El Farolito (Mission/24th)
San Francisco, CA
| Overall Score based on 18 reviews |
7.6 recommended |
Editorial Reviews (1)
Dan's Score: 6 / 10 full review...
This is one of the legendary burrito spots in San Francisco, a hole in the wall frequented by drunks, maniacs, hard-working men, thugs, and the inevitable fixed-gear-parking hipsters. It's open until extraordinarily late, and the lines out the doors after the bars close on Saturdays are long enough to make Russians who grew up in the '80s blanch with fear. What's with the hype? Why all the crowds? Can this place possibly live up to the hype?
User Reviews (17)
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Showing 1-17 of 17 (most recent reviews shown first)
Score: 4.5 / 10 Reviewed by: jimmyzamora
You better be drunk and it better be late because this place is a cesspool. Both conditions were in full effect on the few times I ate there, otherwise I would have left when I saw the dude park his knife, wipe the blood on his apron and then make my vegetarian burrito. My table was filthy when I got to it and while I understand that it was busy, there were about 10 men behind the counter so I think one of them could have made a bus run.
The burrito was ok but it was all soppy and mushy at the bottom, that was the final straw, I got grossed out and couldn't finish it. I am pretty sure that it was all the whiskey in my stomach that fought off the cross-contamination and kept me from getting quite sick.
Caveat emptor. Like I said, show up late and show up trashed and you will probably be ok.
Score: 9 / 10 Reviewed by: Mahalmo
I had the Al Pastor Burrito and it was amazing. Way to go on that. The size was good, the meat was perfect, spice was good, and it was pork, not ground or covered in some strange gravy. I will definently be visiting this place for my next Pastor craving. My firend had the chicken burrito and it was a bit on the dry side had to add lots of salsa to get it moist, however they did use Breast meat, so what can you expect, IT WAS A HEALTHIER CHOICE meat. So ups and downs for the chicken.
Score: 8.5 / 10 Reviewed by: XAdamDX (Oakland, CA)
Let's just get this one out of the way right off the bat. The burritos here are good, and if you can hit it when it's not busy, it's a nice spot. However, considering that the Mission is the straight-up MECCA of awesome burritos, I can't understand how I wind up here time and time again once all the crappy bars are letting out. It's not a terribly huge space, homeless people wander in and harass you, and if you wind up sitting next to their absolutely disgusting bathroom, good luck finishing your meal. This is 'the spot' for some reason, but I'd just as soon head across the street to Taqueria San Jose or further down to Cancun or basically ANYWHERE on Mission if there's a line out front.
One day I plan on doing a trip where I eat at every taqueria on Mission in sequence. Anyone else up for this? Hospital, here I come!
Score: 2.5 / 10 Reviewed by: serop2
I had actually eaten burritos from El Farolito many times before I had ever stepped foot inside it. I work the graveyard shift, and some of my coworkers often made late-night burrito runs to this place because it was the only place that was open. I was usually amused by the stories of drunken hipsters, but the burritos were decent--when they got my order right. I would say there's a one-in-three chance they'll get your order wrong, and I don't mean they'll add guacamole. A couple times I've gotten shrimp in my vegetarian burrito, and one time, I got beef!
Because I was curious, I actually visited the location myself one Friday night. That was a big mistake. The line was long, which wouldn't be so bad except that almost everyone in line was a hipster. I'm not exaggerating. So in addition to having to wait in line in a dirty, noisy place, I had to listen to fourteen conversations about track bikes, flashmob pillow fights, and RC-car parties. And 90 percent of the interlocutors were wearing the hipster uniform--conductor cap, too-tight short jeans, and black-rimmed glasses.
Did I mention the place was dirty? Disgustingly so. I'm all for greasy spoons, but I also know when there's a significant risk of finding rat feces in your burrito. And they got my order wrong again; I guess they like giving away free shrimp.
I will never go there again, and I suggest you don't either.
Score: 9.5 / 10 Reviewed by: sdrouin
Nothing can ever beat a late night burrito after a good rock concert at El Farolito. This places veggie burrito has full slices of avocado, great whole pinto/black beans, and melted cheese. Stand alone, the burrito is awesome. Salsa is ok. Giant painting of the meat slicer. awesome.
Score: 7.5 / 10 Reviewed by: Peterp (Mission Viejo, CA)
I just ate my carnitas burrito this late afternoon / early evening. I thought this place was good. The meat was okay but not great. I liked the fresh avocado. I haven't seen that yet in the Mission. As usual, I ordered it without rice. As usual, it fell apart like all other great burritos. I didn't think it was the best I've ever had but it was pretty good. From time of ordering to giving me the burrito to go was very fast. I really liked the salsa bar. The staff was very nice.
Score: 8 / 10 Reviewed by: Lafifi (San Francisco, CA)
True story... one time my friend Steve and I were eating our Faro chili relleno tubes and I put the thing down half-way through, so full I thought I was going to pop. Steve started chuckling and pointed to my face. I had relleno grease smeared all over my chin and cheek. Clearly it was body temperature because I couldn't sense it at all. When I wiped up, it took five napkins. FIVE NAPKINS. It wasn't carefree grease, like what you'd find on freshly fried tortilla chips. It had the viscosity of motor oil. It really grossed me out and it took awhile before I was able to order the relleno tube again.
But in general, I really dig their burritos and especially the super vegetarian. They use fresh avocado instead of guac, which I love. Try the whole beans, as they are a nice alternative to the usual refried. The burritos are seriously cheap, yet weigh about 10 lbs each. Not for the faint of heart or those on a diet!
Score: 8.5 / 10 Reviewed by: tacosam
I've been three or four times and I always have the super burrito al pastor. This is a good burrito. The meat is flavorful, not too gamy. The rest of the ingredients melt together forming a delectable, flavorful mess you savor to the last bite.
I try not to eat too much of this stuff because it can't be good for you. All in all this one of the best burritos in SF. The only thing that would make it better is a cleaner environment and more sophisticated ingredients. But for a down and dirty taqueria this place is great.
Score: 6 / 10 Reviewed by: johndee_001
Carne asada burritos are pretty good, but the meat is flavorless. It's not horrible but I went there because I had read all these reviews on how good this place is only to be a little disappointed. I'd probably go there again sometime but I wouldn't go out of my way just to eat there.
My search to find the best carne asada burrito in San Francisco continues....
:(
Score: 9.5 / 10 Reviewed by: jsimone11
My fiance and I drove up to San Fransisco last Thursday evening to meet up with Justin, Mike, Nate and Co. for a nice evening of scrabble, political banter and other wholesome activities. I had had a conversation with my fiance in the car on the way up where these exact words were spoken, "I don't think I'll have a burrito tonight, even if the other guys want one." Just after Justin, my fiance and I met up we called Nate and Mike, who were at the Golden State Warriors game, to check on their status. Mike's words: "JOEY!!! Lets get drunk and have a burrito!!!! I need to have the whole "Mission St" experience." How do you turn that down?
We arrived at El Farolito at around 2 am. (DISCLAIMER - Some of the people in our party had imbibed alcohol, which has been known to skew strict burrito scoring results.) There was a line out the door at 2am and the clientèle were mostly Hispanic, with a few preppy white guys mixed in. Let me just mention that The Mission is not really the kind of place you want to hang out alone in at 2am, yet still this taqueria was bursting at the seams with customers. We were able to watch the burritos of customers ahead of us being made as we waited in line - the authentic workers used the popular "plastic plate under the burrito to give it support while filling the tortilla with ingredients" technique perfectly. The meats were coming off the grill faster than you could say carne asada. The rice and beans looked fresh. The chicken looked amazing. There was one man who's job was to cut open an avocado and "slice" out pieces using a spoon and throw them onto the burrito in lieu of guacamole. It was quite an operation.
I decided on a healthy chicken burrito and placed my order. We grabbed a table and waited anxiously... luckily it only takes about 2 minutes to make a burrito. When they came out the burritos were large and hot. There was a nice, tight aluminum wrapping covering up a grilled tortilla shell - just plain excellent. The first bite was exploding with flavor. The rice and beans were top notch. The individual pieces of avocado where a nice addition to the experience. The salsa was very tasty, but a little more could have been included. I also got a bite of Mike's carne asada burrito with sour cream and it was so good as well, some of the best sour cream I've ever had in a burrito. I left the experience full, happy and still wanting more!
I'm disappointed that we probably won't make it back up to El Farolito.
Score: 9.5 / 10 Reviewed by: mariamargarita
The one & only little lighthouse. Everything about it (except cash only-ness but I don't blame them for this) from the grilled tortillas, huge chunks of avocado, wonderful melted cheese and flavorful rice to the low, low, low price makes this place damn near perfect especially considering that now most taquerias will charge you 7-8 dollars for the privelege of dairy in your burrito.
Carnitas & carne asada are the stand out meats here, but the veggie burritos (and even vegan) are just as good, if not better. They also have the option of lengua, tripas & sesos for the adventurous palates. I've been here both drunk & sober and always have a wonderful burrito. Take it to go to your favorite Mission drinking hole, never eat in if you can help it. Great quesadilla suiza and steak super nachos as well! I always bring visitors here for the ultimate Mission taqueria experience.
Score: 8 / 10 Reviewed by: stevieg
One of the best hangover burrito places in the city. Perfectly greasy and the meat is great for such a hole in the wall. They're quick and nice behind the counter. The spicy salsa has the perfect amount of kick to it. I'll say it's the best burrito in the Mission for the price. Not too fancy, just good.
Score: 8 / 10 Reviewed by: treed
El Farolito is a small hole in the wall with brightly-colored yet rundown tables, some of which look like they're castoffs from outdoor fastfood establishements. What it lacks visually, however, it makes up for both in audition and taste.
The jukebox pumps in constant (and loud) Spanish-language tunes (everything from mariachi to hip-hop). There is no acoustical tiling whatsoever, and so sounds echo and fill the room with a cacophany of auditory stimulation.
My super veggie burrito (which I ordered without sour cream) was served with lots of avocado, rice and whole pinto beans (honestly, I prefer black). It was suprisingly spicy and flavourful for a veggie burrito. Integration was superb and everything was cooked quite well. The burrito came in a basket and wrapped in aluminum foil; it was almost too hot to touch at the beginning. Although the tortilla was also done quite well and not overcooked, there was enough liquid in the fillings to cause the bottom to become soggy and breach. Without that, I would have probably given this a 9.
The horchata could have been bigger (but it was cheap), and they charge extra for chips.
Score: 8 / 10 Reviewed by: countz3r0 (San Bruno, CA)
Probably my favorite places for a burrito in the Mission. The late hours are especially nice (stumbling in at 2am for a burrito rules.) There's even a bar next door! I've never had a bad burrito here. Not the cleanest place, and it's a little crowded when there's a big line of people waiting, but it's still worth it. Tasty, big burritos!
Score: 8 / 10 Reviewed by: ElTrolito (Berkeley, CA)
I have to cut more slack to burritos made in SF - for all the taquerias making them, the market here is fairly unsophisticated. While most foodies already know to avoid those places whose meat options are only chicken or beef, they seem to only have made it as far as carnitas, carne asada [grilled beef], or pollo asado [grilled chicken] for their own meat selections. Not much of a culinary leap, know what I'm saying?
That said, the carnitas at Farolito are muy tasty. (I can't vouch for their asados - I've never indulged them, mostly 'cause I prefer grilling my own.) But their (pork) "al pastor" and beef tongue ["lengua"] are particularly brilliant. This is one of the first places I ever tried in the City [waaay back in the day], and it's still one of my favorites. (Even if I now eat tortas there more often than burritos....)
If you like burritos bigger than your head and/or like the most ingredients possible (like a buffet in a tortilla), try some other joint. But if you'd like some a little more authentically-Mexican tasting [yeah, I know burritos aren't 'real' Mexican - I meant the constituent bits], give Farolito a try.
Score: 8 / 10 Reviewed by: enw
I started eating at the 24th St. & Alabama El Farolito back in 1998 - burrito pollo, (that's chicken) super - and instantly became a fan. Since then I've tried other El Faralito burritos - from carnitas to veggie - and settled on what may be the perfect burrito - a super veggie with no cheese, no sour-cream. extra avacados. When you ask for avocados they scoop large chunks (probably 1/2 of a whole avocado) into the burrito before. While the same burrito at other taquerias can be dry or mealy, the El Farolito burrito is flavorful, moist and delicious. In the past I've flown 3 vegan El Farolito burritos across the country to New York as a surprise for a friend who unfortunately moved to Brooklyn. Your carniverous friends will probably even be impressed by the flavor.
I wasn't so happy with the carne asada, although a good friend of mine (not a big burrito fan) swears by the carne asada tacos. The carnitas were also sub-par. If you're in the mood for an amazing greasy meat experience and you've had your cholesterol I recommend you try the quesadilla suiza - steak and cheese melted in a flour tortilla.
The red salsa is okay and the green tomatillo salsa is hit or miss - but when it's good (thick, relatively spicy but still flavorful, possibly containing bits of avocado?) it's very good. Also good are the cebollitas - green onions salted and fried with lime juice.
The Mission @ 24th El Farolito (the one I go to now) also has the most amazing artwork hanging on the wall - a back-lit image of a large chunk of meat roasting on a spit - a bit of psuedo-religious iconography if you ask me.
Score: 7 / 10 Reviewed by: nectarine (Los Angeles, CA)
I was not exceptionally pleased with this place. I am rating it more acutely because it is in SF. It would rate higher if it were not in SF, but I am holding it to a higher standard.
It was huge and long for sure, but my biggest complaint was I felt like all I tasted was rice. I ordered my faithful super carnitas black bean. It was an integration problem. It was heavy on rice, and it all mixed together in a dry way. I ordered slices of avocado in it, expecting it to be delicious, but even the avocado slices couldn't rescue it by moistening it up. It was just huge and dry. What I'm looking for is cheese, salsa and guacamole flavors oozing delicately throughout a burrito.
A plus about this place is I was able to get a burrito at midnight.
Showing 1-17 of 17
