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    El Farolito

    4.2 (5.8k reviews)
    Open • 10:00 am - 2:45 AM (Next day)

    El Farolito Photos

    Business Info

    EL FAROLITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - El Farolito

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    8/26/26 Super flower Quesadilla  Asada meat
    Christian G.

    Talk about one of the best authentic taqueria experiences in San Francisco. I ordered a Super Asada Quesadilla. Absolutely amazing presentation and taste. Fresh avocados Asada with flavor Strawberry agua fresca to wash it down. Something about sitting towards the back looking at the front door, the sound of change clinking in the cash register, the smell of different Mexican meats being cooked on the grill and the hustle and bustle of the mission right outside made me give this place 5 stars. When ordering, I was told it's cash only. Be prepared $

    Super Burrito
    Lynn N.

    We came to El Farolito to try their super burritos, and it was good! I got in line and ordered a Al Pastor Super Burrito. It took about 15 minutes for the burrito to be ready. Inside has seating and the place is no frills. The burrito itself is massive! However, I feel the flavor was not there. The pork was not as tender or seasoned well. I did not enjoy the bite as much as I did with other burritos in the area. However, I am glad I tried!

    Menu-June 2026
    Victor V.

    Being a native Bay Area person, I always heard about the burrito wars in San Francisco's Mission District. Over the years I've found myself drawn to the other contender in the Mission way more than El Farolito, so I decided it was time to head back to try this legendary burrito shop. Getting to this location is super simple as we took BART and got off at the 24th Street Mission BART station and from there it's a very short walk of less than a block to get to El Farolito. Walking into the shop one is just slapped in the face with the beautiful smells of the carne asada cooking on the grill right by the door-it's wonderful. It's a modest place that you can definitely tell was built many years ago,so no overly modern amenities-this place cares about the food, not the ambiance. We ended up going with a couple of super burritos of Carne Asada ($11.25) & a regular burrito of Al Pastor($10.25) & also added two tacos one with Al Pastor and one with Carne Asada($4.75) They had beers at $4.75-so we grabbed a couple of Modelos. First the tacos-they were just ok,the tacos were crunchy and I don't know kind of gave Taco Bell vibes. Burritos though-that's a whole different animal. The burrito was so well made from the chew of the tortilla to the seasoning of the carne asada to the perfect balance and mix of all the other ingredients.I judge a burrito harshly if the mix isn't right and you don't get every ingredient in every bite and the mix at El Farolito was flawless. The price point was pretty impressive as well. In closing, El Farolito has always been in the mix as one of the top burrito spots in the Mission, and I can say with confidence that it's in my Top 2 in San Francisco currently. It's an incredible burrito and a true "must-visit" spot when visiting San Francisco. P.S. Just a slight heads up when visiting , it's not the safest neighborhood in the world, so just keep your head up when visiting-this is a place one visits for the food experience not the ambiance.

    Wet Super Burrito (half way done)
    David S.

    Got the Super Burrito wet with chicken. This monster came out absolutely wet & girthy. The only attack angle sufficient enough to tame such a beast was with a fork & knife. For once in my life, I was forced to eat like a civilized man. On the outside, everything looked normal, but in the inside it was anything but normal: I had to open my third eye center so that I could ascend my primal instinct of going to town on this burrito. Equipped with a knife, I sawed thru that behemoth methodically - too fast and it would burst open, too slow & it would give me the cold side eye. I am the burrito slayer. Cash only, was very very well priced for the size (about $13. Receipt didn't make it out alive).

    Bosses
    Nic A.

    I came in with high expectations after seeing all the great reviews, so maybe that set the bar a little too high. The place was busy and I waited about 15 minutes in line, but the staff were friendly and the prices were reasonable. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the hype for me. I got the boss's burrito, and partway through I found a hair in it, which killed my appetite. Even setting that aside, it just wasn't that good -- possibly because it tastes different from what I'm used to, so some of this might come down to personal preference. I'm still not quite sure what all the buzz is about. Decent service, but between the hair and the underwhelming food, I probably won't be rushing back.

    Menu July 2026
    Mabel H.

    I am stunned by the value and quality as prices are driven up everywhere else for meager offerings lol. They are cash only! They do have an ATM inside if you need to withdraw cash. The restaurant is located right outside 24th St Mission BART station, and there is almost always a line out the door. Goes by fast though! There are additional benches outside in a small courtyard, so don't be deterred by the narrow space inside. A small detail I liked was the sink was outside the bathroom so I didn't have to wait in the bathroom line just to wash my hands :P I truly underestimated how much they will stuff in one taco ($4.75) and one super burrito ($11.25). Like truly, oh my gosh. I was full off two tacos, to give you some perspective. I saved my other two tacos and burrito to share with my parents, and all 3 of us were full. Off 2 tacos and 1 burrito!! Amazing. So much bang for your buck! I don't think you can go wrong with any of the meat options, but I can personally vouch for the tripas (intestine), cabeza (beef head), lengua (beef tongue), and al pastor (marinated pork). The tacos come with hot salsa inside of them, so I would order them without it if you don't like spicy. I also loved the two hot sauces it came with to pour over! My cousin, a food snob, raved about their super quesadilla ($11.25) so I'll have to try that next :)

    Pastor super quesadilla.
    Amy W.

    Sadly La taqueria is closed on Monday and that was what I was craving. 2nd choice a Suiz a quesadilla with pastor from here. It was fine, very cheesy and greasy (in a good way) - I wish I had not gotten the pico baked into it - but live and learn.

    Carne Asada Super Burrito
    Sera K.

    This place has amazing burritos. The portion size of the super burrito is big enough for two people to share, especially with a side of the 75¢ chips. The carne asada was flavorful. My boyfriend loved everything about the super burrito. We will miss it back on the east coast. Make sure you have cash as it is a cash only establishment. Highly recommended if you are in the Mission area or downtown as it is a quick ride on the Bart.

    Dollyrose V.

    Looking for a great burrito late night in San Francisco!?!? Totally worth its hype. The meat is cooked fresh for you to see while in line. The few times I have been here - I got ceviche, tacos & burritos. This particular time I got a shrimp & carne asada burrito. Ummmmm there was no skimp on the proteins wrapped tightly in the fresh tortilla. The orders are set out even with volume of guests they have late night. It's in a questionable area & most likely if you're there late the after bar crowd is there. But all for the love of a good burrito I am down to go. P.S. CASH ONLY

    Entrance
    Joe K.

    Super Quesadilla -- great taste, great portions, great price. Very tasty but a tad salty. Large enough to feed 2 adults. All for just $11.25. Oh, and they're open past midnight. Cash only. ATM available in the restaurant.

    Carne Asada burrito
    Josh R.

    To start off the location is a perfect example of the hole in the wall burrito spot. The staff is nice and they're very efficient. We got the carne asada burrito and as someone that's had a lot of carne asada burritos from great spots just like this it was one of the best I've had. There was a lot of meat and the amount of beans and rice was perfect. This is a really great place to stop by and grab a burrito for the road, a picnic, or just to take it home.

    Exterior - Signage
    Ashley Z.

    The carne asada super burrito I had was solid! I like that they used freshly cut avocados and the burritos were heavy. For $12-13, can't beat that.

    Menu 10/2019
    Elizabeth L.

    I was in the neighborhood and wanted to try something different, but La Taqueria is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so I decided to eat at El Farolito instead. I have dined here many times in the past, and this is a cash-only restaurant. I ordered the Regular Burrito with Beef Steak ($10.25). The regular burrito comes with a flour tortilla, rice, beans, salsa, onions, and cilantro, plus your choice of meat or vegetarian. Meat choices listed on the menu: * Al Pastor - Marinated Pork * Carnitas - Deep Fried Pork * Chile Verde - Pork Green Sauce * Chorizo - Mexican Sausage * Carne Asada - Steak * Lengua - Beef Tongue * Pollo - Chicken * Cabeza - Beef Head * Tripas - Intestines I asked the cashier which meat was most popular, and he recommended the beef steak, which had a slight hint of spiciness. The burrito came with pinto beans and rice. I forgot to ask if I could substitute black beans. The burrito wasn't too salty, and the beef steak was just okay. I also think the $10.25 Carne Asada burrito is a good deal. At other taquerias, carne asada is often an additional charge or the burrito costs more when you choose steak. I usually ask for a receipt even when paying cash. When I checked my receipt, I noticed I was charged an additional $0.25 for "Bolsa To Go" (bag) even though I was dining in and didn't receive a to-go bag. It's not about the $0.25, but I think it's important for a business to have integrity and charge customers only for what they actually receive. I hope this isn't something being charged to other dine-in customers as well. Overall, I would come back to try a different meat, but next time I'll make sure to clearly say dine-in and check my receipt to make sure I wasn't charged for a to-go bag.

    super burrito (al pastor)- 11.25$, tax- 1.25$,

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    El Farolito Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Farolito

    Is this vegan friendly? Are the rice and beans cooked with lard?

    This place is good for vegans.

    Is it cash only?

    Yes it is cash only

    Does El Farolito do catering?

    Yes, we've placed massive orders for pick up.

    What is the secret menu burrito?

    The heffa burrito. " the boss burrito" 2 meats with praws wrapped with 2 tortillas. Extra cheese inside and on top. This custom burrito is 25 bucks.

    Open for take out?

    Yes it's open for takeout

    So you serve chicken breast? Are tortillas homemade

    Shredded chicken is the Pollo option, none other. Tortillas are not handmade. -J-

    They open on Christmas?

    No. They are closed most major holidays.

    Do they make pollo asado (not shredded)?

    Yes they do, it is boiled chicken

    How much seating?

    It isnt very large, maybe a dozen tables

    Do they just change the owner? It looks like the staffs are different and the menu has slightly changed.

    No same guy

    Do they use lard in their beans?

    I hope so.

    Is it open christmas?

    Ah jitncrjsitnas

    Does this place take cards or is it cash only?

    They accept card now!

    Open on July fourth?

    Yes!

    How smelly is the place? I mean - do your clothes smell of taco after the visit? :)

    I mean... Is that a bad thing?

    View All 23 Questions

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    There's a reason this place is considered one of the best burritos in the country. Truly…read moreworld-changing burritos. I got the carnitas super burrito, and was not disappointed. To say that it slapped would be a huge understatement. It's an investment: you wait ~20 minutes in line, and another ~15 minutes from ordering to get your order, but trust me when I say it's worth it. 11/10

    Where do I even begin. I'd been hearing about this place all over social media, so I had to finally…read moretry it. We came early, and I'm glad we did because the line started forming about 30 minutes before opening. By the time they opened, it was already around the corner. The place has an authentic Mexico feel, from the look of the restaurant to the smells coming from the kitchen. The staff were incredible, but one of my favorite parts was being able to watch the whole process right in front of me. It definitely build up my appetite. I ordered two tacos de asada, and honestly, two were more than enough. These tacos were big and packed with meat. They do things a little differently here they used pico de gallo instead of the usual onion and cilantro. I asked them to add the onion and cilantro anyway, and when they came out, I was impressed. The steak was tender, juicy, and had a flavor I honestly hadn't experienced in a taco before. It had this deep, savory, smoky taste that felt completely different from the tacos I'm used to getting in Chicago. The meat itself was so well seasoned that it could easily stand on its own. The freshness from the pico balanced the richness of the steak, while the salsa brought a nice kick that stayed with you after every bite. Simple, but so much flavor packed into each taco. I'm really glad I finally got the chance to try La Taqueria.

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    La Taqueria - Our drinks and extras menu. Out of tangerine, now serving watermelon.

    Our drinks and extras menu. Out of tangerine, now serving watermelon.

    La Taqueria - Temporarily out of beef head and beef tongue. If you want it crispy please ask for it.

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    Qué rico. I highly…read morerecommend. The people are so kind and the food is delicious. It feels like being at home. They have great live music sometimes too which is really nice. The food is authentic and full of flavor, and the portions are huge. You know a spot is really good when even the rice and beans are scrumptious too. The service has always been friendly, attentive, and quick. They're also super dog friendly. I brought my dog and sat outside, and the sweet server kept calling him bonito and giving him lots of love. Pretty sure this is his favorite place now. Just a heads up that it's cash only, so be sure to plan ahead.

    Finally made it to Gallardos, and wow, my favorite place this year so far. We were there on a…read moreSaturday, and apparently they do lamb birria only on weekends. Easy sell with all the happy families around us tearing into quesabirria taccos! Lamb birria plate was perfect, lots of smoky juicy meat falling off small bones, perfect for wrapping in a warm tortilla and dunking in the consomé (definitely take a sip of this on its own). The aguas frescas of the day were jamaica (hibiscus) and cucumber. Warm day, so perfect for two big glasses of the latter, and not too sweet, just a floral thirst quencher. We also got a combo plate with an enchilada and taco, both with chicken. There's a demi-lake of excellent cheesy pinto refried beans, just a lot of food! I'm coming back for that birria, but the service is also warm and makes clear what a fixture they are in the neighborhood, many people being greeted as regulars. Outside patio is lovely, but check out those hats on the portraits in the inside dining room!

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    Gallardos Mexican Restaurant - View from the inside. Mariachi band had just left.

    View from the inside. Mariachi band had just left.

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