San Francisco Mission Burrito: La Taqueria vs. El Farolito (The Best Burrito Debate)

The Mission-style burrito is a San Francisco invention. In the 1960s, taquerias in the Mission District began making burritos substantially larger than their Mexican antecedents — a large flour tortilla, filled with rice, beans, meat, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole, wrapped tightly in foil. The format spread across California and eventually the world (Chipotle is a direct descendant). The original is still in the Mission, and the debate about which taqueria makes the best one has been running since the 1990s.

What Makes a Mission Burrito

The Mission burrito is defined by its construction: large flour tortilla, steamed to make it pliable, laid flat, filled with a base of rice and beans, then meat, then salsa, sour cream, guacamole, cheese. Wrapped tightly in foil, then swaddled in paper. The foil holds the heat and allows you to eat it progressively without it falling apart.

The rice is controversial. Purists (and La Taqueria) argue that rice has no place in a burrito — that it dilutes the flavour and fills space better used for more meat. El Farolito and most other taquerias include it. This is a genuine and recurring debate.

La Taqueria (2889 Mission Street)

The original. James Beard Award winner for America's Classic Restaurant in 2017. No rice, ever. The focus is on the meat — carne asada (grilled beef), carnitas (braised pork), or chicken — and the tortilla. The salsa fresca is made fresh daily. The beans are properly cooked. Every element is restrained and precise.

La Taqueria queues are long at lunch and dinner. Closed Tuesdays. Cash preferred, though cards are now accepted. The burrito without rice means more meat in every bite, which is the argument in favour.

El Farolito (2779 Mission Street, and multiple locations)

The open-all-night alternative, at the corner of 24th and Mission. Rice included, portions larger, slightly more chaotic atmosphere. The carne asada burrito at 1 AM is one of the defining San Francisco experiences. El Farolito has a rougher edge than La Taqueria — bright lighting, plastic trays, standing at the counter — and the food is excellent.

Multiple locations; the 24th and Mission original is the one worth going to. Open until 3:30 AM most nights.

Other Mission Taquerias Worth Knowing

Taqueria Cancun (2288 Mission Street): consistent, reliable, excellent quesadilla suiza. Good when La Taqueria has a long queue.

Taqueria San Jose (2830 Mission Street, and 24th Street): the working-class neighbourhood standard. Nothing fancy, reliably good.

The Ritual: How to Order

Point at what you want if the Spanish doesn't come easily — all the taquerias operate the same assembly-line format. "Burrito de carne asada con todo" (burrito with carne asada with everything) is sufficient. Specify "sin arroz" (without rice) if you want the La Taqueria experience at any of the other places.

Our Take

La Taqueria for the definitive version. El Farolito at midnight when La Taqueria is closed and you've had a long day. The rice debate is real; try both and form a view.