50 Best Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco

“We waited about 25 minutes in line on a Wednesday evening and another 20 or so for the food, but in the end it was worth it.

The toasted carne asada burrito was outstanding, and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t usually go for burritos. I really liked that it didn’t include rice. The meat was flavourful and everything tasted incredibly fresh.“

“One of our top dining experiences. The vibe of the entire experience was spectacular from the dark yet vibrant decor, the background music selection, the colorful plating selections that made the food visually pop, and to the careful and detailed food presentation. Just stunning - all of my senses were dancing in delight.

The staff is incredibly friendly and the chefs top notch. The taco courses were our favorite. The entire progression was exceptional and well executed.“

“Great tasty stop at the end of the day. Love the friendly staff“

“Cantina Los Mayas was really good. The waiters and chef were genuinely kind, friendly, and welcoming, and the overall vibe made the experience even better. Portions are big and the prices are very budget-friendly, so it felt like great value.

We started with the ceviche—it was spicy, but super balanced with a fresh pineapple-lime flavor that made it bright and refreshing. We also ordered the queso fundido, and it was a highlight: a creamy, milky blend of cheeses with chorizo, and I loved the little candle underneath that kept it warm the whole time.

For my main dish, I got the mariscos served in a pineapple. It hit that perfect sweet-and-spicy combo, and the two roasted shrimp were honestly so delicious. I just wish it came with a few more shrimp, but overall the rest of the seafood was filling and satisfying.

The only thing I was expecting a bit more from was the salsas—I hoped for stronger flavor and more heat. That said, they were still good.

Also, the location is great and easy to find, and parking nearby was pretty easy, which made the whole night even smoother.“

“I love it when a first try of something new to me is a sensational first impression as well! friendly staff and great food! I'll be back for sure!“

“The food is delicious, gluten free for any celiac folks out there. The staff are great the drinks delicious. I was there several times, party of two and party of 10. Very accommodating and the prices aren't insane. So if you're looking for a place by the waterfront, it's a good one!“

“best tacos 🌮🇮🇹🐍🦅 in San Francisco 🚩🏟📍49ers 🏈 maybe 🤷 😂24th street 💘“

“This may be the best Mexican burrito I've ever had, got the chorizo one! (I'm usually not super happy with Mexican food because I live in NC, but am from NM. Often Mexican food tends to be dry compared to New Mexican which swims in sauce. It actually may be difficult to find authentic Mexican food in NM because fusion restaurants are the norm (a Mexican place that doesn't offer chile).) Visiting SF - where I briefly lived years ago - I knew I had to take advantage of the good Latin American options. We tried going to Breakfast Little but their power was out, unfortunately. Al Carojo across the street just started experiencing power problems, too. This was our third choice, but it might have been my first, if I had first found the listing. It was the authentic experience I was hoping for. My partner had the breakfast plate with chorizo and his was fantastic also. Too bad we live so far away.“

“Great food and the best margaritas.“

“Best Fajitas!! This has been our spot for 10 years and we love their food. Location is Oakland Park, FL.“

“I recommend the “Tinga” tacos or sopes 👍🏼“

“The food is hearty and affordable, but lacks flavor a bit for me. I was planning to try this place for a while as it’s a true SF staple but was disappointed by the quesadilla I picked. Just tons of cheese and bland chicken. Barely could finish a half of it. The wet burrito had more taste thanks to the sauce so that’s probably the safe choice if you can manage to eat that huge thing. The service was very friendly though and the ambiance of a lively Mexican spot was nice.“

“Incredibly delicious food, great vibe, friendly staff.“

“This is my favorite breakfast burrito in San Francisco. They are so, so good - stuffed with bacon, beans, avocado, cheese - I’m literally drooling thinking about it. The staff here are so kind and lovely. It’s great for breakfast or lunch. It’s reasonably priced for the area. The mini churros are also yummy. The portions are very large. Highly recommend.“

“Great food, good service, and a wonderful overall experience.“

“the chicken is the best around and the al pastor is to die for“

“We had a lovely evening here. Friendly staff and food is great. Tiny cosy place. Left out one star for future improvement. I sat right by the kitchen so it was a bit of disturbance. No alcohol serving. The food could be more spicier. But we all left full and happy.“

“Delicious tacos and mezcal/tequila drinks! The mushroom tacos are my fav, and also the aguachile is delicious. Lots of meat-free options for your vegetarian friends. And plenty of meat options too. Love coming here whenever I’m in the neighborhood!“

“Been going there since the 70’s We loved their fresh made tortillas and masa for tamales. I did notice today the tortillas weren’t the same. I pray the masa hasn’t changed when we make our Xmas tamales. For the past 27 years I drive from Antioch to San Francisco for our masa.🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️“

“This place is fantastic!! I’ve ate a million burritos in the Mission, tried damn near every spot… but man that carne asada burrito I had last week might take the crown… that first bite I think I made an audible moan, ohhh lawddd 😤🤣“

“Delicious. The torta was divine and I loved the salsa bar especially since they had the taqueria pickled carrots and jalapeños as an option at the salsa bar! 10/10 would recommend. If I lived in San Fran, this would be my go-to spot. Service was great. Thank you so much!“

“I always have an amazing experience in the wheels on this so nice and friendly. This is my favorite Mexican place. I love how they greet you with a warm welcome and they’re always ready to place you in a seat.“

“Service here was interesting. You order in a different room and eat in a different room. When I first went there I said on the place where you eat your food so I waited for later to come but no one came. But then I figured the dog and I got my food and it was delicious. Also they give you a free chips. Also there are like sauces salsa and stuff for free.“

“Manitas is just around the corner from me. Not usually into Mexican food, but the huevos rancheros was actually really good. Tacos were decent too, and the horchata is sooo refreshing.“

“This place deserves more patrons. I got a steak quesadilla, and it was perfect. The portions were great, and I was able to have the other half of my meal for dinner the following day. I can’t wait to return to Tio Chilo’s and try the crab enchiladas.“

“This is a taqueria and the name says it all. It’s counter service and simple but the food is fresh and seriously delicious. It’s my favorite in the city next La Taqueria. Staff is awesome. It’s nothing fancy but it is always makes me happy. I only give it 4 stars for service and atmosphere because it’s nothing fancy or earth shattering. But what it does it does incredibly well. It’s also one of the few places of its kind I like to sit and people watch rather than just taking my food to go despite living really close by.“

“Food was Delicious. Staff was very friendly. The restaurant was very clean. Food was all fresh. I absolutely recommend them! We will be back.“

“Walked in one day and wanted to try some nachos. Had a great time. It was good fresh food. The service was amazing and the views from the windows are pretty. The restaurant is also decorated very beautifully. Will come back again to try the other things I was suggested. But unfortunately just the day was not just for me, which was decent.

Don't mind the to go box in my photos. I didn't want to dirty dishes when I was hoping to take most of the Nachos to go :)“

“best tacos 🌮🇮🇹🐍🦅 in San Francisco 🚩🏟📍49ers 🏈 maybe 🤷 😂24th street 💘“

“food is delicious staff very polite“

“No pics but it’s a great “dive.” The dishes are very original and flavorful. I had the spicy chicken sandwich and a friend had the fish tacos. Sounds unoriginal, but the flavors are what make it special. We didn’t even order sides and were very satisfied with the portions. They also have a great variety of brews to choose from to go with the meal. I’m definitely going back. The atmosphere is great, even if it gets crowded, it wouldn’t feel like it. There’s good spacing between tables unlike a lot of places in San Francisco. The decor is slightly rustic and good atmospheric Latin music in the background, not too loud at all.“

“Absolutely fantastic.

Great quality, flavor, and good presentation on food. Highly recommend their salsa verde on just about anything. Superb. My favorite: Chilaquiles with ham, verde sauce. You won’t regret it.

Friendly, family feel staff, quick food, clean environment, atmosphere not too loud though when full it can get moderate.“

“I liked the chicken quesadilla. The cheese fries were also the best fries I’ve ever had in my life. One of the best halal Mexican spots I’ve been to in the bay.. maybe even the best. I went on a Friday afternoon and the parking situation wasn’t so bad.“

“Great value and the food is exceptional! Small dining area and no frills, but who cares! I had the super taco and it was outstanding! I only wish I could have had a margarita!“

“Muy acogedor el lugar, perfecto para un almuerzo en familia.“

“This is the best Mexican restaurant in the Richmond District! They actually have spicy salsa, which is hard to find around here for some reason. I highly recommend the super burrito with birria and the super burrito with Carnitas. It tastes homemade, fresh and it is so flavorful. It’s family run and it just feels homey and I love going there almost every week. You’ll love any dish here.“

“Awesome food! Would go back again!“

“Great clean place, the people were very friendly and the food was amazing.“

“All of their food is delicious🔥🤤😋“

“I think I've been to about 75% of the Mexican restaurants and Taquerias in the city, so keep that in mind when I say the El Tepa Taqueria put out the very best Tacos de Cerdo I've ever had. The flavors of the pork and salsa verde melded together perfectly with the hand made tortillas!
5 stars and worthy of a two hour drive...no shit! ☆☆☆☆☆“

“I'm not very familiar with Yucatan cuisine, but liked this place - the chicken tinga quesadilla was a personal favorite and I liked it more than their famous breakfast burrito, which was good and had a nice crunch, but was quite oily. Husband had their ceviche and it was sweeter than expected, but good. I also liked their hot sauce a lot. Dog friendly outdoor seating is a nice plus.“

“Great comfort food and staff is exceptional“

“Finally tried our neighborhood taco place. I’m giving it 100 stars! Delicious food, clean area, and plenty of seating to sit and enjoy your meal. The owner and staff are very kind. Highly recommend this place to eat and enjoy. Thanks for all you do. ARNO“

“This is such a great spot. Staff are happy and friendly. The food is amazing with some unique and extremely well done dishes like the mushroom tacos. Cocktail options are solid and fun. The atmosphere is really easy and there are some great shopping experiences to be had as well while you wait. Im happy I found Tahona Mercado.“

“It was our first time here, and the restaurant itself and the food were excellent. We really enjoyed everything we ordered and would absolutely come back for the food alone. Unfortunately, the service and seating situation ended up affecting our overall experience. The first table we were seated at was unsteady, and when we asked to move, the second table had the same issue. We were also seated right in front of the door, and every time it opened, cold air came in. Between the cold draft and having to be careful because of the unsteady table, it was difficult to fully relax and enjoy what was otherwise a great meal. After finishing our appetizer, we placed our silverware on the plate since it was covered in tomato sauce, but when the plate was cleared, the same silverware was placed back on the table and we had to ask for clean ones. My filet mignon was cooked perfectly and was the highlight of the meal. However, I wasn't able to order a wine to pair with it in time, and by the time the wine arrived, I was almost finished with my main course. I normally don't mind service issues as long as the food is good, but with the cold draft, unsteady table, and service delays, the overall experience was disappointing and took away from an otherwise excellent meal.“

“Great food. Really authentic!“

“Empezando por el excelente servicio, te hacen sentir bienvenido 😊, la espera de la comida es muy poca y la comida deliciosa, muy buen lugar para comer 🙂 Gracias.“

“Newest restaurant open in Union Square. Incredible food. They are so kind and give back to the city.“

“Food was Delicious. Staff was very friendly. The restaurant was very clean. Food was all fresh. I absolutely recommend them! We will be back.“