing $1 tacos that I ate at least once a week when I was working in Potrero Hill. They are known for their offal tacos, I love the beef tongue. If that gives you the heebie-jeebies, their barbacoa tacos are the best!

The other truck is El Norteno at 801 Bryant. Their shrimp burritos and tacos are the bomb!

Well, that's a few of my favorite Mexican restaurants in San Francisco (as you can tell, I am a BIG fan of Mexican food!) where are some of your favorites? What's your favorite Mexican dish?

See my entire collection of San Francisco post in my San Francisco Guide. Also, you can save 42% off admission to the best San Francisco attractions with a San Francisco CityPASS. PLUS, skip most tickets lines!

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48 Comments

  1. I wish I could try them all! Mexican food is my favorite.

  2. Amby Felix says:

    I’ve been to quite a few of these places since I frequent SF. I’m a bit hard to please when it comes to Mexican food but that’s because my husband and I are Mexican so we always compare the food lol.

  3. Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says:

    My husband and I love Mexican food. The best we ever had was in San Diego. We just can’t get food that good here in Boston.

  4. I do love Mexican food–although I have to lay low on the “heat” these days. Although I won’t be going to San Francisco (not that I don’t want to)–there are a bunch of really good Mexican Restaurants very close to where I live. Maybe I will take a short drive and get myself my favorite–a bean burrito!

  5. Fi Ní Neachtáin says:

    I absolutely love Mexican food. After reading your post I really want to have a Mexican dish for dinner 🙂

  6. Those all sound like amazing places to eat. I would love to try the Pierna Enchilada Torta

  7. I’m a big fan of Mexican food. I love the spices and the flavors. Great list for those in this area.

  8. These sound like amazing Mexican restaurants! I love to try new restaurants when we travel.

  9. Trisha Haas says:

    This looks like real Mexican food worth eating. I am always excited when I get to try out new Mexican restaurants.

  10. Jaime Nicole says:

    This food looks amazing – all of it! We have some wonderful places for hot wings here in NY, but we are short on the quality Mexican restaurants. Maybe it’s time to take a trip to SF…

  11. I love mexican food! I wish you had done a compilation of mexican restaurants in my town! 🙂

  12. Joanne T Ferguson says:

    I love Mexican food and enjoy trying new things! Happy Cinco de Mayo and what a great collection of restaurants that one day I hope to see!

  13. Anita Utami says:

    Happy Cinco de Mayo! These are great compilation of restaurants. Mexican food is one of the best food in the world!

  14. Franc Ramon says:

    I like mexican food because of its reach taste and flavor. Looks like each place have their own specialty to try.

  15. These pictures are making me hungry! Everything looks so good! Will have to do Mexican tonight!

  16. Rebecca Swenor says:

    This sounds and looks like an amazing Mexican Restaurant to eat at for sure. The food all looks so amazing and I would love to try the Mexican sandwich. That one really called my name. Thanks so much for sharing.

  17. Ourfamilyworld says:

    Time to visit San Fransisco. What a great list of Mexican restaurant. Now I feel very hungry and can’t wait to eat one of these dishes

  18. CourtneyLynne says:

    Omg these restaurants looks absolutely delicious!! Mexican food is my altime favorite and ahhhh… This whole Post just looks like the most yummy thing ever. Wish i was closer!

  19. Nicole (Nicole's Lifestyle Lounge) says:

    I have tried a few Mexican recipes before, and really love them.

  20. Jaclyn Anne says:

    Mexican is one of the most colorful meals – I love how bright these dishes are! I would love to visit San Fran and try each restaurant!

  21. Andrea Nugent (@poshmoma) says:

    Everything looks so tasty! I LOVE Mexican food 🙂

  22. Neha Sultan says:

    Looking at all the mouth watering pics, I think I need to plan my trip to San Francisco. Amazing pictures and dishes look so yummy.

  23. Christine says:

    This post made me so hungry for mexican! Love finding GOOD AUTHENTIC mexican restaurants!

  24. Melanie Pickett, Flying Blonde says:

    I like your blog very much. I’m being nosy…do you travel for your job? I was in Rome and Paris this year and that was my first big travel adventure. Good for you!

    1. Andi Fisher says:

      @Melanie, no I don’t travel for work, I have a corporate job and travel when I can.

  25. Great list. I love Gracias Madre…..and I am not a vegetarian or vegan…in fact I love cheese but you don’t miss it here!
    Also Papalote in the Mission has awesome burritos! And for some fun, hip happening place, there’s alway Tacolicious!

    sharon

  26. Gerald Vonberger says:

    This food looks incredible! I particularly like the pictures of the chips and salsa. That’s probably one of my favorite snacks, especially when you get endless chips and salsa at restaurants. I’ve always been a big fan of Mexican food too, particularly the spicy stuff. It’s good to know that there are still places where you can get decently spicy food.

    1. Andi Fisher says:

      @Gerald, I cannot resist good chips and salsa either, all you need is an ice cold beer and you have a meal!

      1. Gerald Vonberger says:

        That’s especially true if you get the real beefy stuff, you know, like those nachos that have the meat and all the vegetables on them. Oh man, those are the best! Although, I don’t know how authentic that is…

  27. What lovely and gorgeous food. I love that everything looks so fresh! Thank you for sharing these reviews and pics.

  28. I’m so glad I found your post! San Francisco and Mexican food are two of my favorite things. We’re going again in the fall and will definitely be using your suggestions as a culinary guide.

  29. Paula Schuck says:

    All this food looks so good! It made my mouth water, if I am ever in San Francisco I will have to visit,

  30. These places all look soo incredibly delicious! I have to save this and check them out next time I’m in NorCal! I love Mexican food so all of these pictures are making me so hungry haha! Tacos and fajitas are my favorite, and of course a good margarita! 😉

  31. Tina Butler says:

    I am too far from San Francisco to enjoy all your delicious choices, but you had some great picks. Mexican food is my favorite and we have some wonderful ones here in Texas as well.

  32. I love Mexican cuisine. Ironically I am doing a similar post for Atlanta. I did a taco tour this weekend inspiring Atlanta locals and visitors where to visit for cinco de mayo and or taco tuesday!

  33. Bites for Foodies says:

    I can’t believe that I didn’t even realize that this Friday was Cinco de Mayo! I LOVE Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. Being a vegetarian, it’s one of those cuisines where I have a ton of meat-free options, and still feel full after eating!

  34. Knowing me, if I could try them all I would! My family and I love Mexican food and each of these dishes looks tasty!

  35. These sound like some awesome Mexican restaurants! I love Mexican food, it is always good! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!

  36. Tiara Wilson says:

    I absolutely love Mexican food. I haven’t been to SAN FRAN though, so I don’t know if I would ever have the opportunity to visit but if I did, I would love to try these places.

  37. Wanda Tracey says:

    My family loves Mexican food and especially love burritos or tacoos with salsa sauce.These all look so yummy.

  38. molli taylor says:

    im headed there this summer, so i am keeping this list handy!

  39. denise low says:

    Thank you for sharing. I would love to try out these restaurants. They all look delicious.

  40. Linda Manns Linneman says:

    I love good Mexican food. Just looking at these pictures makes me hungry. Maybe one day I will get to visit and get some of this great food. Thank you so much for sharing

  41. Crystal Rogers Walker says:

    I love homemade Mexican foods and I love trying new places, this place looks divine, I wish I lived closer to it

  42. Arlene Mccur says:

    love spicy mexican foods

  43. I always eat Mexican food. I would love to taste that La Torta Gorda

  44. Rachael Burow says:

    My pregnant self is getting hungry for some tacos right now after reading and viewing the photos! I would love to visit and try these!