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El Farolito
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
2779 Mission St(between 23rd St & 24th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 824-7877
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 10 am - 3 am
Fri-Sat 10 am - 4 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1977 reviews for El Farolito
Review Highlights
"But the carne asada super burrito was so delicious."
(in 81 reviews)
"Quesadilla Suiza + Horchata = crazy delicious."
(in 141 reviews)
"The salsa bar is super good too I loved the green salsa."
(in 59 reviews)
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1975 reviews in English
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Review from Valerie C.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012
Nothing epitomizes hole-in-the-wall dining quite like El Farolito. Located just off the questionable intersection of 24th and Mission it beckons you with the come-hither glow of its dingy, outdated yellow sign. "Come to me, my hungry...." it buzzes. Or perhaps, a little more ghettoly, it seems to say "YOU KNOW YOU WANT SOME, FOOL!"
Often-times there is a line out the door and if not one is sure to form during some point of your visit. If you look at it optimistically, this can be a good thing as both first-timers and patrons alike are given the chance to contemplate a selection from the expansive menu.
There is a lack of ambiance, though who are we kidding? No one comes here for ambiance. You come here for the sole purpose of consuming hearty, artery-clogging, foil-wrapped bundles of sheer bliss. Is there a chance you'll get mugged on the way there? Sure. Possibly catch something from merely sitting in one of their booths? Maybe. Do I care? Hell no. -
Review from Jando S.
When the drunks get hungry, the hungry goes to El Farolito.
This taqueria has become the top of its class amongst the late night Mexican joints in the Mission. The go-to choice for all the intoxicated and easily the most popular joint up and down the Mission for its crave-worthy Mexican food, presented in the most greasiest and gluttonous glory, is a sight to behold. Truth is, you don't have to be drunk to appreciate El Farolito. You just have to be hungry. Really hungry.
Meaning "The Little Lantern" in Spanish, this tiny place lights up the corner of 24th and Mission, and can command a crowd that lines up from the moment it opens till the wee hours of the morning. People say El Farolito is cheap, but it's really on par price wise with its taqueria vecinos (neighbors). Prices have steadily gone up to as much as $11 for a special shrimp burrito ($10.95 la combination super con camerones), but for the most part a decent meal can be had for under $10.
El Farolito is the essence of Mission style Mexican cuisine. Hearty portions, giant size worthy items (i.e. super), with a heart clogging heaping of sour cream, avocado, and salsa, with just about every item. Super burritos make regular burritos look silly, as do super quesadillas, and super nachos compared to their normal sized selves. Mexican food lovers be they purist or glutton, owe it to themselves to try this interesting regional variety of the cuisine.
The late night hour is the most popular one, which for all intents and purposes is essentially the rush hour of drunk food. Tables are small and availability is limited. With a little luck and patience, people eventually find a seat, since most meals are consumed about as easily as they're assembled. The air of grease is no mistake and for many worshipers of this establishment is the perfect ambient odor to dine in.
My personal advice when coming here? Don't hold back. That carnitas burrito platter that you love but are too afraid to order? Get it. Fear the subsequent gas from the super platter of nachos? Eat it any way. I promise it will be delicious. Coming here to eat a taco salad is practically an insult to the folks who have sacrificed their well being just to eat here for a hot minute. Get the special burrito I mentioned earlier, which has the makings of a carnitas burrito, stuffed with egg, shrimp that pan fried in butter, to produce one of the most amazing burritos that even a Biggest Loser contestant would kill for. Folks who are into the alternative animal parts have their pick of sesos (brains), cabezas (head meat), even ojos (eyes) on occasion. And trust me when I say *all of it* is fantastic.
Drunks instinctively know this is the king of all late night junk food; the kind that subdues the inebriation and stimulates the taste buds; the one thing that many people in SF look forward to any night of the week when the city goes dark. Anyone who has had the pleasure of eating here is certain to miss it the moment they leave town.Listed in: Conquistadoring the Mission…, Mexicano Eats (SF-BAY)
-
Review from Christine B.
Berkeley, CA
2/6/2012
The girl that took us here was drunk out of her mind but she kept talking about the shrimp quesadillas so we ordered one and HOLY SHOT. It lived up to her slurred and barely comprehensible words. Even as she was flailing and dying on the table we couldn't get over how perfect the shrimp was. Huge things of avocado in there too.
DELIGHTFUL. She started throwing up so we couldn't get to our carne asada burrito but I'll be back. -
Review from Donovan H.
Sacramento, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
If I had to pick my last meal on earth, I would have to say that El Farolino would rank in my top 3 establishments. In my honest opinion, this place is one of if not the best Mexican taquerias that I've ever been to in my life.
I go here with my girlfriend as well as our two friends after the San Francisco Giants fanfest on 2/4/12. We go here since its only a couple of miles from AT&T Park as we are all very hungry and ready to indulge in some good Mexican food. And since its in the heart of the historic Mission District, I have a feeling that this place shouldn't be anything to be worried about. At first glance, this place is old, run-down, and a true dive when it comes to a Mexican taquerias. But once you are inside, the ordering process is expedited rather quickly. There are several people working behind the counter and they work at a faster than normal pace.
I order a regular sized carne asada (steak) burrito w/avocados, a side of chips, and a mandarin orange Jarritos drink. My girlfriend orders an asada combination plate complete w/rice & beans while our two friends order quesadillas. Considering how busy this place was (on a sunny Saturday afternoon at 3pm), our food arrives within 10 minutes after we order.
My burrito arrives wrapped in aluminum foil and all I have to say, this thing is HUGE!! But once I indulged in the very first bite, I was literally in heaven. The meat of the asada is seasoned well and absolutely cooked to perfection. There were pinto beans as well as a small amount of rice which added to the authenticity of the burrito. And their salsa (which I added for spice) was also amazing in every way possible. One word of advice, this thing can and will fill you up so if you're in San Francisco and order one of these for lunch, don't plan on eating anything else for the rest of the day. It held me down through the next day as I had no appetite at all.
If you are looking for a clean and fancy place to eat, this is not the place for you. But if you're one of those people who wants a good authentic burrito (or any Mexican dish for that matter), then I would highly suggest El Farolito. -
Review from Tracey A.
San Anselmo, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Having developed a preference for a pure and simple burrito I stopped consuming "Super" burritos years ago. I no longer like that competition of delicious meat juice vs. avocado and sour cream. Then along comes the new issue of 7 X 7 and I'm compelled to try #75 on their annual list of "100 Things to Eat Before You Die": El Farolito's Super Carne Asada Burrito.
J, Weffy,and I were feeling like such superstars that we ordered up supers all around: the carne asada, a Super Shrimp, and a Super Chicken; about 12 pounds of food.
The Super Shrimp and Super Chicken received two enthusiastic thumbs up, were demolished in a single sitting, and were worthy of a return visit. The carne asada though, was laden with gristly, inedible pieces in about 3 out of every 5 bites. With the volume they serve, there's no reasonable way they could be trimming the fat off each piece but I really detest picking things out of my mouth mid meal and it reflected on my overall feelings about this burrito. When I return, it won't be for carne asada anything.
The place is a dumpy dive that's open way late. There's a steady stream of interesting patrons to eyeball, a constant thwacking sound of cleaver hitting meat, and the feeling that you're in the midst of a vibrant, tight, dirty little hot spot. There's tidier, quieter Mission district taquerias that serve equally good food (and better carne asada) but sometimes a real dive is all you want. This is it. -
Review from Luan N.
Columbus, OH
2/4/2012 2 photos
S=subjective O=Objective A=Assessment P=Plan
S: The legendary Farolito actually reminds me of Pasadita in Chicago... Dingy, Dark, Dirty, Drunkards. Tacos were full of punch drunk love flavor. Tacos so authentic, you can probably expect to contract Mexican hepatitis A and Entamoeba.
O: T 100.3 P 99 R 18 BP 140/88
Abdomen: Soft, distended, mild right upper quadrant tenderness
Extremities: Dripping with marinade and taco sauce
A: WIth tacos this good.. F$*# It! I'm gonna risk whatever bug or parasite that may grow inside me and burst through my belly. Eat now, worry about the consequences later... even if it may be a perforated abdominal wall. Not sure if I stimulated your appetite but that's proof of commitment.
P: Drink bottled water.
Get your travel immunizations
Cuz u in Mehico ese! -
Review from Yvonne B.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
Oooh El Farolito let me praise the ways you have made my craving for quesadillas oh so pleasant and satisfying:
The Super Quesadilla Suiza is one of the BEST quesadillas for your bang. It literally is a plate full so even though you may not want to cause it's so damn tasty, you should share this bad boy with someone. This quesadilla is not meant for people that have a "small" appetite. Have gotten the Suiza with Al Pastor and can I just say DROOL. Every bite you get a good mix of all the ingredients and they do not go skimpy on any of the ingredients. I have to preface that I am not an avocado fan at all but I can't believe that I even eat this with big ol' slice of avocados in it. This place does get pretty packed late night but it is definitely worth waiting for.
Indulge and feed your inner drunken hunger with every mouth watering bite and you won't regret it. =) -
Review from Rhys A.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Since my arrival in San Francisco, I've been quite partial about Mexican food in the northern half of the state.
That is, until came to El Faralito.
The seasoned, weathered joint in the Mission district has answered my call for a decent Mexican meal. I was beginning to think that Chipotle was putting up the best beneath-the-border bite in San Francisco. Though the place is a bit grungy, this book is much better than it's cover.
No pinatas. No tacky flourescent paintings of an Aztec past. Just decent Mexican food at prices I haven't seen since the 90s. The Quesadilla Suiza, of marinated beef, avocado, and cheese is definitely El Faralito's shining star. I also had the Asada super burrito, which was a trustworthy burrito as big as my forearm.
If you happen to be in San Francisco's mission district, stop by and give it a try. -
Review from Ty C.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
The burritos are ENORMOUS like the size of a cat. Flavorful. The place itself is a total dive. Parking is horrible.
Best place to go after you've been drinking at hipster bars in the Mission. Just be careful after midnight and don't get shanked! -
Review from Katie D.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
One of the best, maybe THE BEST taqueria in the mission.
Beats its sister restaurant in the excelsior by a thousand points.
Just don't let their dungeon bathroom deter you...
Open late and they pack in it great!
Tratalo ! -
Review from Roberto B.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
You can tell a place has really great food when their food is really great, and a great example of great food is El Farolito. I love this place because their food is amazing, but Mexican food is their specialty. Their meat sliders, known as "tacos" in Mexican cuisine, are so delicious and so juicy, you will come back for more. And if you do you're in luck. They are open 7 days a week! Another great thing about El Farolito is that they do not force you to only eat tacos. You are allowed to get their delicious "quesadillas", similar to the one Spencer C. talked about.
Anyway, go to El Farolito!!! They are opened 7 days a week, so they may be opened right noooow! -
Review from Beatrice W.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
El Farolito won the approval of a Mexican friend who lives in Texas near the border. Nuf said.
-
Review from Spencer C.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Que quieres saber?
There's a lot you may like to know but really, the only thing you need to know is GO! Go now. Go yesterday. And bring a friend to bask in the glorious burrito heaven that is Farolito. Yes, my words a bit grandiose however they are not let down by the likes of this place.
From the Quesadilla Suiza (basically a overstuffed version of a standard quesadilla but cut in half like a sandwich) to the double tortilla tacos to hold the mountains of meat/toppings.... ANYTHING WILL PLEASE. They have extra selections on the menu, if you decide to get a platter. But only crazies or real latino people get those.
Farolito is there not for a fork. Roll up your sleeves, take off your jacket most likely not in that order, and try not to black out in elation.
Super economical. A burrito that can be saved for later (which you won't be able to do given the taste) starts at around 5-6 dollars and tacos run for just 2.25.
If you haven't I demand you to visit and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, do, and will later this weekend after a night out.
Until next time. This was Spencer C. -
Review from Jennifer R.
Brooklyn, NY
Yes, it's true. I like to add guacamole and sour cream to my tacos. But, that's besides the point. El Farolito is an explosive star amongst ALL NYC taco establishments...even Los Hermanos. I came here 2 times during my SF trip, the first time, I stumbled in (no explanation needed) and the second time, was in the middle of the night on a weekday. There's something about their tacos that make them stand out.
The simplest of ingredients: the standard 2 corn tortillas, flavorful and light guacamole, no sour cream (which is why I keep a stash from Wendy's in my purse), meat that isn't over cooked and lightly seasoned, ample amounts of cilantro, chopped onions, hot sauce and finally, a spritz of lime. Less is more.
The tacos cost around $2.50 each. If you're a fatty like me, order 4 tacos for $10 and you'll roll away happy. Thank goodness for fast metabolisms or else I'd be disgusting by now. Really, really disgusting.
Next on the agenda, burritos! -
Review from Media T.
1/30/2012
There exists a theory that Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys was inspired to write the song 'Good Vibrations' after hitting El Farolito at 4AM on a Saturday Night.
Mr. Wilson was bombed off liquor and coke, ya see, as he often was after two weeks of straight binging, and was about to hit Ocean Beach for a surf sesh, but alas, needed some carbo-courage to keep his energy alive.
He detoured his souped-up '58 Woodie to the Mission, and out of nowhere, like a direct sign from Jah Almighty, a heavenly light beamed upon El Farolito Taqueria, shifting his attention away from the mediocre transexual hooker sitting shotgun, a street walker he spent the last 35 minutes hunting down - a gal whose voice was so angelic, she emitted the essence of Tom Waits as she hummed along to Lou Reed's 'Wild Side'.
He walked inside to an amazingly diverse crowd - fellow substance abusers, foodies, and gang-bangers alike. The burrito was everything he could ask for - he even had some grub left over for him, his canine, and Esposita the 7 foot Latin Phreaka once the sunrose.
Good Vibrations? Señor Wilson - you ain't ever lie. -
Review from William O.
Miami, FL
This place exemplifies what you picture when picturing a Mexican place.
This place is a freaking Mexican DIVE.
And it is beautiful in all the ways that you and I are not.
I mean, when you walk in, you're already in line. Behind the counter, employees are working hard and working fast to get you what you need. My first time (sadly, my only time), the guy who took my order just looked exasperated as I stood salivating over the wonderful production line (way better than Ford could ever have put together) they had going. But that's cool, you know? It's pretty awesome. The ticked off look, everyone working furiously to satisfying the long line of hungry Californians, it all comes together to provide the kind of experience that a mom and pop restaurant provides.
I know this seems contradictory. I'm a stickler for good service.
But really, picture yourself at home. Picture your mother slaving over a meal on a Sunday for hours and hours. Remember that look she got if you delayed in getting your stuff together, in sitting down and appreciating the culinary awesomeness that she learned as a kid from her mother before her. I'm lucky the dude didn't slap me. My mom certainly would've. And I love that kind of stuff.
What I ordered? A quesadilla. The Super Suiza, to be exact.
Friends, this is the kind of quesadilla I picture God and JC chasing with a Tecate up in heaven. This is THE quesadilla. The best quesadilla I've ever had. Bar freaking none.
It was a delicious, almost custard-like filling of cheese, chicken, avocado, and I forget what else packed into a quesadilla and pressed to utter perfection atop a griddle. As you eat, the cheese just coating your fingers like wet, delicious concrete, it's what you expect when eating at a place like this. Just toss all etiquette out the window and bury your face in your food like you would bury it into a lover's hair when she's close, when she squeezes you tight and refuses to let go.
And when I didn't think it could get any better... MARIACHIS!
Seriously. This place is everything I could hope for in a restaurant and more. On my list of reasons for wanting to head back to San Fran, this place is in my top three. -
Review from Nadeem A.
Union City, CA
1/25/2012
I love burritos. I love them so much that there was a time I'd eat them at least twice a week (and once, 5 days in a row). So, being a new resident of SF, what's a burrito lover to do? Eat a Mission style burrito of course! The only problem was that I'd never had a Mission burrito before. Of course, the only logical conclusion would be try a variety of Mission burrito joints. For science!
So for this scientific experiment, I decided to get my standard burrito, or as close to it as possible, at each restaurant:
- carne asada
- pinto beans
- sour cream
- guacamole
- cheese
- no rice
First up was El Farolito. My expectations were sky high, since the Mission burrito is legen(wait for it)dairy. Too bad, because I just thought the burrito was meh. It was good, but the flavors were just off for me, Was that just the flavor of a Mission burrito? Or was that just a mediocre attempt at a Mission burrito by El Farolito. Like I said at the start, it'll take a few visits to different burrito joints, but I'm up for the task. Stay tuned for the next installment of The Mission Burrito Experiment! -
Review from Nicholas A.
Hollywood, CA
1/15/2012
I was living in Los Angeles before I moved to San Francisco and I ate a lot of Mexican food living in Los Angeles and I tried to go to all the favs on Yelp. Well since I found this place was open late well assuming like I do I thought that meant it was going to be crappy food, overpriced and trying to take advantage of the fact I was hungry and it was the only place open. Right when I arrived to the place I noticed that there was a line almost to the door of people probably 6 or 7 people, to my surprise the line moved very fast and quickly after ordering the food was ready, both big deals in my opinion.
LETS TALK ABOUT THE FOOD. The gentleman that works there who took my order suggested I try the beef enchilada, THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST ENCHILADAS IVE EVER EATEN. The food here is amazing. I've honestly never eaten a better enchilada in my life. -
Review from Talia G.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
I know I'm going to be crucified by the El Farolito-lovers that run this city, but I've been to El Farolito more times than I can count and I really don't think it's all that people say it is!
I've had a range of burritos from this El Farolito location, from decent to actually quite bad. Granted, I almost always get chicken and a couple times I've eaten the burrito an hour or two after ordering it. But even when I've ordered carne asada and eaten it immediately, I still think these burritos are unremarkable. The worst experience I had was with a shredded chicken burrito eaten an hour after it was ordered. It was almost completely filled with chicken and so dry I had to wash it down with water.
I admit that the prices here are pretty fantastic, they're SO cheap! But you don't get free chips, which is a bit disappointing.
I'll keep coming here because it's convenient, decent, and cheap, but I don't believe that El Farolita is all that people have cracked it up to be. -
Review from Michael F.
Brooklyn, NY
1/16/2012
My fist mission burrito. They gave me tongue (burrito) and brain (taco). Condiments table had various salsas, and jalapenos grilled or picked.
Burrito: The basic fillings, wrap, salsas are all the best I had in total on this trip.The tongue was good, .25 x .75 inch chunks with evenly distributed fat. Vinegar and tongue is always delicious.
Taco: Great. Soft and fluffy brain chunks with browned/crispy edges, but still held together for a bite or two before coating everything else in the taco. Onions, cilantro, tortillas, etc, were all average at minimum and mostly much better.
Horchata: Run of the mill but not grainy. Not disappointing.
I want more. -
Review from Johnny V.
Hayward, CA
1/28/2012
so! Me and my friends drove a while to get here because the reviews were great and had a good rating. what a dissapointment...no carnitas thats a big no no, burritos were alright but over rated. The steak had grissle and seamed a lil thin. Gotta say we wont be coming back.
-
Review from Katie M.
Berkeley, CA
2/2/2012
I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food (Tex-Mex is an exception), especially since everything in Berkeley, where I've lived for the past 3.5 years, is oily and disgusting, so I would've never gone here if my friends hadn't dragged me at 2AM after drinking in Japantown.
We parked nearby and walked up, and I wasn't very impressed by how the place looked - it was run-down both inside and out, and wasn't very clean. But there was a huge line (which went by very quickly), and my friends were raving about it, so I buckled and gave it a try. I ordered a Carne Asada Super Burrito for myself and Super Nachos for the group. We sat down and eagerly waited for our food (I still had no idea what I was in for) and we all dug into the nachos the moment they came out. I blame being tired for getting full really quickly, but I did manage to get a couple of bites out of my burrito. I normally stay away from beans and salsa in my burritos, but I was so hungry when I ordered that I didn't bother asking to take them out - and I don't regret it! It was really tasty, and the burrito was HUGE. Lots of tasty goodness inside without being too greasy or saucy. The meat wasn't dry, the beans and rice weren't soggy, and there was a lot of guacamole and salsa. Definitely enough for three meals (I realize I don't eat a lot so this isn't saying much...). Also really good because it was so cheap!
Like I said before, it isn't exactly the cleanest place but honestly, I'm guessing that everyone's usually so tired (and hungry and/or inebriated) that it doesn't really matter. There's a lot of seating space inside, so it's great for groups. I highly recommend El Farolito for late night munchies. If you're a calorie-conscious girlie like me, you can always take it home and eat sparingly :) Better than eating a whole pizza by yourself... aha...ha.
PS. CASH ONLY!!! Boo :( -
Review from Lauren K.
San Jose, CA
1/19/2012
I went to this restaurant very late at night about 3 weeks ago and it was PACKED. They were out of chicken so I got a carnitas burrito. I had been drinking earlier that night and wanted to fill my tummy with something yummy. This place did the trick!
I was a little unprepared for it being cash only. Luckily my friend could spot me the $6.
All in all I enjoyed the food and I didn't get a stomach ache in the morning. -
Review from Karen C.
Millbrae, CA
1/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Holy burrito! I can't believe I waited 26 years of life before I ventured over to El Farolito for a proper San Franciscan burrito. Yes that is a subcategory of burrito. Just ask Wikipedia. Gordo's in Inner Sunset is a great burrito too, don't get me wrong. I grew up on Gordo's. But the al pastor super burrito at El Faro (yes, we're THAT close) is just mind-blowingly tasty. The flavors are spot on, with the hints of pineapple without venturing into too sweet or too artificial. The carne asada burrito is also really good, but it's not the secret weapon that El Faro has to beat out the rest of the good SF burritos around town. Plus I love their salsa bar - the salsa verde and the whole pickled jalapenos make every bite of my burrito delicious.
I've been trying to settle the whole SF vs LA Mexican scene with my boyfriend for years now, and I can't wait until he comes up here next so that I can shut him up for good! -
Review from Anna K.
Berkeley, CA
1/18/2012 1 photo
Came here because I had delicious tacos at the other El Farolito location. Unfortunately, the experience I had at the other location was so awesome that I think I set my expectations a tad bit high. I still really enjoyed everything, but I think if I was in the area next time I would go to the other location because of seating and size of the location.
I got 2 soft shelled tacos. I was under the impression that it was 2 separate tacos, but what it really means is that the taco comes with 2 small tortillas, which was fine since it was super cheap anyways! I got the chicken and pork soft tacos. I was pretty sad that they weren't able to put shrimp in the tacos. :/ I think next time I want to try a shrimp dish. I'm really sad to say that I really did not like the chicken taco at all. It was...really soggy so the soft taco shell just...broke making it really difficult to eat. The pork taco was much better!
I got horchata. It was yummy! I wouldn't say it was the best horchata I've had but a very good one. Their sauce that is offered is really good.
I'm definitely going to come back and give it another try. Maybe try a more adventurous item on the menu like cow tongue or brain. MMMM. Either way, it was a great and economical way to begin an exploration of the Mission District. -
Review from Evan H.
1/11/2012
As if the other 1,900+ reviews weren't enough...
Best.Burrito.Ever. Oh, and the taco al pastor, the best I've ever had. Everything about the burrito is awesome. HUGE chunks of avocado, delicious beans, creamy sour cream, tender rice...the list goes on. The only "bad" part of the burrito were the first couple of bites where it was mostly tortilla. The best bites were the ones at the end with all the juices from the all the condiments mixed together.
The place is a total hole-in-the-wall, but that is what makes it great. If i lived in SF I would totally try lots of the other dishes here as well as all of the meats...I'm sure the lengua is incredible too. -
Review from Tiffany W.
Union City, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dont believe the hype is right!!!!!!!!
GIANT burritos, the size of my thigh, seriously. Very Americanized!
I got carnitas which was lacking flavor. The self serve salsa bar is nice but I've had better! That's the theme of this burrito, I've had better. The burrito was better cold, hours later, once the flavors marinated together.
No guac, just sliced avocado on the burrito.
Disappointed in the yelp reviews here-- so much hype, so little truth. -
Review from T L.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/12/2012
Drove all the way from East Bay for their famous burritos. Way too much trouble and expectations were way too high.
Place was packed. Not sure how the Mariachi band squeezed in. Seemed like this was the only place in the Mission selling burritos that night. Lots of non locals there including ourselves.
The burrito itself was OK. Rice beans guac pretty standard. The al pastor meat was better than average. Would I drive all the way from East Bay for El Farolito. Probably not.
BTW there is another much less crowded branch on 24th street across from Humphry Slocombe.
Food **
Value ***
Decor *
Service ** as best as can be expected from a place as busy as this
Overall *** -
Review from Erin A.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2012
I went here the other night for the 1st time. ..
stumbled upon it.
Pretty good burritos. No complaints.
Beware that they only except cash :)
So make sure you have few dollars in your pocket! -
Review from James V.
Garden Grove, CA
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Lengua burrito is pretty darn good. Maybe need to spread the sour cream around a bit but other than that, great!
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Review from Natalia W.
Walnut Creek, CA
2/2/2012
I absolutely am in love with this place. Being a fan of almost any type of Mexican food, I can say I have tried a lot of places and this will always be on the top of my list. The food is great, usually get a super carne asada burrito or super suiza quesadilla. Everything is really fresh/flavorful and they cook the meat right when you order. They also use fresh avocado vs guac...fantastic. Huge portions. There is usually a line which is a good sign. The short wait for your food is definitely worth it. I prefer this location over their other Mission store but they are both very similar. Only downside is that it is cash only, so you definitely need to remember this beforehand. When I wasn't in the area I would drive from the East Bay to get food, that's how good it is. This location is open really late too so it's the perfect place to grab dinner after being out.
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Review from Jennifer K.
Hacienda Heights, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh. My. Goodness. Oh my delicious goodness!!!!!
This place is truly amazing. Came here on new year's day for some yummy Mexican cuisine and this place certainly lived up to all the hype and exceeded my expectation. Our entire party of 4 ordered enough food that could have fed a family of 8! I ordered a regular lengua burrito and my bf ordered a super carne asada burrito! We also ordered super nachos and super carne asada quesadilla! Everything was so goo, flavorful and juicy.. and I don't even usually like Mexican food all that much. After eating here, I am now a convert. I can actually see myself craving for some Mexican food in the future:) highly recommended! -
Review from Annie C.
Berkeley, CA
1/9/2012
Yuck, did not please my tastebuds.
I've been dying to try El Farolito for far too long and was only disappointed by my food. Maybe I messed up by getting the carne asada burrito on a plate with my spinach tortilla on the side.. Not sure but I'll admit the carne asada was extremely tasteful but everything else was bland and boring.. I liked how they give you sliced avocados but I received paper thin slices of avocado on my plate. Moreover, the rice and beans were tasteless and nothing special. I tried to make it better with their 3 different salsas but my burrito bowl still tasted mediocre. I ended up just picking out all the carne asada meat out and packing everything else in a doggy bag for my dog at home.
I also had a bite of my boyfriends carne asada burrito and was not amazed. I'm a little confused as to why so many people have rated this place so highly and even said it's better than SoCal burritos.. I would have to disagree as I think Lucha Libre in SD makes a much tastier burrito. Even La Vics in San Jose beats El Farolito by far too much.. -
Review from Carmella T.
Fairfield, CA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Absolutely Delicious!!
The food was delicious at El Farolito at least the Carne Asada burrito was, LOL. I've only been twice. After my first visit, I made a mental note that the next time I went I would try something different, but it had been so long I needed a reminder of how the burrito tasted. It was just as good as the first time. The flavor are great and especially the Carne Asada. I promise next time I'm trying something different. Small place. The employee's are fairly nice for as quickly as they are moving. -
Review from Colleen F.
San Francisco, CA
1/1/2012
Burritos = 5 stars. Holy hell, amazing salsa selection. Best burritos in the city, hands down. And open late - you know that it's gotta be good when you'll opt to pass by two or three other burrito joints to get here. That's a big deal when wastey-face.
Anyway, I dont usually like to sit down there any eat. It can be a little sketch there late at night, and sometimes it smells a lot like porta-potties. -
Review from Jon K.
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
1pm on the way to Tahoe, but we're so hungry...what do we do?! To El Farolito!
I'll be honest, I had never been before till that very moment. Yeah ridiculous right?! My sister and our common friends are constantly ranting about this place. Even the guy who rented them their boarding gear said "that place is the sh-t" as we mentioned possible food breaks (yes..within the city haha). First things first, be careful when looking for it because around the corner is a place with a VERY similar sign-tricky taqueria!
As we turned the corner to walk into the store we saw a good sign- a long line of hungry looking customers, even better-it was moving quite quickly! We waited about 5ish minutes and were able to order; at that point my sensation of smell was going crazy and I could barely decide on one thing to order. In the end iur car got, a chorizo burrito, two carne asada burritos and a super quesadilla suiza w/ carnitas.
Let me just say that the chorizo burrito was amazing. The sausage was cooked to the point of near perfection that allowed the flavors to infuse throughout the burrito. For such low prices I can't wait to chisle the rest of the menu down. If any of you have personal favorites, please let me know so I can try them! The 2ish hour car ride up was probably the most delicious smelling ride I've ever been on. Can't wait for the next round! -
Review from Rat a tat R.
San Francisco, CA
12/8/2011
Whether it's 1pm or 2am, El Farolito can't be beat for a tasty, cheap-ass burrito in SF.
I first visited El Farlito years ago late at night, when I was living in Berkeley, partying in the mission, and drunkenly eating burritos prior to catching the last Bart train home. Years later, in sf, a friend reintroduced me to the taqueria I'd long forgotten. Sober. It was like rediscovering an old friend.
Now, no matter what state I'm in, I know el Farolito will be there for me, with delicious, belly-filling burritos of all kinds, to indulge in as I partake in their, er, colorful booths and similar cast of chacters. As long as I bring cash!Listed in: Bay Area Delicious Cheap Food
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Review from Joe C.
Los Angeles, CA
I ordered the carne asada Super Burrito and as the 5 star rating says, Woohoo! As good as it gets!
It was one of the best burritos I've ever tasted and I'm from L.A.! The carne asada was tasty and tender and all of the ingredients just balanced each other out. If I could, I would have had two of these!
And all this for $5.45! -
Review from Diane T.
1/21/2012
I really couldn't figure out why this place got 4.5 stars with over almost 2000 reviews, but then I saw the hours (open until 4am) and figured it out. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't sober good. It would probably blow my mind at 2am though! I had the carne asada tacos. My husband had the lengua super burrito. Standard greasy taco truck fare at a pretty cheap price. It seems to always be packed so plan on getting takeout.
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Review from Jane A.
12/10/2011
2AM KIND OF FOOD!!!
(3 stars)
Did they mean El F-A-R-T-olito?! Be prepared to be GASoliciousville afterwards. Maybe we should have just settled for a bacon wrapped hotdog from the illegal street food hustlers.
- Food: tasty drunk food
- Prices: i cant remember but i think its typical priced mission food
- Service: fast
- Ambiance: reminded me of my middle school cafeteria
After a fun night out socialize and drinking, we ended up here at 1:30/2AM. It's open, its affordable, and its tasty. I've said it a gazillion times and I'll say it one more time "i'm picky with my mexican food". But i can't be too anal-fied when out with others and have to lighten up and EAT and go with the flow. my friends, would be SO proud of me for stepping out of my comfort zone - in more ways than one this evening. BUT WHAT MEXICAN PLACE DOESN'T SERVE a tamale and/or carne asada fries?
HEFFER-STYLE STATUS.
CHICKEN QUESADILLA - you have a choice of fried chicken or grilled. Choose grilled, its healthier. Ask "light" on the cheese because people like me who be lactose can't handle it. Maybe asking "extra light" might be best. It was good, I consumed. I'm telling you, this derailed me and extra work at the gym this week is going to be MANDITORY. Tasty eats but unfortunately, i woke up to a bellie ache and so did my friend.
Will I be back? Maybe not by preference and more like by buzzed/drunk obligation :)
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