El Farolito

 

79

200

Lelaina Pierce i.

San Francisco, CA

After being semi-drunk from The Knockout and Delirium, I dragged my ass to this place. Mexican food is my comfort drunk food. My friend and I split the steak super quesadilla, and it was super YUMMY!

Yes, the line can be out the door but it's moving pretty fast and the best part, it opens til 3am!! A perfect place to cater drunk asses like me.

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5

15

gabriella m.

New York, NY

Yes, to add my 2 pence to the already existing 551 reviews here...El Farolito is definately the bomb.  They have the best burritos and especially the carne asada!!

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3

4

Greg H.

Davis, CA

After spending the morning at Crushpad, I was in the mood for a burrito. We ended up here - it was great. The Carne Asada burrito was awesome. It was so well rolled that I could put it down flat and it all stayed together.

I will definitely come back next time I'm in the Mission.

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1

47

Daisy V.

Larkspur, CA

Love the salsas they have! We had carne asada plate, that was nothing special, but the burrito was really good. It is huge that hubby and me shared one burrito together. Will come back to try the suiza.. don't even know what it is but sounds really good!

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23

72

Sun-Kai P.

Walnut, CA

One of the best mexican places I've had in both SF and LA. The carne asada super suiza is off the hook!

Can't wait to go back, I'm hooked

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3

8

boston j.

San Francisco, CA

the green sauce is to die for...
*secret tip* ask for a water cup, fill it up with the green sauce and grab a pack of tortilla chips next door at the liquor store.

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Elite '08

308

180

Nadja M.

Brooklyn, NY

I disagree with Karen K.'s review of El Farolito on so many levels.

TOP THREE REASONS WHY EL FAROLITO IS NOT WEAKSAUCE:
One: It's always open (Well, its open later than ALL of the other taquerias.)

Two: The music is kick-ass.  You can shake your ass and fake a meringue with the other customers in line who probably aren't faking their meringue.

Three: It really is all about the Super Quesadilla. Carne asada, avocado, cheesy goodness.

I took the last two reviewers to Farolito's, and I'm sorry that Karen K. did not like it, but SHE"S WRONG.  She clearly deviated from my ordering advice.  

I'll admit, I haven't had many of the menu items because the super quesadilla is where its at. Once you find something you like, why would try anything else?

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11

36

sonam d.

San Francisco, CA

Been to this place about 3 times and loved it each time. The super quesadillas are great! Food is always fresh and the servers are very friendly and efficient! It is amazing to just sit and watch the production!

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Elite '08

109

135

Sue L.

San Francisco, CA

Cow head meat burrito? Sure! Make it a super burrito please, add a side of chips, and don't tell me I'm eating cow head meat and not carne asada.

I came here after a nice hot afternoon of pretending to be photog on the mission. A couple of fellow yelpers and I decided to take a detour, grab burritos and enjoy them at Dolores Park. I had my mind and mouth set on a cheesy, sour cream filled, CARNE ASADA super burrito. Lo and behold, after walking in the sweltering heat and climbing a gigantic hill (in jeans mind you), we finally reached Dolores Park and I ripped the tin foil off my "carne asada" super burrito to shreads (like a starving savage beast).

My teeth sunk into the burrito and satisfaction rippled across my face -- well sort of. The meat tasted a little funny, but not bad at all. I looked at the meat and it was a little off-colored. Three quarters of the way done with my "carne asada" super burrito, I noticed I had not eaten any sour cream nor cheese. Did El Farolito rip me off by giving me a regular burrito instead? I turned around to Amir A and noticed a dabble of sour cream on the corner of his mouth. Wha??? "Hey, how come his regular burrito came with sour cream?" I proceeded to finish the last quarter of my burrito in hopes that all the cheese and sour cream was somehow disproportionately placed in the bottom. Nope. Wait a minute...I ATE AMIR A's COW HEAD MEAT BURRITO!!!

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6

130

David L.

Daly City, CA

I leave here stuffed all the time for less than $5. The portions are quite big and they are open really late (which is the only time I come by here). The food is your typical 'mexican' restaurant fare and the decor is really simple. The late night crowd can get really interesting at times and the neighborhood is not so good, especially at night. Parking is tough as I wouldn't park more than a block away at night. As long as I can get close parking this place is my late night place of choice.

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13

137

Lainey H.

San Francisco, CA

I don't give out 5 stars often, but this place is DELICIOUS! Its nothing fancy, just somewhere to grab a quit bite. The portions are HUMONGOUS, and I can usually only finish about 3 quarters. And I love how they have the different salsas!

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16

14

Marv G.

San Francisco, CA

- Biggest, Best, Tastiest, Most Awesome Super Quesedilla I've ever had!
- Super Nachos that you'll scrap through in no time with a spoon!
- Carne Asada Tostada super sized meal that will have your bowels simultaneously cheering and passing out with joy.

Diet or no diet, if you're here, you're splurging. And the great part is your wallet won't feel thin for it! 5 dollars gets you two half super quesedillas that are each as big as a chipotle burrito. You can share, but you won't have to. They're so damn tasty! This place is like a bad drug. I know the mountains of sour cream, oozing cheese and rice aren't healthy but you're going to get addicted! Everywhere else, I usally order burritos and quesedilla sans cream and cheese. But not here. It's a filler, but in a very very good way.

The only con about this place is that it's small and a little dirty looking. But I can't help but look past that with such tasty food. Hits the spot when you're truly hungry. I just realized they open at 4am on saturdays, it's on!

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1

12

Justin S.

Washington, DC

10 out of 5 stars.

Let me start out by saying Taqueria el Farolito is more than a restaurant for me, it's a way of life. Simple fresh ingredients, a warm smile, and substance over style.

The menu above the counter looks in places like a cross-eyed high-schooler placed the words on the board, adding to the decidedly anti-corporate/anti-interior designer atmosphere. Thankfully there isn't a bad item on the menu, although I'm religiously partial to the Super Burrito with carne asada.

The Backstory: In 2000 I lived and worked in the Mission, a byproduct of the tech boom that was transforming the neighborhood (Hindsight's 20/20: in some ways for the worse). When I left San Francisco, I returned to Washington DC and it's premiere burrito palace, California Tortilla, but stomach ached for it's separated love. (Although I've always held a place in my heart for CT, it has never been able to fill the void left in my stomach's heart.)

Fast forward 8 years and the prodigal son returned to 24th and Mission, luggage in tow. And this time I brought my brother, ever the burrito skeptic. As my friends can see in video and images on Facebook, we both bowed down to the burrito gods in the promised land.

I've seen paradise; perhaps this is my penance for continuing to patronize McPotle. Now I'm relegated to gloomy Washington DC and the saturated landscape of inauthentic "burrito" purveyors.

Taqueria el Farolito is so good that I would consider making a day-trip just to have a burrito. Crack is whack. Taqueria el Farolito is the bomb-diggity.

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3

13

edward b.

San Francisco, CA

I grew up in the mission so this is where you go for that well talked about Mission St. Burrito or my favorite Super Quesadilla! The price is cheap and you definitely get your fill........Their sister store up on Mission and Onandaga is even bigger in portions! This place is my spot for late night munching. To you who own the place....thanks but you could use an upgrade in paint and decor after all these years...

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415

199

Karen K.

San Francisco, CA

i was going to save this one for my 200th review here in the AWESOME land of YELP, but here you go!

el fartoloto?  more like el fartolittle.

WEAKSAUCE!!!

TOTALLY UNAWESOME!!!

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2

16

Elle D.

New York, NY

Oh Farolito, how I held you in such high esteem for years, only to have my memories shattered.  

Let me explain.  I visited SF a couple of years ago and went to Farolito's with some friends after a heavy round of drinking.  I barely remember anything, but I remember being in love with the tacos and thinking "Oh my god, these are the best tacos on the planet."  Seriously.  Flash forward to 2008, I went there for a late night snack on a recent trip - no booze involved, and ate the tacos in my hotel room.  I was really, really disappointed, especially since I had tried tacos at La Taqueria a few days earlier and LOVED their tacos.  

The tacos from Farolito's just didn't compare.  The meat wasn't very good and the carnitas were dry.  Come on man, I have pork juice in my veins, if someone serves me a dry piece of pork it makes me want to scream and cry.  

So while I'll always have fond memories of my drunken haze Farolito's outing, I will not be returning there without my beer goggles on.

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11

42

Debbie K.

Oakland, CA

I love the burritos, love the tacos, love the refried beans (extra lard, please!), love stepping around the food bits all over the floor. Hearing my number called feels like winning the lottery every time. Even when I'm not drunk at 3 in the morning.

Only 4 stars because the chips they serve taste like they came from Ohio and the salsa bar is similarly unsavory.

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1

5

Michael D.

San Francisco, CA

Great food, great price, awful decor.

I recommend the burrito and carne asada plate.

Their green salsa is the best.

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5

146

Darrin G.

San Francisco, CA

This place is open late. I haven't been here in a while, I've been meaning to go back. The last time I went it had just hit 3:00 a.m. and they totally stayed open for us, so I'm giving them 5 stars on yelp.com.

I don't know what it's called, but they have that special kind of cheese, it's really good. Way better than most taquerias.

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1

17

Terrel C.

New York, NY

One of the best burritos whether after a night of drinking, as a hangover meal, or just plain old lunch/dinner.  Yup, the burritos are even legit when you're sober.

Recommend the pollo asado burrito here.  The carnitas is also good.

I've had the torta before too (it's ok), but would go for the burritos.  Have not had the quesadilla suiza but it looked tempting.

The one downside is that everyone knows about this place so there's always a line.  That said, late night the best time to go is 1AM or not around lunch/dinner time.

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Elite '08

26

71

Alissa K.

San Francisco, CA

Sober, drunk, drunkish... all good states to be in at El Farolito.

It's soo good, and always terrific for some local color.

But why does my face smell like sour cream?

My friend Nate:  "You have some cilantro stuck in your teeth."
Me: [smears burrito down face for effect] "where, here?"
Nate:  [giggles] "you're an idiot."
Me:  [smears burrito down other side of face] "this is like the sour cream Peter North shot!"
Nate:  "I'm getting more napkins, you freaking fool."
Mexican guy:  [staring in befuddlement]  "Spanishspanishspanish"  [he probably said, "white girls are crazy sluts"].

Nah... we just really like burritos.

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9

32

kdub ..

San Francisco, CA

God bless The Fart. I'm from Texas, which means I don't tend to do burritos in this city. As a Texan, I believe that rice has no business being in a burrito. Who needs a carb rolled around some more carbs? Gimme the good shit--meats and cheeses. So I always order a quesadilla in these here parts. A quesadilla is all of the burrito goodness without those useless rice and beans.

The Fart's quesadillas are a thing of beauty. There's really nothing finer than stumbling into their BRIGHT YELLOW (I frequent The Fart at the corner of 24th and Alabama) shining edifice at 1:30 in the morning, sloshy and happy from a night at the bars. There have been many a night where it was my intention to stumble straight home from the bar without passing Go. But then, there it is, calling to me like a beacon, its jaundiced glow beckoning me like a warm and sexy lover.

You place your order, and five to seven minutes later you are rewarded with a pouch of foil that is roughly the shape, size, and weight of a rugby ball. As you peel the foil back, you are blessed with the sweet, sweet smell of grilled pollo and grilled pollo greases.

Sweet Mother Mary, Virgin of Guadalupe, the next five to seven minutes that you spend scarfing down this rugby ball of goodness will be among the finest of your life. Perhaps even finer than the last five to seven hours that you've spent funneling Jack n' Cokes down your throat.

Don't get me wrong, a hangover that involves the better part of a bottle of Jack Daniel's and an El Farolito quesadilla isn't a pretty thing to behold. It's sorta like shitting out a cactus wrapped in sandpaper. But that's something to worry about in the future. Right now, right now? You are in the moment. And the moment is good.

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37

100

jack p.

San Francisco, CA

Usually, the funkier the Mexican place the better the food.  El Farolito is a notable exception to this venerable axiom.

Lets list the reasons, shall we:

Reason the first: NO FREE CHIPS!  What kind of self-respecting Mexican place charges for chips?  It's unheard of and should not be tolerated.  After spending 10 bucks on burritos, you want me to spend an additional $.50 on chips?  SCREW THAT.

Reason the second: Sitting in the back I noted the distinct odor of urinal cake.  Granted, it did not have the potency of Molotov's, but it was there -- lingering in my nostrils as I ate my burrito.  Food places should not smell like pee places -- this is so obvious it shouldn't even be a rule.

Reason the third (also known as the final reason): WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING BACK THERE?  10 MINUTES FOR A FRIGGIN' SUPER VEGI BURRITO WHILE THERE'S NO LINE?  This is absurd.  Totally friggin ABSURD.  How was the burrito?  It was a standard burrito that certainly did not have 10 minutes of love shoved into it.

I as far as I can reason, most of the visits to this shop are in some sort of drunken rage at around 2am -- which could be the only explanation for such a high rating for such a low quality product.

Maybe I'll return drunk and change my tune.

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Elite '08

74

162

Daniel S.

Berkeley, CA

BASIC, DECENT TACOS, but nothing special.  Had pastor, asada, and carnitas... relatively expensive at $1.95 each.

Looking for more Mexican?  See my Mexican food list here:
http://www.yelp.com/li...

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11

63

Stephanie Y.

Alameda, CA

The only place that knows how to make a chile relleno burrito along with everything else on the menu.   A great diverse crowd, I was a bit skeptical my first time walking into this place with my friend.  She reassured me that the food is more overwhelming than the ambiance of the atmosphere.  Not extremely horribly disgustingly dirty and not the most sanitary at the same time.  But boy oh BOY the food is fab.  I feel so betrayed that nobody ever mentioned this place to me before =P

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Elite '08

386

784

miika m.

San Francisco, CA

Bueno Bueno

I love this place.

Even the fact that it borders the gross Bart stop, the funky McD's or the tweakers twitching at me during the walk across the street, bears little aversion as to why I was doing this:

a.  Found AWESOME parking down the street.
b.  Listening to J speak of her fave place all day set my gastronomical gears in motion and
c.  How could I drive through the Mission on the way home and NOT buy my small dinner!

I've fallen for El Farolito ever since my first trip into the Mission for a room viewing and since the guy scared the hell out of me with his iguanas crawling and crapping all over the floor, I had to get some sort of nourishment to keep the Ecoli bacteria from attacking me through osmosis.

I've been ordering the same thing since I first started coming here: the giant quesadilla with chicken and when I saw giant, it is a giant order.  Two tortillas fat-filled to popping seams worth of tender marinated chicken, slices (not mashed, true slices!) of avocado, sour cream, onions, fried rice and beans complimenting the melting Mexican cheeses.....

I can't even handle this and have to play dainty with a knife and fork.  And for approx $5???  I'm not complaining, even if it means to absentmindedly sidestep that crackhead coming at me with, all talking gibberish.  Don't mess with this chick and her quesadilla.

There is usually a line waiting patiently during rush hour, but the patrons are very courteous, even when my big butt was jeopardizing the salsa tray.  A man handed me the lids while I was juggling with the  dipper.  

WOW.  And I though chivalry was dead in the Mission  ;)

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3

10

Static J.

Richmond, CA

Another dope late nite spot to eat after clubs, however the area is a bit shady late at nite... Excellent HUGE Burrito's though! Last time I was there with some friends after riding motorcycles all day, someone got shot across the street.

Danger & Burritos.....I'll just take the burrito!

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5

7

Barish O.

San Francisco, CA

I've been going here since high school (20+ years) and it hasn't changed a bit in quality. This place is outstanding. They make the best burrito in San Francisco, without question. They're also open obscenely late, which is nice for those night owl types.

The options they give are crazy, as well. I don't know of any other place to get beef brain *gag* or any of that other nasty stuff...if that's what you enjoy (and if you do, you're nasty)

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7

30

Jesse D.

Santa Cruz, CA

This is one of the best taquerias in the world.  I love it. I love it so much, that one time we drove all the way from Santa Cruz to San Francisco just to go there. Not that we don't have our own here, but it was a craving and we had time to kill. So why not?  

The burritos are so big I usually split it with a friend, and for the going over the top and busting our belts, I usually get nachos to share. Super nachos actually. Which I don't know what makes them super-er than regular nachos, same ingredients. I'm assuming it's just bigger OR I'm being taken advantage of. I don't care either way because I just love the word Super. It's Super.

Bottom line, so good and so big that you can eat half of a burrito and be more than satisfied.  Definitely a place that you should not let your eyes be bigger than your stomach, because the portions are even bigger than your eyes.. in that.. odd.. metaphor.

They're just huge.

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17

31

Ana S.

San Francisco, CA

I have moved to LA and back, and there is no place like home. I grew up eating at this place after the club scene. The line is always out the door, even at 1, 2 or3 am. You can't beat the price for what you get.

Their service is terrific, because I see some of the same familiar faces working there back when I was a kid. The employees must love their job, and you can tell.

Despite the neighborhood, I would strongly recommend you to visit this restaurant at some point in your life. The mission isn't such a bad place.

Top Choice: Carne Asada Torta , $3 or less.

Funny Story:

In Los Angeles, CA I used to order a burrito, and I asked for sour cream and avocado to be included. You could hear the shock across town, that was unheard of. At "EL Farolito , this is standard.

Oh LA!!! Life is too short to be a skinny minny.

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0

17

Tmon B.

El Cerrito, CA

These folks pile on the avocado, which is awesome.  I know the beans they use probably aren't exactly "vegetarian," but if you are in line here, you probably don't care anyway.

Great tortas, quesadillas, and burritos.  Relatively cheap, relatively fast (especially considering the length of the line), I will take all of my visiting friends here and they'll be jealous.

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Elite '08

24

75

Sage R.

San Francisco, CA

I am ashamed.
I am a bad San Franciscan.

I have only just, this past Friday, finally partaken in the delight that is El Farolito.

Super chili relleno burrito.

My new favorite munchable on EARTH.

And minus the Man-I-Shouldn't-Have-Eaten-That-Whole-Thing, puky desire to become bulimic feeling one usually gets after consuming burritos of that size, especially as quickly as I hoarked that thing down.

Simply amazing. Can't wait for more.

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15

41

Tracy P.

San Francisco, CA

Best super burrito with grilled chicken I've ever had. I'm not sold on the super nachos tho. I've had better.

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17

42

Todd F.

San Jose, CA

I thought I knew the best spot for a burrito, but I have been educated.  El Farolito is it...burrito Mecca.   500 reviews and a 4.5 star rating cannot be wrong.  

Not going to ramble on about the neighborhood or the ghettoness of inside, its just an awesome place for a greasy delicious burrito.

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11

14

Ryan R.

San Francisco, CA

The best burrito in the city.  I have never had a bad burrito here. They don't use too much rice and the beans and meat are very very good.    The staff is friendly and the service is quick even when there is a line out the door.   Also the random music is pretty entertaining.

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8

59

erica u.

San Francisco, CA

I know everyone loves to come here, especially after a night of drinking because they are opened till the wee hours.    I think this place is crap and the food gross, it will give you the runs and blow you up like the Hindenburg.  The only thing I've ever been able to stomach here is a quesadilla, your basic mexi crap sandwich in my opinion.  Pork with tons of gristle in it?? Oh and the guacamole and refried beans look like baby diaper, i'd rather eat a dirt sandwich that's been face down on the street covered in mayo.   Taqueria San Jose and Pancho Villa are much better.

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3

71

thomas m.

San Francisco, CA

El Farolito's sign is big and bright and yellow, with a lighthouse on it.  And thats exactly what it is -- a beacon of light for all the drunk, and hungry people of the late-nite Mission.

It is true about the burritos; they are big, they are cheap, and they are delicious.  Any reasonable person would share one of their burritos amongst a 1 or 2 other friends.  A fatty like me, on the other hand, would just drunkenly devour the beast in just a couple minutes.

They sell all the staple Mexican beers here, but I have been known to take in my own alcohol (outside of my bloodstream) into El Farolito's no problem.

If you are in the Mission (by the McDonald's next to the 16th street BART) and hungry, stop on by.  There might be a little line, but just tough it out - its well worth it.

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Elite '08

71

149

Renae H.

Pacifica, CA

"You can't have your way all the time Renae", that's how I usually end up at El Farolito.  

It's fine, I don't love it, I don't hate it.  They put rice in their burritos, and we all know how I feel about that.  I do appreciate the fact that they are open so late on the weekends, because sometimes you just really need something to soak up the alcohol.  So for that, three stars.

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18

158

Tiffany L.

San Francisco, CA

You can find the line cooks at El Farolito seasoning meat with their own sweat long after most taquerias have flipped their signs to cerrado. The Little Light House serves traditional Mexican street fare -- which ranges from humdrum (bean burritos) to hilarious (brain and tongue tacos, a perfect gift for your totally hammered friend who "lost his wallet" at the last bar) -- until 1 a.m. on weekdays and until 3 a.m. on weekends. Oily tortilla chips and colon-cleansing salsa make this sedentary roach coach an obligatory pit stop for anyone hoping to flush their system before morning.

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13

187

Po L.

San Francisco, CA

Burrito = Belly Busting Blast

Late night there is a line out the door for the bar rush.
Order your food.  
Sit down with your number.
Put your feet up.
Wait for your food to be delivered.
Satisfy your late night munchies.

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