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El Gran Taco Loco
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
3306 Mission St(between 29th St & Virginia Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
(415) 695-0621
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 2 am
Sat-Sun 7 am - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
93 reviews for El Gran Taco Loco
Review Highlights
-
"Absolutely the best carnitas in town." In 14 reviews -
"The salsa bar is great especially their tomatillo salsa." In 13 reviews -
"...Green Salsa, Pico De Gallo, Radishes and Jalapenos, etc." In 3 reviews
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93 reviews in English
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Review from Ileana S.
5/18/2012
My mom and stepdad swear by this place. They come here at least once a week and tell me the meat is good. Nice try, 'rents. I am not going to touch the carne.
So what exactly do I order?! A veggie burrito sans sour creme. Soft tortillas come in a variety of more than just plain flour and wheat. The burrito is a good size. I keep trying to tell myself that I will eat half in one sitting and save the other half for a later meal. Never happens.
PLUSES:
+ Location.
+ Friendly staff that let my mom smuggle radishes by the bucket...KIDDING! :)
MINUS:
- This place needs more inventive veggie-friendly dishes. Seriously. -
Review from Tracy L.
San Francisco, CA
5/2/2012
A few words:
Two tacos, al pastor with onions and cheese. A strawberry aqua fresca. Chips with chile verde.
This is what I like to call love. In fact, I spent a lot of time as a youth with my first love here. But then I realized that could have been influenced by these amazing tacos, and boy am I happy my relationship with El Gran Taco Loco is a stable one.
Cheap. Filling. Authentic. -
Review from bonnie b.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2012
I stumble past here on my way to Playa Azul or Cole Hardware, never giving it a moment's thought. I've assumed from the looks of the joint that it was akin to a Mexican McDonald's.
Not so!
Yes, it's no-frills, but authentic for quickie-Mexican fare. The place was packed with Hispanic clientele, happily chewing and chatting. I was the only blue-eyed lassie in the joint, but am no stranger to a delicious Mexican throw down, and this one didn't disappoint.
For about $20 the 2 of us feasted on a tasty and satisfying lunch of a carne asada plate, with warm tortillas, chicken burrito, and cerveza. The fresh salsa bar was a nice touch.
The staff was pleasant, and indulged my choppy attempts to order in Spanish, and thanked us for stopping in.
(The entire experience surpassed my last visit to Taqueria Can-Cun, down the street.)
We waddled out, bellies full, with smiles on our faces. -
Review from Alan M.
San Francisco, CA
5/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm a big fan of their spinach burrito option and the Horchata is best in mission me thinks.
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Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2012 5 photos
It's a no frills, spacious, minimal décor taco shop where the tacos are surprisingly expensive, $2.28 each. They also have breakfast items (eggs, breakfast burritos), burritos ($5), tortas, and quesadillas. You can choose from 12 types of meat, including the good stuff, cabeza, buche, lengua, tripitas, and the old standbys (al pastor, carnitas, pollo, chorizo). There's a self-serve salsa bar though I wasn't too fond of the salsas.
* Lengua and cabeza regular tacos ($2.28 each): two soft corn tortillas per taco, a generous heap of meat, cilantro, onions and salsa, the meat was too salty and the tomatillo salsa was actually sour and too saltyListed in: Hunt for the perfect burrito…, Lunch in Bernal…
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Review from Dardar G.
San Francisco, CA
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
If there was a 0 I would push it but there is not! So I have to give it a 1 star found a piece of plastic! in my burrito I've been going there for years n they made a few mistaken! Before but were never been rude about it. but because i found something in my burrito owner thinks i put it there what a asshole!!!! Do not go to this taco place never there are other ones in the area that are way better and nicer people! if you're going to work here in the united states then you should learn fucking english!!
They should be nicer to the customers especially the way the economy is... -
Review from Selene P.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2012
I had heard about this place for having really good birria, I tried it out every saturday for about a month and had the best experience ever. I always had it to go so it was served in a large cup to go with a side of onions and cilantro wrapped in foil and about 3-4 handmade tortillas with each order. I recently started going and last week 4-14-12 I asked for 2 birrias to go and I was served both orders in one cup. I asked where the other order was and the young lady at the counter replied they were both in one cup which seemed a bit akward and I felt robbed:/ I got home and served both myself and my bf and it was definitely NOT!!! 2 birrias so they ripped me off!!! Not only that but the tortillas were the corn ones you buy at the store. This past weekend I went again and asked for the same exact order and now I felt really screwd. They served my 2 birrias in 2 small coffee cups saying that was their large when in the past the cups were twice their size. WTF??? Sad to say but I wont be returning again! Sorry taco loco you lost a customer!
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Review from Sunsetoriginal T.
Pleasanton, CA
5/4/2012
nicely done tacos
good staffffffffffffffffffffffff coming back -
Review from Max Jonathan S.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2011 13 Check-ins Here
This place is great.
After getting off a 2 day sick from Sally's Famous Fishwich I was back on solid foods(back on water as well, I was really sick) and dying for something incredible to eat and my first thought was the "Taco Loco".
Not a 5 star though close. Great salsa bar where everything is delicious, but not always the most presentable. The ice in the bar gets worryingly low some days, which is an even bigger concern for me since my Sally's experience. They are stingy with napkins, you need to ask behind the counter to get some. The service is a little haphazard, I've been in the middle of an order and the cashier stopped to take an phone call. And I don't mean she said excused me picked up a ringing phone and asked them to please hold. She stopped in the middle of my order answered and had an entire conversation.
That said the taco's here are incredible. Never had one of the burritos but I hear they are huge. 2 taco's though are plenty for me and cheap. And if you can get in between 3pm and 5pm for the 2 hour long happy hour you can get the taco's for $1 each, or $4.50 for a burrito. If you are in the area around happy hour I highly suggest you stop in for a taco even if you aren't hungry, cause it's one of the best taco experiences around and only a buck. -
Review from Yeimi R.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place just didn't make me want to come back. I thought the enchilada plate I had was actually pretty blah. Won't be coming back anytime soon.
-
Review from Jeff M.
San Francisco, CA
9/18/2011
Love this place for its amazing hours and veggie burrito. You can get different kinds/flavors of wraps as well.
One bad part? The rice is definitely authentic, which means chicken. Ask without rice and it'll work out just fine for us veggies. -
Review from Eric A.
7/17/2011
I had their super tacos (carnitas) and they were good! I imagined that when you call something "super" the tacos would be a bit bigger in size, but they just had extra toppings.
If I were you, I would get their regular tacos instead of the "super", I don't know if it's worth twice as much.
Also, it would be nice if they made their own chips. Their salsa was good!
A definite go to restaurant if you're hungry, especially if you live close by -
Review from Fancypants X.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2011 1 photo
Dear diary,
My late-nite nacho cravings have gotten me in trouble. Help! I'm either gonna have to get lipo or buy bigger jeans... What should I do?
El gran taco loco (does that mean 'the big crazy taco?!') is my latest conquest. Pollo asada nachos: thick chips covered in lots of guac & pico de gallo & perfectly grilled & charred bits of chicken. Slightly greasy, very dee-lish. *sigh* I've decided... Food this good (& this cheap--$8) is worth being fat for. Thanks for listening, diary.
Signed,
Your bff the 'fancy' oneListed in: Will (blank) for nachos
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Review from Peter K.
Daly City, CA
4/1/2011
Excellent price of the tasty burritos. A super burrito for $7 is literally equivalent to breakfast and lunch for me. Great place to go if you're on a budget and looking to get filled up for the day. Also comes with a free small bag of tortilla chips with your order and you can choose your sauce.
Place isn't really busy, but then again I only come in after dinner hours so I would assume the place does get hectic around lunch and rush hour time. -
Review from Melody N.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2011
This place has some pretty great late night, drunk eating, fourth meal, super tacos, and burritos. I normally get the chicken tacos, and they're loaded with sour cream, and guacamole. The only complaints I have, which have been consistent for the past three years, are as follows...
The chips are always stale, and the girl working the counter is always uber stingy. Second, the cooks are slow. Expect to wait at least 10-15 for your older to be cooked. This irritates me because, I become inpatient and eat all my chips before my food arrives, and then I have no more chips :( -
Review from Dan C.
Pleasanton, CA
5/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
These 5 stars go directly for the review of their legendary "Super Carne-Asada Quesadilla SUIZA"... this place boasts of the BEST Suiza in the Bay. I have has Suiza's from tons of places and this place is hands down the standard of excellence.
Chips are nothing to write home about, but it's not the reason you want to go here! -
Review from Anthony L.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2010 4 Check-ins Here
So I had the need to feed after work. One of my co-workers suggested getting a burrito at this place down in the Mission. I was kinda skeptical any place would stool be open at this time but, me being hungry and all, went along for the ride.
So we end up here at El Gran Taco Loco. Loco, indeed, for they are open until the wee morning hour of 3am. How freaking awesome is that? I mean, 3 am? Crazy!!! So we walk in and start ordering and I am looking at the meat menu. Something caught my eye and I knew I just had to have it. Tongue. Beef tongue, to be more precise. And, boy, was it good!!! Cooked just right so it's not a tough piece of leather but more like beef. And the flavors it had were awesome! I haven't had beef tongue like that in a long time. And I don't normally see it outside of the Mission taquerias, unfortunately. What made this funny was when I ordered the tongue. My friends weren't sure about it and they thought I was weird for ordering it. I asked them why and they just said I was weird. If it tastes good, eat it!
So it looks like I will be coming here more often now that I found great beef tongue. I hate it when my friends show me a great new spot. It just means more money flying out of my wallet. Oh, well. Tis the life of an avid eater... -
Review from Raymon B.
San Francisco, CA
4/4/2011
So when u first walk into this place, you can tell they have been around for a while just by looking at the table and chair set up... probably the same furniture since the 1970's lol. But hey, i'm a local, so i can appreciate an establishment that maintains its original look.
Food is awesome. I came in and ordered a Modelo and a quesadilla. Their quesadilla is a little different than your average flat tortilla with cheese. They make theirs like a sandwich so when u eat it, its real hearty and thick... not like those puny flat quesadillas u get anywhere else. Good selection of meat also. Staff is friendly. -
Review from Josua P.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2006
Taco Loco, loosely translated, means "Crazy Taco." I'm sure your mind is reeling now from that rather poignant revelation so if you need a minute before continuing reading now would be a good time to do so.
I've got to say that as far as burritos go, I prefer Can Cun down the street but they don't have carnitas and sometimes I just need a fix. They also make pretty decent veggie burrito. ( I dated a vegetarian for five years and we would come here ALL the time. I know, me and a vegetarian?! Just goes to show you kids out there love is BLIND.)
Like I said, there are better burritos out there but Taco Loco has the advantage of having a mural of a jalepeno chasing a taco wearing glasses by the door. Let me repeat that last part just in case you missed it. A jalepeno. Chasing a taco. Wearing GLASSES. I've sat in front of Picasso's Guernica for 20 minutes before (which nearly brought me to tears) and I've easily spent 10X that amount of time looking at this mural. Now I'm not saying that the Taco Loco mural is on the same level as Guernica but there's some shit going on in there that deserves some real consideration. Crazy taco.Listed in: Lesbians, dogs and babies.
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Review from Jevir G.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2011
Yeah, I wrote a very distasteful review about this place before. I had to change my mind, because it's actually pretty tasty. I grew sick and tired of Cancun years ago, having lived next-door, and had to expand my horizons. Taco Loco may have rude service, and for some reason seems to attract homeless/crazy/drunk people from Mission St, but other than that, the food is good.
I recommend the Carnitas Super Burrito with refried beans. get it TO GO, or you might be in for an unwanted encounter. -
Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
This is one of my favorite taco shops, one of many as I love tacos and burritos. These are some of the things I love about El Gran Taco Loco:
1.) Open Late, always helpful when you are craving tacos after midnight.
2.) The Salsa Bar - Special Props to the Green Salsa, Pico De Gallo, Radishes and Jalapenos.
3.) The Carne and Chicken Asada - Cooked and Grilled perfectly.
I went here last night and in the mood for them again today - it's that good.Listed in: I love Latin Food
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Review from Audrey K.
San Bruno, CA
7/21/2008
It was okay....
Not enough salsa in my burrito and the chips they give you are stale...
Nothing life-changing.
I knew i should have went to Pancho Villa! They have pollo verde! -
Review from Mat K.
San Francisco, CA
4/4/2008
I feel as though my feelings would be best be represented in haiku form:
okay burrito
nothing to write home about
soothing summer breeze -
Review from Yvette K.
San Francisco, CA
8/28/2007
I live around the corner and eat at El Gran Taco Loco all the time (for the last 14 years). They make Great CARNITAS!!! How can you beat a great taco for 2 bucks? I usually have a carnitas taco with either a carne asada taco or an al pastor taco. All are great. The burritos are great too. I have not had any of their other dishes, but am very curious about them.
Their salsa bar is great especially the green salsa - they make their salsas fresh all day long. Even if it's busy, it only takes a few minutes to get your order.
Yay Bernal Heights for having another great eatery and one that beats out all other SF taquerias. Taqueria Cancun, down the street, is good but I'd rather go to El Gran Taco Loco any day. In fact El Gran Taco Loco is my favorite taqueria in SF. Who needs those other taquerias more in the heart of the Mission? I'd rather eat here in Bernal Heights.
The clientelle is mainly Latino, so that probably says the place is worth eating at. -
Review from Christopher R.
Philadelphia, PA
6/8/2009
Great for late night, inebriation-based taco cravings but not a place I would seek out during daylight hours. The carne asada tacos were just okay, based upon my drunken recollection... and we all know how reliable that is.
I basically abandoned El Gran Taco Loco after trying my first chorizo taco at nearby Taqueria Cancun. They could could have decent food here but for what its worth, why even bother when you can taste Heaven itself mere minutes away?Listed in: Badges? We don't need no…
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Review from Ray R.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2010
I must've had my first burrito here maybe 15-20 years ago. It's where I developed my love for burritos. I loved it then and I love it now. I had forgotten they were open really, really late (like 2am) and while driving home from going out with coworkers last week i headed up mission street and saw that they were open. being that i hadn't been there in a minute, i stopped by and grabbed a carne asada super...brought me back to the good old days when all i had to worry about was homework.
friendly warning: whatever you do, DO NOT PARK IN SAFEWAY and leave your car there...you will get towed! -
Review from Zhi Q.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2009
I think most of my sentiments about this place can be summed up in my review of it's competitor down the street, Taqueria Cancun (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I don't know any better in terms of taste, but this place is a bit more expensive and my order always takes longer to be ready. So this should really be a 2.75 if only because it's just slightly worse than Cancun, but that seems like I should round it up. And seriously, it's a burrito joint, it's not performing triple axles.
At least I know this place is authentically Mexican because the only English word on the menu, which isn't translated from the Spanish directly next to is "Super" as in "Super Burrito". I am so white.Listed in: Mission Food Mission: 30th to…
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Review from Jonny C.
1/15/2007
I stumbled across this place coming back from the Safeway on Miss. I was a Cancun three time a weeker, until i found El Taco Loco.
Friendly service, great salsa bar, every meat available. Burritos are huge, the mojado is soaked in a great enchilada sauce, and the tacos are MUCH better than Cancun's.
I usually get it to go, but the dining area is ample, lots of Chicano mission locals lend an aire of ethnic legitamacy. Other than the worst name for a Taqueria ever,this place is fantastic
Writing this is making me hungry...f*@k it, Im going nowListed in: The absolute tastiest, I gets my grub on up in here
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Review from Jason B.
3/11/2009
Hmmm, perhaps I should have gone with a taco considering they are part of the name. But I didn't, went burrito, and it was two star quality. No wheat option on the tortilla, and they were out of chicken. A burrito joint should never be out of chicken.
One star added back for the service. When I asked for the veggie, but with no guac, sour cream or cheese, she lowered the price a buck.
Verdict - four stars from my wallet, two from my stomach. We'll settle at three. -
Review from Scott K.
San Francisco, CA
9/3/2006
When I moved into this neighborhood, I planned to try every taco place within a square mile before returning to any one place for a second time. Taco Loco was the first place that earned a second visit from me.
I'll admit that much of its appeal lies in the mural near the entrace. It's a Jalapeno chasing a Taco wearing sunglasses. I can't get over it. I take people there just to show them the wall. Man, that taco is crazy.
Taco Loco is also the first place where I left the comfort zone of the burrito and sampled some other menu items. I highly recommend a Torta. It's basically a buritto served on a grilled sandwich roll instead of in a tortilla -- very tasty.
If you're on this stretch of Mission, your default taco joint is probably Tacqueria Cancun. I'd say, walk the extra block to Taco Loco. The meat is tastier, the service is better, and there's a freakin' crazy taco painted on the wall! -
Review from anita c.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2006
Absolutely the best carnitas in town. good sopes and tacos, and an excellent selection of mexican beer and sodas.
Don't bother with gringo food like burritos -- it's not that kind of place.Listed in: Mexican food, Bernal's best (and worst)
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Review from Charlotte M.
San Francisco, CA
3/9/2008
When I'm fiending for something with guacamole, instead of heading to the grocery store and making it myself like a normal person, I end up here.
Service is quick, food is good and tastes fresh, and I like the tiny bar where I can load up on salsa, peppers and radishes to add to my selection. The atmosphere is nice if you decide to dine in and catch a game of futbol on the telly. -
Review from Scott M.
San Francisco, CA
8/4/2005
I used to complain because the closest decent burrito spot to me was Cancun, and I don't like Cancun that much. This place is better than Cancun in a number of ways, and it's much closer for the stumble home post-bar. Most unique thing is the nice way they chop and layer in fresh jalapenos into their carne asada burrito. Not for the timid. Their burritos come out pipin' hot (as opposed to Cancun's usually warm/cold mix). Good spot.
---------update------
Went back sober, and I have to take it down a notch (from 4 to 3). Still good, but not quite as much as I had remembered... -
Review from Kim S.
San Francisco, CA
1/12/2009
This place has the BEST NACHOS EVER! There are some tricks though: you have to use the cheap chips they give you for free in the paper bag and use them to break through the top layer of beef and other deliciousness to get to the real, non-cheap chips at the bottom. Also, these nachos have a shelf life, and don't mess with it. Throw away after an hour, or you'll live to regret it like I did more than once.
I also have tried the shrimp burrito, and that did not disappoint. The radishes in the salsa bar are pretty decent to nibble on while you're waiting I guess, but beer's probably better. It's best to throw back a couple while gazing at the mural of the pepper chasing after the taco with a gun. I don't know either. -
Review from cindy j.
San Francisco, CA
12/23/2007
A big bowl of good pozole can't be beat. I had the big bowl of pozole
at this place and was very disappointed. The soupy broth was really
really good but the 3 large chunks of pork were fatty, gristly and tasted
liked boiled shoe. There was a 10 to 1 ratio of hominy to boiled shoe which was ok cause 1 bite of boiled shoe was enough for me. It would
only take an upgrade in the quality of meat and less hominy and this
would be one of the better joints for pozole. -
Review from Sara L.
San Francisco, CA
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Review from Leo C.
7/12/2009
El Gran Taco Loco offers tasty burritos and tacos, strong offering at the Salsa bar, decently clean seating and bathroom, and opens late to satisfy that late-night (past 2am) food craving. I would give this place 4 stars, but not the food is not at the value pricing that I was expecting.
Last night I was here with 2 friends, after grabbing a few drinks in the neighborhood. The crowd was mostly local, Spanish-speaking folks. I had a Chorizo Super Burrito and a large horchata. The total came to ~$10. It's not bad, but I had expected less. The staff was efficient and courteous, and the food was good. The chips there was excellent! -
Review from Jeremy W.
San Francisco, CA
7/15/2006
Before I discovered Pancho Villa. Before La Cumbre or El Toro or Cancun (then, La Parilla Suza). Before La Corneta was but a glimmer of salsa in Glen Park (or had gone downhill, for that matter), there was this joint. I and my friends didn't know any better than to make this place The Burrito Place.
Since then I've had so very many burritos and El Taco Loco is but a dim memory. Dim, yes, but formative. One of the first burritos I ever had with rice as a filling. Maybe even the first time I ate salsa verde on a chip. That's got to count for something. -
Review from Uncle Fishbits Aeneas X.
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
12/12/2008
Prior to the yelp party we stopped here.
Order fine... burritos yummy. Nothing special here... just a taco shop.
You know.. nothing.. specia???
whuh?
something different? something to garner an extra star?
Don't grab your drink. It disturbs the people. I didn't get it.... I got a Diet Coke, they didn't give it to me, and I went to grab it after a couple minutes. It was like walking into a saloon in a western and the player piano stops and everyone is giving you that "eye".
So... don't grab the drink.
*BUT*...
you know that refrigerator temperature that is so cold it almost freezes the soda... but doesn't.
But when you open the soda, the fridge was so cold it actually pre freezed it and as soon as it touches air it gets those mini ice crystals throughout the soda and they are a joy and make it like homemade diet coke ice that is so so so delcious?
This is that fridge. Hell yeah. -
Review from s k.
San Francisco, CA
1/24/2007
This place is very mediocre. You'll get much better tacos and burritos down the street at Cancun or further down at 24th and Mission.
They have very generous portions and reasonable prices, but the food is not very good.
