The year was 2014, and FiveThirtyEight's Burrito Bracket had elevated data journalism to new heights. Just kidding, that was a waste of time and money, as the winner, La Taqueria, was a pretty obvious pick (for good or ill, depending on your leanings).That's also sort of what OC Weekly writer Gustavo Arellano reveals in a piece this weekexplaining why a potential underdog candidate, the Mission's El Castillito, was excluded from the running altogether — and why, in his words, it should have won.
Two years ago, I participated in FiveThirtyEight's Burrito Bracket, an epic undertaking in which stats guru Nate Silver and a panel of four other judges used Yelp reviews, old-fashioned journalism and more to try and find the best burrito in America. The eventual winner was La Taquería in San Francisco, which I called from the start: it's the Mission burrito wrapped to perfection.
Burritos are as classic to San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge, our steep hills, and Karl the Fog. Whether you identify as a burrito-purist or fall on the side of loving the contested, but SF-original, Mission Style, one thing is common- you cannot live here without ever indulging in one of our many distinct taquerias. From late night refueling, to quick portable bites, and even for a heavenly bite of nostalgia, burritos are fundamental to both the culture and history of our immigrant-founded neighborhoods.
San Francisco is home to six of the best burritos in the country, the Daily Meal reports
Is there any better food than Mexican food? It’s flavorful, comforting, fresh, spicy, and delicious–or rather, deliciosa! I’m pretty sure tacos can fix any problem I have.
San Francisco has the best burritos in the country. No, really. Just ask Nate Silver, GQ, Thrillist, the Daily Meal and Eater. That's something they can agree on. The one thing they can't agree on is which burrito is the best. We're not here to answer that question, but we can break down the best burritos in San Francisco by neighborhood. Note: We're including fusion burritos on this list, too, because they are damn good. If you're a purist, skip over them or open your mind.
Burritos are so integral to San Francisco that we wouldn’t be surprised if we saw one added to the official city seal. And even though you could ask ten different people about their favorite burrito in town and get ten different answers, we’ve done the work of narrowing down our 18 favorites. Time to start checking them off your list.
We’d eat at this Castro spot over its more notorious counterparts any day of the week. If you haven’t visited, you should.
San Francisco is home to a lot of great Mexican food. Sometimes, we suspect it’s half the reason our family and friends actually come to visit (don’t worry, we understand). Enter: this guide to 17 great Mexican restaurants in the city. From vegetarian-friendly neighborhood spots to fantastic taquerias, here are the places you need to check out.
San Francisco is reopening, which means you may or may not have friends and relatives who are looking forward to finally visiting you - and spending time sightseeing around the city. Or maybe reopening means you’re ready to get outside more and reconnect with your city by exploring its most iconic landmarks. (While we’re on the subject, yes, now is the time to finally take your maiden stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge or hop on a ferry to Alcatraz.) Whatever your reason is for hitting up the Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, and more of SF’s tried and true tourist-y spots, you’ll probably want to eat while you’re at it. This guide has you covered.
Tasting and debating and proselytizing for our nearly two-pound stuffed tortillas is a tradition. One that—as the city continues to change, and the family-run fixtures that sell them work hard to stay open—deserves to be honored again and again. For as long as both San Francisco and its burritos shall live.
