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"My 600th review goes to one of the best breakfast burritos I've had. Super soft and fluffy eggs, spicy chorizo, hot green chiles, salsa, and…" read more »
My favorite place for a refried bean burrito and at a dirt cheap price.
Conveniently located and never extra crowded, this taqueria has some of the tastiest salsa in their bar as well as fresh ingredients, friendly servers and tasty horchata.
They don't hold back on the salt or the heat at this hole in the wall taqueria. The tacos seem relatively expensive ($2.89 for meat tacos with cilantro & onion, $3.29 for fish tacos) but they do give you more meat than average. There's a salsa bar (the whole roasted peppers aren't that spicy but they're really good; the green salsa is way too salty; the smoky looking red salsa is extremely spicy)! The al pastor is cooked on a vertical spit and shaved off (drool). In addition to tacos, they have burritos, quesadillas, seafood plates, tortas, fresh juices, breakfast items, etc. Meat choices: carne asada, al pastor, pollo, chorizo, carnitas. Where's the cabeza, lengua, etc.???
* Al pastor taco: Finely chopped, fatty, tender marinated pork explodes with delicious flavor...but it's also very oily/greasy. The meat is served on two chewy corn tortillas, with onions, cilantro and hot sauce (optional)
* Fish taco: Small pieces of mild, tender white fish, lightly coated, appear to be pan fried (yay, it's not deep fried). The coating on the fish was too salty but the salsa and lettuce helped. The fish taco features two corn tortillas, onions and cilantro.
I believe free chips are included.
The ambiance is suitably dumpy/gritty with a jukebox, painted ceiling, their awards and ATM. They even capture all the action on a security camera (bonus points).
Cash only.
I knew I should have walked farther and gone to Taqueria Cancun or Pancho Villa instead, but I was encouraged by the fact this place has a 4 star average and is so close to my place. Ah well, lesson learned.
Got the super burrito al pastor. The meat was greasy and the rice and guacamole were not very good. They also use cheese slices instead of shredded cheese - wtf? Everything was just way too salty. No acidity at all, not even in any of the salsas. Just salt and more salt.
Also kind of expensive at over $8 for a burrito. I'll stick to going to the taquerias in the Mission from now on.
Tried it again... and it really dropped off on quality. Chips were no good, neither were the salsas. Meats were totally dry and overcooked. And the beans tasted bland and old.
I won't be going back.
Very decent meats and sauces. The wet burrito is friggin ENORMOUS. I'll be back...
Dinner for 2 for under $10, well until they raised their rates a bit and now its $11 something, but still a great deal. Fast, consistently delicious. Love the location and the folks who work there they are always friendly and fun!
Its my staple taqueria. And don't skimp on the the salsa bar! The green salsa is amazing!!
Very confusing and altogether disheartening to see nearly 400 reviews for a place that gets an average rating of 4 stars yet turns out to be pretty mediocre?
Folks, ya gotta get out more for actually decent mexican food...At any price!
No self respecting Mexican tacqueria can ever be dishing up canned items but Castillito apparently has no self respect...You can actually taste the canned tomato sauce on their shrimp dishes which boggles the mind really....How can you even screw up guacamole?...It didn't nearly resemble/taste like it wasn't premade...Fresh amigos, fresh...Say no to canned goods!
I like the fact that they have this sorta central american looking interior, complete with the sort of fly traps you'd find...I know peeps also seem to be impressed that they grill things but that appears to only be a substitute for a microwave.
I don't want to see piled up meat that had been cooked at some unknown timepoint to simply stick on the grill and give the impression it's 'fresh'...I wasn't expecting Niman Ranch cuts of meat but the gristle being marketed as Carne Asada is pretty scary...I'm still wondering when the ill feelings are going to set in from what I ate
I'm not a Tacqueria snob either because all you have to do is see how well Pancho Villa or Farolito...Tlaloc or even Cactus are also terrific with fresh ingredients.
I wouldn't set foot in this place again.
as far as food goes, castillito is *fine*
the [male] staff, however, leave a lot to be desired. incident #1: as i'm paying for my veggie burrito, i notice someone had drawn a rose, a smiley face and a heart on the foil with a sharpie. the cashier points it out and smilingly comments, "you'd better not show your boyfriend that, otherwise you will receive a beating. have a nice night!" wow. he could have been talking about his grandmother. or a sunny day--the tone of voice he was using was friendly and warm. but he was talking about violence. in a glib and inane way that made me think he considers domestic violence totally normal. incident #2: i'm standing in line to order and i notice the dude making the food is angry. he's throwing food around and barking terse words at the patron before me. i begin ordering a fish taco when said dude roars, "chinga tu madre," at another co-worker. this means, "fuck your mother." it was so shocking and off-putting that i canceled my order and left. i will not be returning to el castillito. [duh]
I've had a lot of burritos in this fair city, and let me say that El Castillito is the best of them all. Better than Cancun, Pancho Villa, or even El Farolito. Yes, I went there. I usually get the carnitas. It's huge, delicious, and gives me that special tingly feeling all over. I'm not talking about the la tourista tingles. I'm talking about love.
The quality and selection here leave much to be desired. The meet tastes over cooked, the salsa looks old, and the tortillas are nothing special. It is authentic style, but just because something is authentic doesn't necessarily mean the execution provides a pleasant meal.
They exist in prime real-estate, and perhaps they are resting a bit on their laurels.
I love going to a place where i can order my burrito in Spanish. Let me say something about my background....I'm Latina and yes i speak Spanish, and yes i love speaking it to the flirty dudes in El CAstillito....they are awesome and masters of burrito making :) and they know it! hehehe
Love the super burito with chicken, sooo freakin tasty!!
Despite being pricey for $7.50, I get a NICE, FAT, JUICY & LUCIOUS piece of Carnitas meat in a Pesto Tortilla.
I'm talking about my Super-Burrito, you "Degenerate Freaks"!
If you've ever tried to substitute a grilled cheese sandwich for a tortilla when making a burrito you know that it can end in disastrous results. You may have even given up on the idea of the grilled cheese burrito entirely!
Thank goodness the mad geniuses at El Castillito found a way to make the grilled cheese burrito. Eureka! It's a true marvel of modern science!
Their secret is slapping the flour tortilla on the grill and then putting squares of cheese on the tortilla before they fill it up with more fat and carbs! What you get is a nice toasty tortilla with a ring of cheese hugging the rice, beans, and meat. Delicious does not even begin to cover the way it feels to bite into this thing.
A word of warning: Stay away from the vegetable burrito. The frozen veggie mix they seem to use is unappealing at best and burrito ruining at worst.
The carnitas and the carne asada are both really good and for the love of the vengeful burrito gods be sure to go super and treat yourself to some sour cream and guacamole.
Thanks to the grilled cheese burrito I have to wear draw string pants.
The only thing worth eating here is the vegetarian quesadilla. Seriously. It is absolutely amazing. My partner in crime and I have been on a veggie quesadilla binge ever since we discovered this place.
Serving size is a little smaller than the average, but very flavorful. Price is somewhat higher, but worth it for the taste. Always fresh.
Rarely do I feel like my stomach is going to explode from eating too much. Went in with a SAVAGE hunger, so I ordered a veggie burrito. By the time I was done, I felt like I was going to keel over. It was the most delicious pain I have ever felt! Awesome!
My god. One of the things I was looking forward to in moving back to California was good Mexican food. Little did I know that I'd find such a great spot in a short amount of time.
Everything I've had here is good: the carnitas, carne asada, and chicken are served in giant portions and extremely well seasoned. Cilantro is packed into each burrito, along with a serving of chips and salsa. The cooking staff is extremely patient and forgiving, which is a big plus considering all the characters that walk / saunter / fall into the restaurant. Finally, the location's great -- right off the J and a stone's throw away from the N.
One thing I can't emphasize enough: the portions are huge. If you eat an entire super burrito, be sure that you can handle a busted gut for a few hours afterward. After I finished my carne asada quesadilla last week, I felt like I just received a late-term immaculate conception.
THIS PLACE IS BOMB AS MIMI-CHING CHING!! No joke the best mexican in the Castro. Their burritos are awesome... ah man I want one now! I always get the super with carnitas, oh the porkliciousness of it!
The staff is quick, you're in and out in no time and can enjoy that big thick burrito you've waited your whole life for.
still the jam. Quesa de Castillito with steak will shock you like an electric eel. Perfect for me when I take the evil J home cause it stops basically in front of the spot.
El Castillito is to mexican fare, what seeing Fugazi for free in Dolores Park when I was like 19 or 20 was to me =epicness personified
i only take off one star because they are of the evil "cash only" persuasion which pisses me off,… Read more »
Best. Quesadilla. Ever.
To the drunken cow who projectile spat cheap Mexican beer onto me this evening while I finished my delicious burrito at El Castillito, I have some words for you: You are a waste of flesh, saggy as yours is. I was so shocked by your outrageously rude behavior-- not only did you spit all over me, but you did not apologize. You do not belong out in public, let alone in a restaurant.
Ugly old bitches aside, Ben and I enjoyed a lovely Mexican meal at this fine establishment. It was cheap, too. I got a huge vegetarian burrito with refried beans and extra guacamole. It was too big to finish and I wanted to take it home, but the rude cow also managed to get beer on my leftovers. Ben got a steak quesadilla that he said was "awesome." I agree with Aaron C. on the ambiance. It's definitely non-existent. Next time we'll get our grub to go and avoid the crack whores.
Went back again with my new roommate and boy do I love the look on my friend's faces when they get their first bite. She agreed that they beat El Farolito hands down with both quality and price--and that's coming from an authentic Hispanic who makes her own Mexican delights at home.
I'll be the first to admit I'm lazy. And I'm not going to take two Muni buses to get some authentic… Read more »
Holy Smokes---this place will knock your socks off. It is a hole in the wall, but this hole in the wall feeds me and my roommates at least twice a week.
Everything is amazing...but I beg you to try the #19 Quesadilla de Castillito. This is the motherload of quesadillas. In fact...it looks like a burrito. Get it and you will never forget it...or think of quesadillas the same way.
The staff is also so endearing and nice. They roll those burritos like no other. They roll so fast and so well, you really need to know what you are ordering when you go in.
When I walk in...I just think HOLLER, SHOT CALLER, 20 inch blades on the impala....then I order the #19
I like this place, cheap, fast, friendly service. You get what you pay for.
One word: CHICKEN.
Okay so usually I'm the Carrrrrne Asada type of girl BUT here I get the chicken. Something about it is addicting. that sauce?? just delicious. I've also had the torta which is one of the best ive had in the city.
Yum yum yum. Oh yeah and the cook flirts with me like allll the time. So girls beware. he's harmless tho
If I were to invite you on a trip to Puebla, Mexico, and we were on a mission to search for a tasty delicious burrito one evening in between eating a tasty tamale for lunch and creamy flan for dessert, we would probably walk into a place not unlike El Castillito. This has to be one of the best, cheapest places in the city to get a REAL GOOD BURRITO. This place is sort of evil because it's on my way home from work and has definitely contributed to an additional 30 minutes of cardio at the gym. I took my family of 6 here to give them a "taste of San Francisco", and we all ate for $30.
The guys behind the counter are really nice (don't be intimidated if you can't fire off your order in Spanish, or even in English -- I've seen plenty people point and grunt with great results). They have a great selection of tortillas (tomato, spinach, wheat, reg), salsas (SUPER good tomatillo), and meats (spicy chicken anyone?).
Don't be fooled by the also-good-but-not-as-great Casa Mexicano next door. Just keep walking up Church to the alluring yellow sign of El Castillito.
Stopped in today for lunch after going to the gym. All I can say is that the Taco Truck in NYC has some serious competition when it comes taste, price and seating. The food was out of this world and the service was quick and clean! Taco Truck NYC - I'm nervous you have West Coast competition. Looks like I'll have to do a taste test when I get back to the East Coast in the next few weeks. Definitely worth trying both and getting your opinion heard!
Service: Sucks!
Food: Sucks!
Ambiance: Sucks!
The veggie burrito costs four dollars and twenty two cents and weighs like two pounds. It's kind of good. The taste is okay, but you're just working your way through it and you're like "oh my God why am I still eating burrito." Then you poop out a pound of burrito out your butt the next morning and that's also not very much fun.
I think I will try the tacos next time. One thing that is awesome is their salsa fresca. It has all sorts of peppers and garlic in it and actually somehow tastes kind of meaty and I'm hoping that's not because there were actually chunks of finger inside of it.
Castillito has my vote for best burrito in SF, for sure.
The Al Pastor is a MUST.
Wet burritos are a close second.
Worth the VERY out of the way trip on the way home when I get a hankering.
Honestly, I have had better, much much better. I now live right around the corner from this little joint, and i wish it was better! I remember going here one drunken night and absolutely lovin' it. However, the two times I have been since, sober, it has been average. Definitely a good deal for 2 large vegie tacos...$4? But they forgot to put beans on both of them. Today I got the vegetable burrito and it was gross. I watched them grab a handful of soggy veggies out of a bucket under the sink, put it on the grill for 30 seconds and then proceed to stick it in my burrito. wtf? Seemed quite unsanitary. Ew. I have yet to try the super vegie burrito...maybe it's better? 1 star for having wheat tortillas, 1 star for having a yummy salsa bar. Convenient so i will probably go back. :/
BEST Al Pastor and salsa verde in the CITY!!!
I get it. It's tasty. But I have this rule.
Look, it's just the way I am.
No. No. It's not like that. It's not you. It's me.
Look, do you want to hear the rule, or what? Are you going to let me talk?
Ok.
If your chorizo makes me shit magma within a half hour, there's something wrong.
No. It wasn't just the once.
The regular fish taco which was about $3.50 was pretty good size and filled with fish chunks. It was delish.
It's a relaxed atmosphere and cheerful workers. It's awesome for our late night light snack post-vball games.
They are always friendly and their kitchen is clean!
I LOVE their fish burrito, and they make the BEST salsa verde in San Francisco!
I only go there for fish burritos and I have NEVER been disappointed!
I hate sitting in and smelling every tweaker in the city! but it is a good place for take-out!
Cheap but delicious and expertly assembled by a team of burrito wizards.
Oh lordy...absolutely AMAZING Mexican!
Their burritos are sooo tasty, they make the 'buds dance :o)
Their salsa is so flavorful, it's not like the typical salsa you get from Mexican places where they just chop tomato, onions, and cilantro, throw it in a bowl and CALL it salsa.
No. El Castillito does this PLUS garlic, peppers, some zesty something-or-other, and it's just a 4 star on a 5 star scale for Salsa. Yum.
My bf always gets the #16 The Quesedilla Suiza, and it's SO good! It's full of meat, cheese, sour cream, salsa, and it's like a flat burrito (that's how THICK their quesedillas are!), but grilled, so the outside is crispy!!
I, of, course, get the veggie, but it's the tastiest damn veggie I've had yet!
Be prepared, it's cash only, I found out the hard way a while ago, and had to go next door to Burgermeister to use their ATM that charges $2.00..bleh.
I was ravenous, so when my friend first suggested the quesadilla, I ignored him. Aren't quesadillas just skinny little tortillas with cheese? He insisted I'd like it, so I gave it a try.
Turns out the quesadilla here is actually a huge San Francisco-style stuffed burrito (packed with cheese, rice, beans, the works), but grilled on oil so that the tortilla is crispy and somewhat browned. It's substantial. And it's great.
El Castallito, I love you. When I moved out of the City to Los Angeles, I used to get requests from my then girlfriend to take a cooler along for the sole purpose of bringing back a vegetarian burrito from El Castallito. Seriously. They are that good.
The options are numerous - chicken, carne asada, carnitas, vegetarian - all of them are tasty. The burritos are large, available in standard flour, tomato, wheat or spinach tortillas. Pinto beans or black beans, tons of fresh veg, and oodles of gooey queso are standard. The salsa is also excellent, with a special shout out given to the avocado salsa (which most reviewers are referring to as salsa vere).
But hey there, Georgie Girl, there's more to EC than just burritos (even though they are consistently rated amongst the best in the City on http://BurritoEater.com - and I don't care what anyone says, they are BETTER than Papalote). The tortas are out of this world, the quesadillas are basically extra cheesy burritos sans beans (unless you go vegetarian) and the chillaquilles are top notch. I've yet to get something there that was disappointing.
EC has a few locations, but I find the Church St. joint to be the best option. Throw them an extra buck in the tip jar, get your huge bag of chips and the avocado salsa to go with your meal, and voila - you're in heaven.
Carne Asada Super Burrito
- It never disappoint, every single time, consistently awesome
Salsa Verde
- By far the best Salsa Verde I ever have, must be the avocado in it that makes it uber awesome
They have to have some of the best burritos in SF. I lean to the carnitas but even the veggie versions are fantastic. Yummy, fast, fresh, inexpensive, flavorful. A great neighborhood treat. Dine-in is fine, but super fast for take out. Closest to home-cooked I've tasted in a long time.
Great for sharing...
We got so much free stuff!
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