The Top 6 Super Carne Asada Burritos in SF (With A Ringer Thrown In)

Photography by Dwight Eschliman (left to right): Matthew Accarrino, Margo True, Charles Hodgkins, Ryan Farr, Prisca Chen

No jukebox blaring banda. No salsa, chips, or beer. Just pure burrito. In a blind taste test—analyzing everything from girth to beef-sear to ingredient distribution and harmony—five experts dig into six of the city’s most popular super carne asada burritos, with a ringer thrown in for fun (ahem, Chipotle). After some serious thought—and proof that even the best burritos can be flawed—conclusions were made.

1. El Farolito
1 ⅔ lbs ($6.30)

Continually ranked as one of the city’s top burritos, the Mission District’s classic 3 a.m. stop for booze-sopping came in first without much struggle. “What a whopper,” said Sunset magazine’s Margo True. “An amalgamated burrito with a careful arrangement of beans, rice, meat, and sauce. A thoughtful cook arranged it.” The carne asada is “wonderfully rustic,” said Charles Hodgkins of Burritoeater. However, burrito lover Prisca Chen did not concur. “The beef is like ground beef,” she lamented, scribbling a frowny face on her scorecard. “Where’s the pico de gallo?” Chen concluded that the burrito filling isn’t made up of true friends “though they tolerate each other.” But SPQR chef Matthew Accarrino gave it his top mark, citing the beans as “soft but with texture,” the beef as having the “best flavor of all.”

2779 Mission St., 415-824-7877

2. Papalote
1 ⅓ lbs ($8.49)

Last Feburary, this Mission District taqueria famously won the Bobby Flay burrito-off on the Food Network. The size of the carne in this burrito was noted by all: “Now that’s a steak,” said Chen. “An attention grabber,” said Hodgkins. “Nice but under-seasoned,” said True. “But I can finally taste the grill!” Hodgkins loved the “wonderfully griddled tortilla” and said, “I hardly ever think this, but this one has too much cheese.” Is such a thing possible?

3409 24th St., 415-970-8815

3. Taqueria Cancún
1 ⅓ lbs ($6.56)

A longtime SF favorite, this was selected by Chen as her top pick. She praised it as “juicy” and best for the uninitiated “tourist who’s never had an SF burrito.” Hodgkins deemed the tortilla steamed (though Cancún’s tortillas are in fact warmed on the griddle) and “sticky on the palate” and lamented the amount of sour cream. Farr was happy about the “good amount of heat, fresh cilantro, and avocado.”

2288 Mission St., 415-252-9560

4. El Tonayense
1 ¼ lbs ($6.50)

There are three El Tonayense trucks in SF, but this burrito, which has the addition of jalapeños (not green bell peppers as some judges guessed), was from the one parked at Harrison and 14th streets. “Good, crunchy sear on the meat,” said Farr. “And the addition of bean juice helps keep it moist.” True found the beef “forgettable—too pulverized.” But Chen appreciated its street-food scrappiness. “What this burrito lacks in girth it makes up for in grease and flavor.”

At Harrison and 14th streets, 415-559-0404

5. Chipotle
1 ¼ lbs ($8.71)

The heat was on, said True, for this chain’s take on a burrito. Their version was “packed with lots of rice, guac, and fire. Zesty!” But it had too much starch for most. “Where are the beans?” said Hodgkins. “Oh, here hidden behind the damn rice.” Farr called the meat “tender” but wished there was more char. Hodgkins said the guac was “top shelf” but that the cheese seemed absent. Accarrino deemed the burrito “right in the middle of the pack.”

232 O’Farrell St., 415-765-9043

6. Gordo Taqueria
1 ⅓ lbs ($6.73)

Representing the burritos of the Richmond District, this one got wildly differing comments. True liked the guac and the balance of ingredients, as did Farr. But Chen asked “WTF?” in regard to what she deemed the “white rice,” which made her “wanna cry.” (Gordo says their rice is actually made with tomatoes.) Hodgkins compared the sour cream or crema to “cream cheese—an abomination.” Accarrino described it as “not so bad but not so interesting either.”

5450 Geary Blvd., 415-668-8226

7. El Castillito
1 ⅔ lbs ($8.20)

“Raw onion, mushy rice, dried-out meat,” said Accarrino of this Castro favorite. “An unattractive mishmash,” said True. “The meat is pale and definitely not asada.” Hodgkins said the beans might be “appropriate for minestrone but not a burrito.” Only one person truly loved this burrito, and it was Farr. “Good meat, good char flavor, nice chunky salsa,” giving it his top ranking, which just goes to show that burrito-tasting is nothing if not personal.

136 Church St., 415 621-3428

The Judges

	Ryan Farr No. 1 pick: El Castillito A classically trained chef, Farr is the owner of 4505 Meats and an expert on all things carnivorous. Farr sells his own line of sausages and hot dogs and teaches popular classes on butchery. You can find 4505 Meats at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Thursdays and Saturdays.
	Prisca Chen No. 1 pick: Papalote The winner of our burrito judge contest on 7x7.com, Chen might be the most burrito-obsessed person we’ve ever met. She even made a documentary and wrote her UC Santa Cruz senior thesis on the burrito.
	Matthew Accarrino No. 1 pick: El Farolito The chef of SPQR, Accarrino might have the skills to cook haute cuisine but he equally appreciates downhome cooking. Accarrrino has worked as the sous chef at Per Se in New York and as the chef de cuisine at Craft Los Angeles.
	Margo True No. 1 pick: Papalote The food editor at Sunset magazine and the editor of The Sunset Cookbook previously worked as the executive editor of Saveur and a senior editor at Gourmet.
	Charles Hodgkins No. 1 pick: El Farolito Since 2003, Hodgkins, founder of burritoeater.com—the most comprehesive study on SF burritos out there—has been scouring the city for the best burritos and then ranking them with mustaches.

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By Anonymous (not verified) on January 19, 2012

San Diego / San Antonio / Houston - go there for the best burritos in the US. Something about being close to the border that you can't match.

For SF - El Metate has to be on a go-to list.

By Anonymous (not verified) on January 13, 2012

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By Maria (not verified) on January 08, 2012

How can you leave out El Toro and Pancho Villa (both owned by the same people). Had a yummy burrito there the other day. I agree that the panel shows its lack of knowledge by leaving out La Taqueria. Shame. The one time I tried El Farralito, I got sick. I guess the only thing we can agree on is people feel passionate about their burritos.

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By swiss1 (not verified) on December 07, 2011

I have a Burrito Guide on my blog featuring my reviews as well as others. While I thought I was burrito obsessed, I kneel before Prisca Chen, humbled... Seriously? a thesis and documentary? That's hardcore. I'm really glad that others have pointed out the merits of toasting the shell and not steaming. That's a cardinal sin in my book. That and the abundance of rice. Heck, the EXISTENCE of rice in a burrito is a sin. www.foodandwinehedonist.com

By The Food and Wine Hedonist (not verified) on December 04, 2011

I'm new to this site but lost alot of respect for their voice on food when I saw chipotle and gordo taqueria up here.

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By Anonymous (not verified) on November 27, 2011

You retards that wrote this article and blog here don't even know the absolute best carne asada burrito can be had at La Altena on Mission between 21st and 22nd. Try it. The beef is charred to order. It is delicious. I have tried many others, but this is the standard in SF for carne asada burritos. Simple and classic.

By Anonymous (not verified) on November 05, 2011

I've eaten burritos my whole Life , I've worked in Burrito joints . Best al pastor burritos El farolito & La Altena , best chorizo burritos La Taqueria & Dos Pinas . Best chicken burrito El Faro's . Best carne asada El Farolito and Taqueria san Francisco . Worse burrito joint Papalote ..hint if a Mexican restaurant is filled with nothing but gringos its a sure bet the place sucks .

By Oj (not verified) on October 31, 2011

The little yuppie gurl who wrote her thesis on the "Burrito" at UC Santa Cruz(joke of a school if there ever was one)likes Taqueria CanCun and Papalote! Go figure!!! Yuppie slop for Brung Ins!! The real test of a Burrito is if it is still good when it is COLD!! Ask any Mexican!!....and sour cream and guacamole on a burrito is only for yuppies. Avocado is okay...but sour cream??? WTF??

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By Ricardo Roizner (not verified) on October 05, 2011

this was a terrible write up. Have these people ever eaten a burrito? classic total wannabee writers/internet "experts" who are just clueless.

3 of these are just not good places and I would only consider 2 of them good. The others may have been grilled tortillas at one time but most taste very steamed.

Guacamole is a true southern cal thing. this was awful and a waste of time.

and all of the relatives that are ripping on the people not liking this can take their xanax and lighten up. These are for opinions and isn't a dictatorship.

By jpm (not verified) on September 28, 2011

Clearly, this write up sucks.

In the Mission, it's Taqueria San Francisco on 24th and York. Elsewhere, El Castillito on Golden Gate Ave and Larkin has by and far the best burro in the city.

'La Taqueria' would win as the most overrated burrito in SF. Go to Super Taqueria in the South Bay, get the same thing, with a drink, for $5 out the door. Take that yuppie gouging elsewhere!

By Anonymous (not verified) on September 15, 2011

Ju kidding me. Non of you dumb asses included La Taqueria as the best in SF.

You haven't been to a "carne asada" at a latin persons home, that is very clear.
La Taqueria is the real deal folks.

By CDUB (not verified) on August 31, 2011

El Farolito, in the words of George St. Pierre "I am not impressed)."

By yummerz (not verified) on August 10, 2011

Yeah, but nobody beats LA TAPATIA in South San Francisco. Absolutely the best burrito I've ever had...in Northern California at least. If you haven't been, you'll notice there's a line out of the door at all hours of the day. Good food all around too.

By yummerz (not verified) on August 10, 2011

Once I shimmied through the gaggle of stoned teenagers on the sidewalk out front, I found a small eating area with a few tables. To order you gotta head way to the back of the place and into the area that you would call the kitchen, which is really odd. The place was not the tidiest with an assortment of trash items on the tables as well as a medium sized bag of trash in the middle of the floor.

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By Derlierprossy (not verified) on August 06, 2011

The Mission Burrito was invented at El Faro @ 20th & Folsom in San Francisco in 1961. They are the best burritos on the planet; Period.

There is no debate on this. NONE.

#2 No one in their right mind eats a Carne Asada Burrito. You eat a Carnitas Burrito. There is no Debate; PERIOD

By John Bernstein (not verified) on August 05, 2011

El Farolito is easily the best and deserves #1, Taqueria Cancun is Garbage, and WTF is Chipotle doing there? You might as well put Taco Bell and Del Taco there if you're going to put Chipotle on the list. Oh yeah, your panel mostly consists of white people. I'll take this "taste test" with a grain of salt.

By Anonymous (not verified) on August 05, 2011

El Farolito on Mission St. in the Excelsior District is the best El Farolito. The one deeper in the Mission on 24th isn't as good and there is no room to sit down.

By Anonymous (not verified) on July 29, 2011

Did you seriously just put Chipotle on your list of top burritos in SF? Chipotle is a chain you idiots! That's like saying that McDonalds has the best SF burger.

I agree with El Farolito as the top choice but La Corneta in Glen Park should have a place up there too. And Gordo should be nowhere on this list.

By Anonymous (not verified) on July 29, 2011

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By Anonymous (not verified) on July 24, 2011

El Farolito at 24th and BART has burritos so dry they'll make you gag.

By Charles Dunbar (not verified) on July 23, 2011

Carne asada? La Cumbre. End of story. El Farolito? You've got to be kidding. Flavorless meat with a whole lot of grease piling up at the bottom of the burrito, in one of the most filthy settings in the Mission. Yuppies think this is real Mexican!

By Anonymous (not verified) on July 23, 2011

Omg wtf i cant believe they didnt include taco bell's burrito on this list..you guys are not true san franciscans!!stupid yuppies!!!

By Anonymous (not verified) on July 07, 2011

@SF smartass: It's South of Market NOT SOMA. I should know, that's where I grew-up. South of Market should not be included with the Marina and South Beach or as I call it, Fake San Francisco a.k.a. Zombieland by my friend. As far as burritos, growing-up in the South of Market, El Faro on Folsom St. (or was it Harrison St.?) was the place to go for our burritos. We never trekked out to the Mission. And yes, my sisters and I still think El Faro had the best burritos!

@El Mexicano: Don't trip off of these people. And please, don't consider the South of Market as Yuppieland. I grew-up in this neighborhood and it was and still is the ghetto. The yuppies, and now hipsters have suddenly deemed it "cool" to live in the ghetto, so hence the invasion of these two groups. Gentrification is a bitch, but it happens. Now the Tenderloin is called "The TL" and the Mission District is now called "The Mish." Like I said, gentrification is a bitch!

By sfnative (not verified) on July 07, 2011

The Chipotle factor is a wonderful wild card in this race. I welcome Chipotle among this panel. And La Taqueria is for tacos, not burritos!

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By Montreal Canadiens jerseys (not verified) on June 20, 2011

1) mission style burritos have very little to do with any food that's Mexican. If you put mexicans on this panel you might as well have them judge spaghetti

2) la taqueria is about tacos not burritos. Their burritos aren't very good.

By ikb (not verified) on June 18, 2011

No one said anything about Las Palmas. Here in San Francisco just this year. It's hugh and good. The ground beef has so much flavor. And the steak and shrimp it is the best........... It's location is the bayview look it up.

By mac (not verified) on May 25, 2011

This list is shameful. No La Taqueria. You obviously don’t know SF burritos. And you included a chain? Chipotle? That’s a good burrito if you’re traveling in Oklahoma and need a fix. Get the real thing while you’re in burrito country. I’m embarrassed for the judges and the author.

By Anonymous (not verified) on May 20, 2011

No offense, but the judges are as qualified as any ordinary yelper. Maybe the "Best Burrito" headline will convince some 20 something to buy the magazine. Opinions are like, well...you know.

By jimmyj (not verified) on May 20, 2011

No La Taqueria, no respect for this list. Oh, and including Chipotle is like slapping God in the face with a burrito.

By Jerkstore (not verified) on May 20, 2011

Of course, you can expect of judges where no one is Latino? And any drunk at two in the morning do not know the difference of what a good burrito is .....

By Francisco (not verified) on May 19, 2011