50 Best Mexican Restaurants in San Francisco

“Quintessential experience of culture, top quality authentic food, and a staple. If there’s a place I’d want to help carry San Francisco culture this is one of them. So lucky for it and you’ll multiple returns to try different taco, burritos, and their great aqua Fresca. Got their mangoes and it hit the spot“

“Such a great spot! Went for our anniversary and it was an incredible experience. Our favorite dishes were probably the sweet corn and ham flan with caviar, and the rockfish taco especially with the habanero sauce. Beautiful presentation and service. So many unique flavors and combinations.“

“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.“

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

“We ate here during Fleet Week this year (2024) and thoroughly enjoyed the food and received great service. We sat outside because it was quite loud inside (minus 1 star). The interior is beautifully decorated and very colorful with a center piece bar. The entire menu is gluten free. Our meals were very tasty and satisfying. I had fish tacos which is not usually an option for GF eaters. They seemed to have a gluten free buttermilk crust - delicious with great texture. Sangria and horchata were both delicious too. Wanted to return the next night but they are close on Sundays. Would definitely eat here again.“

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

“This place has the best Mexican food we’ve had. We were visiting San Francisco from DC and wanted some authentic Mexican food. Once we saw all of the rave reviews for this place, we decided we had to go and our experience 100% lived up to the reviews.

When we arrived and were taking a little while to absorb the menu, the very kind man at the counter offered to let us try all of their sauces so that he could make a recommendation for us. All of the sauces were delicious, but we each gave our favorites and he recommended that we each do a mix and match enchiladas plate. They were phenomenal.

I want to emphasize that these are genuinely kind and warm people. On top of offering to have us try their sauces without asking, when we sat down they brought us a basket of chips and three salsas on the house. We felt taken care of in a way that stands out compared to other restaurants.

If we lived in San Francisco, we would be regulars here. Definitely coming back any time we visit in the future! 10/10 would recommend, no notes.“

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

“Excellent tacos and quesadillas! The outside looks a bit like a hole in the wall but the inside is super colorful and lively, and the salsa is always a little bit more spicy than you think. The portion sizes are also pretty generous- a single taco is really heaped enough for two tacos“

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

“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.“

“Likely the best value in the FiDi for a quick breakfast. I got the Huevos Rancheros ($8.95) add Bacon (+$3). I ordered it through Toast and picked it up. My coffee was made fresh when I got there so it would still be HOT!

The Huevos were delicious! Two eggs, both red and green salsa (one on each), black beans, and a bit of cheese. It was the perfect amount and was delicious. A hint of spice from the salsas, the eggs were well seasoned and the tortillas still crispy.

I'll be swinging by here more often than my usual bagel place in the future!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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 😤🤣“

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

“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!“

“An incredible gem of the city. It doesn’t matter what you pick from the menu, everything is thoughtfully prepared and delicious. The black bean and cheese pupusas are a favorite. It is absurd that this place doesn’t have closer to 5/5 star rating. An amazing place.“

“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.“

“Our server, Oswaldo, was lovely! Made up for a bit of a longer than usual wait. I ordered a hot tea because it was chilly and I appreciated that the hot water kept coming without even asking. It was a small gesture but was very meaningful to me 😊

Ambiance on the patio was cozy and romantic with the greenery and fire pits.

My dish was sooo yummy! I can’t recall the name but it had grilled octopus and calamari alongside a specialty butter. The potatoes literally melted in my mouth 🤤 I took half home because it was quite filling.

I’ll be back for sure and want to try sitting at the bar!“

“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.“

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

“All of their food is delicious🔥🤤😋“

“food is delicious staff very polite“

“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!“

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

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

“Overall the food was ok

🌯: juicy and flavourful
🌮: small but tasty nevertheless

The “house chips” i.e. crips is the one to avoid😐it was waaaaay too salty and you can visibly see salt grains 😒

Bonus: you get a good view of the Alcatraz 😅“

“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.“

“Their al pastor is so good! Got the al pastor tacos and the hawaiana quesadilla and both were delicious! Everything was fresh and tasty, and they’re not stingy with their salsa!

Really nice service and quick wait. There are no chairs — only standing tables, so I got it to go.“

“They have very good food. We will come back🙌🏽“