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.“

“What a special evening. From the moment we walked in the door, the staff was very attentive, welcoming, and knowledgeable. You could feel the love for California and Mexican heritage from the decor to the the ingredients to the serving dishes. The service was well-paced and the food was amazing and unique. Their savory flan, all three tacos, and ice cream were some of my personal favorites. Lot's of little surprises made my birthday experience warm and memorable. Louis, the GM, was a pleasure to talk with and he made us feel like VIPs. Meeting Chef Val and a few of the team members in the kitchen was the highlight of our night! We will definitely be back!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Great food and the best margaritas.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Free mixed corn and flour chips. Beautifully stuffed and wrapped mission burrito. Never has such a perfect cylindrical little burrito baby. Had the special with carnitas and chicharones and two carne asada tacos and a chicken quesadilla. Everything was very good and the chicken was seasoned very well too which isnt the standard experience.“

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

“All of their food is delicious🔥🤤😋“

“food is delicious staff very polite“

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

“I have only ever had thw pineapple here but its really good! It comes with lobster,crab,mussels, Octopus,shrimp. You can't remove things i was told it was cooked that way. Im not sure what it's called on the menu. I just always ask for the pineapple“

“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!“

“Great comfort food and staff is exceptional“

“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.“

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

“My new favorite place. The food the service and the drinks ALL in point.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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! ☆☆☆☆☆“

“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.“

“Great food. Really authentic!“

“I tried cali steak zapato and I love it. At first I doubted I will like it but I think this is one of the best rice less burrito in town. They have large serving portion and the price is reasonable. I think the place is popular to employees working nearby. For us, this is a very cool place to get food after a drink. The staff are accommodating and friendly. The vibe of the place is retro and this kind of restaurant really gives you good vibes. I will try eating here again. :)“

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

“Incredible food & wonderful staff!“

“I work across the street from this tiny taqueria. I get lunch here every week multiple times a week. I eat burritos so often at so many different spots around the city BUT the regular burrito, al pastor, spicy pico, refried beans from Marcelas is the best I've had. You know it's good when the construction team is in there every day during lunch. The red and green salsas are some of the best i've had in the city as well.

If you care about burritos, you like hole-in-the-wall spots that haven't been doxxed by tiktok in a neighborhood that Fox news is terrified of bc they're cowards, you need this burrito.“

“The food here is absolutely delicious and the staff is so friendly and accommodating. I can't recommend this little gem in the Lakeside neighborhood enough. Reasonable prices as well as many menu choices. Do yourself a favor and go there and sample everything, you will be very glad you did.“