The first institution to create Mission style burritoes since 1961, El Faro. It's the one place every firefighter in Mission used to go to; even the locals loved El Faro. Despite as a fast food joint, El Faro had been at least awarded as the best place to get Mexican food. Its interior has been just as common and ordinary as when it's back into the 1950s. The service is humble and promising throughout the generations. My super burrito, completely wrapped in two layers of aluminum foil, has no meat; only veggies. Black beans, rice, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and guacamole; same old school ingredients. Just have to be on a diet that makes my super burrito less filling. The red salsa, good for dripping into a burrito, is just plain mild, which is just right. I'll always say this plainly; El Faro is a good place for the majority of locals who loved burritos. That place will continue to stay strong for the time being. So please, come to El Faro while their opened for business. read more

El Faro - Vegetarian Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the first mission burrito in San Francisco. We saw news article about potential closing so a friend and I stopped by one afternoon. The place is not right on Bart line so there are a lot less customer inside. This also means you get a seat without having to push through the crowd. The food is like a typical mission burrito, large and flavorful. The place is also clean with great staff. Highly recommended. read more

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An SF Classic That Never Misses! El Faro the real deal. If you're in San Francisco and haven't had one of their iconic burritos, you're seriously missing out. This place is a local legend--and for good reason. The Burritos: Massive, flavorful, and packed with love. I went with the carne asada super burrito and it was everything I hoped for--juicy meat, perfectly seasoned rice, creamy guac, and just the right kick of spice. Every bite felt like a celebration of authentic Mexican street food. A True SF Staple: El Faro has been holding it down for years, and it shows. The vibe is no-frills, fast-paced, and full of character. It's the kind of place that locals swear by and visitors dream about long after they've left. ‍ Sharing the Love: I was so happy to introduce my daughter to this gem. Watching her take that first bite and light up was a full-circle moment. It's more than just food--it's a taste of the city's soul. Must-Try: Whether you're a first-timer or a longtime fan, El Faro a must. Affordable, authentic, and unforgettable. Don't leave SF without it! read more

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El Faro has stood the test of time, "serving the first retail burrito on September 26, 1961." When Kennedy was President! And in this town that grinds down the best restaurants through large rent hikes and changing consumer tastes, I salute El Faro for serving up tacos and burritos to generations. My son loves this spot because the burritos are enormous and stuffed with the goods. He's had both the carnitas super burrito and the breakfast burrito, both gargantuan. It's almost the size of his shoe! I was less impressed with the agua fresca. We had the "Jamaica" flavor and it tasted like watered down high fructose syrup. Pork enchiladas were good, had a faint but distinct taste of cinnamon in the roasted pork that was interesting. I liked it, never had pork seasoned that way before. Service was alright, maybe they had a busy lunch rush and were tired. They also open **early at 7am, those ladies work hard! I didn't see a place to run credit cards and there's an ATM placed right before the window so it could be cash only? Luckily, I had enough. Recommend anything that has their delicious roast pork! read more

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Food was better than I remembered. The burrito was on the smaller side but so was the price so no big deal. I had the super veggie and it was really good. Hope this SF institution lasts as they're struggling with raising rents read more

AMAZING food, and service and super clean! I've been coming to this restaurant for YEARS and every time I visit the food is precisely as good as the previous visit! The papusa is made fresh to order and comes out quickly considering. And it's SO yummy. Don't know if I like the pork and cheese or the cheese better, both insane! I've literally came here my entire life and have since moved away but this is my first stop every time I fly in. All I can say is try it! Best burritos in town!!! read more

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I have been going to El Faro for many decades!! Hahah. They have the best breakfast burrito. I always get the super with pinto beans. My wife gets the vegetarian with potato and beans. When we go on long road trips we start at El Faro for our breakfast on the go. read more

Way better tacos in the area. I ordered one of my tacos with guacamole but had to scrape it off because it wasn't good. The al pastor was decent but again, better tacos nearby. Service very friendly and fast! read more

There has been a long debate about the Mission style burrito birth place. It has been two burrito places which steak( stake) their claim to the original Mission Style burrito . In my old neighborhood if you went to Mission High or lived in the Mission Dolores or Valencia street area and around Mission street corridor you would say it was La Cumbre on 16th and Valencia. If you lived on 20th street side past South Van Ness and beyond and went to John O'Connell High School ( the only other regular Public High School in the Mission) you would say El Faro on 20th street and Folsom. This debate (since the schoolyard) has existed for decades but one thing is for certain that the Mission style burrito has gone nationwide and both La Cumbre and El Faro style has been influential in setting it off. I came back to visit the original El Faro with memories about their glory days and good memories of the neighborhood . Then there is bad news about three robberies happening at El Faro within a week. I had to try their chicken burrito once again since it's been a while. The chicken super burrito has chunks of boiled meat and came with beans, cheese , guacamole and rice. The boiled chicken pieces were tender and had good flavor mixed with the other ingredients inside the tortilla. What came first La Cumbre or El Faro is more of a friendly question and a neighborhood competition Between two restaurants in San Francisco who pioneered and influenced the burrito style straight out the Mission read more

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Great taco ! Tasty and delicious. Service great! Spacious dining. Good atmosphere with the locals dining during their lunch breaks. I just went here for a quick snack and got one carne asada taco. that taco was really great. read more

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Very friendly staff, historic as the first retail burrito in SF, and the super breakfast burrito was AWESOME and very reasonably priced for the size. I really enjoyed the decor inside, especially the mariachi costume on display and the tile murals above the menu. The burrito itself was STUFFED with meat and beans, plus the salsa was absolutely excellent. The pico is very smooth, but balances it out very nicely. read more

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Contents of super burrito: beans, salsa, unmelted cheese, meat, Price, $17. Free chips

Best service, fast! And best breakfast burrito I've ever had. Reminds me of Mexico, service is good and prices are affordable less than $13 read more

El Faro - Burrito chorizo with potatoes - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I stopped here on a Friday afternoon with a taco craving, and El Faro did not disappoint! I ordered two taqueria tacos (one chicken, one pork), which came out to be about $9 total when paying with card. The staff here was very friendly and made sure to confirm which toppings I wanted and offered extra hot sauce for the road. The inside is pretty simple with a long counter and no seating. The taco price felt a little on the higher side, but I don't eat tacos too often so it was worth it to me. The meat was tasty and well-seasoned overall, but the chicken was a little on the dry side. I absolutely loved their corn tortillas - that was my favorite part of the taco. Overall, I'd definitely stop by when I'm in the area! read more

El Faro - Pork and chicken Taqueria Taco - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food is not good, utensils not well cleaned, the service us ok. The chips and salsa are not made there, from grocery store . Not fresh! read more

Looking for a fast, quick, and affordable burrito? El Faro has got you covered. This is located just a short jaunt from the office, and I was craving a burrito. I had been to this location in the past and wasn't blown away, but I figured it's all about what you order. Normally I'm a carne asada guy, but at el faro, the chicken in red sauce for me is the way to go. It's flavorful, and not dry by any stretch of the imagination. Good ratio of meat/rice/sour cream/guac...I think some fresh pico would go a long way, and it does lean towards the runnier side. Definitely an improvement from their other peninsula location though. Honestly, with the rise of food costs, I didn't even know that a super burrito for $9 even existed anymore, but it does here. I had to do a double take because I was like 'no way, it's that cheap'. Although I remember El Faro for their massive burritos, the super burrito I ordered looked like it had lost some weight. Which I'm not all that mad it because of the price, but still small for super burrito standards. I do think for the average appetite, this is more than enough, and I didn't need a nap afterwards. With not a bunch of fast and quick options near the office, this might become a go-to when that burrito craving hits hard around 11:30 in the morning. read more

We have been going here for 30 years never let us down. Some things never change good service and great food . We live across the bay and still make the trip read more

I love this Mexican Restaurant, people that works there are nice and good at what they do especially catering, also I saw the drinks and food it looks so yummy, I have a huge Burrito couldn't finish I will try their drink next time cuz this place is Bomb and Amazing Vibe read more

El Faro - Steak Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

ive been coming here since I was 12 with my grandma. I'm now 24 and the food is just as amazing as I remember. It is the same two ladies working here and now with her daughter. I love this place, it's still amazing. Thank you for still being here. read more

Amazing ‼Acapulco burrito!! I have to get this special order every time I'm in the city I move out of the city and I can't wait to come back to the city and order this special burrito ‼‼ read more

You have a lot of choices when it comes to tacquerias and breakfast burritos in the Mission! This is place has one of top three in my opinion! The eggs, oozing meat, frilled tortillas all come together very nicely with the spicy salsa. Great customer service and reasonable price. This place has been around for a long time! Must be doing something right! Yes, the breakfast burrito! read more

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Ordered beans and rice sides. Everything was tasty although I wish they were seasoned more (needed salt, marjoram, and garlic-- and I ended up cooking them more at home). The beans were not cooked all the way through and were hard/crunchy (part of why I needed to cook them more). About 30 mins after I finished eating my stomach inflated like a balloon. I eat rice and beans all the time and this never happened to me before. Three days later I'm still in a lot of pain and discomfort. I called back to find out the rice is made with chicken stock. Vegans and vegetarians beware. You cannot eat the rice here! read more

Finding myself in the City and having culinary nostalgia, I stopped by an old haunt 'El Faro' 2399 Folsom. Got myself a super carnitas burrito which did not disappoint. This restaurant has the cleanest bathroom in the mission, the nicest staff, and is worth a stop. There is an extraordinary amount of pride that the owners put into their business -Raymunda and Patrick, your hosts - since 1961. This is a true Mission district gem. read more

Excellent burritos seasoned meat choices and you can have it made just the way you like it. No rice extra meat extra cheese with all the super trimmings. Delicious!!!! And the customer service is amazing. read more

I ordered an el pastor super burrito spicy and three sodas, for my coworkers. The burrito was definitely huge! That thing lived up to the super expectation in terms of size. Although for flavor and arrangement big thumbs down. All the beans were in one spot. All the rice was absolutely soaked in oil and sauce (stomach ache waiting to happen). The meat was ok tasted fine to me 7.5/10. If it wasn't for how this meal affected my digestion that day I wouldn't be writing this. Within an hour and a half I had a very very sudden urge to use the restroom. When I got home from work I also had very strong stomach pains and indigestion. Now I'm sure this had to be the cause, I had two other meals withoht any problems that day. 2.2/10 is my final call on El Faro. Go to El Farolito on 24th instead if you want rice that's fresh. Love their boss burrito!! Sorry El Faro, your chow was out to get me in the worst way!! No thank you!! Not again! read more

So it's not the classiest burrito joint in town, but it does have that old-school Mexicana eating spot vibe. It's home of the first Mission burrito, and it's an unofficial historical landmark. More importantly, it has Kick-Ass carnitas burritos! Mui Rico, Amigos!! Perfecto!! Mi gusta mucho! Mejor burrito en San Francisco! Authentic Mexican Food since 1961 read more

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Fast and delicious! Try the "El Gigante!" With refritos beans and al pastor meat! Yum! Lousy parking though. No online ordering. But, you can call, highly suggested! read more

People are very nice and the food was prepared fast. The ambience is shabby taqueria and they claim to be the founder of the Mission burrito. To uphold such a reputation would be stellar, unfortunately they do not. I ordered 3 super burritos, 2 Carne Asada, 1 Carnitas. They were of a good size, the rice and black beans were tasty. For the Asada what little beef they put in (I mean little) was tired from the steam table. Not fresh grilled as more than a few nearby Taquerias do, and that's a shame. Nothing to complain about the small amount of Carnitas taste, but nothing remarkable either. The amount of what appears to be out of a bag, can or mix was not pleasing. Round tortilla chips, salsa and horchata all needed vast improvement. With all the other great places nearby, I will probably not return. I should have been wary as the place was mostly empty. read more

Great food , been going since high school, service is always great, the place give a good vibe

This is where the super barritto was born. I think the second was in South San Francisco on El Camino Real next to Taco Bell. But soon after other Mexican restaurants in San Francisco became king of the super burrito. I ordered a a so called beef and chicken super barritto that seemed to have only 1.5 - 2 tablespoons of meat, if that. The same with the water downed sour cream and guacamole. They were more like vegetarian barrittos with a lot of rice. Don't waste your money here. read more

Hands down... best burrito and breakfast burrito spot! Also... best burrito for a baby! Haha... Munda is the owner and is so nice! Gets your order done quick. Will come back for burritos and friendly service. read more

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Decent enough Mexican food. One of the better Mission-style burritos around (not all places actually make Mission-style burritos). Usually pretty empty so it's really quick to get your food. Good service and they take credit card. Winning combo for me. read more

I loved El Faro's burritos. Growing up in the Mission I would go there weekly. In the early 70s I joined the Marine Corps and was stationed in SoCal. Every few weeks I would drive up to the city and buy 15 burritos, put them in a cooler and bring them back to the barracks. By the time I transferred I was bringing back 40 burritos a trip because of demand. I have not been to the city in 15 years... I miss my Super Chicken burrito. read more

Ya know... this place is very much 3 stars. I'm sad that I couldn't be a fan of this place but the food is just okay. The burrito doesn't come with salsa. The carnitas isn't grilled but based in a lukewarm brown sauce. For 11 dollars the size of the burrito isn't remarkable. Overall this place is very missable. On the plus side it's rather quiet so if you want to avoid crowds this place has ample seating read more

El Faro - Basically just soggy carnitas and rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

Split a super breakfast burrito Eggs Chorizo Ham Bacon Cheese Black beans $10 No salsa bar read more

El Faro - Mexican Near Me - San Francisco, California

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menu prices need to be updated. got a carne asada super burrito and it turned out $15.80, ppl were nice tho

The food is not very flavorful, it's super bland. I'm used to eating at El Toro or La corneta which has much more flavor in their rice, beans & meat but this was honestly disappointing. Not to mention the prices are pretty high, $12.99 for a regular burrito... i stopped by this place because I work near here & had to grab something quick & was highly disappointed. I would not recommend this place, I think the food lacks love lol read more

I usually post all my reviews with pictures or at least 95% of them. Even when my phone is dead I try to take pictures with my friend or family members phones for my reviews. I could not get a picture of my burrito because we ordered our food to go and it didn't even make it to the car! I tore my burrito up practically in the middle of the street! Whenever I'm in the San Francisco area I will always stop here for an authentic burrito. Great service and good food - Fast paced, just overall a good on the go burrito experience. I wouldn't mind sitting here and eating but I would probably just grab to go when I do come in the future and that's Mostly because they don't serve liquor. read more

I've been coming here for well over 10 years and their quality is still the best, their burritos are still huge, and they still have that same Mission ambiance I grew up with that I love so dearly. They are the only place that makes real Acapulco burritos ($8.99 with prawns, rice, crab salad spread, red and green bell peppers). The smaller "Farolito" taquerias make their own version of them but they are not the original. I also can't leave without having horchata (rice milk drink with fresh ground cinammon, vanilla, splash of lime) - it has been one of my favorite drinks in the world since I was little. Ahhh, I'm getting nostalgic! Other things to note: - Their super burritos include ingredients that other places charge extra for, like sour cream and guacamole - Their churros are soft on the inside, a bit crispy on the outside, and coated in just enough sugar (but not too much) - There is always available street parking so you don't need quarters for the meter. - They always give you free chips and salsa I haven't had a plate here, but honestly, I can't resist getting anything but a carne asada super burrito or an Acapulco burrito because it's what they do best. I came in today and I noticed they recently moved the soda machines to behind the counter in order to create more seating space. Win! Tip: Credit card requires a minimum $5 charge. read more

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^^^ ^^^ I like the vibe here.^^^ ^^^^ The tile mural is one of the best art pieces I have seen in SF. It has a lovely 1970's glow. The place feels like family. Everyone I met working there was really sweet. As a vegetarian, I question there beans and the possibility of lard. I just could not tell and I was scared to ask. Also beware of high school hours ie. lunch and 3pm; there was a flood of awkward teenagers. read more