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Categories: Mexican, Food Stands
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"While on a mission to gather some meat for a little bbq without the hassle of having to drive somewhere, my friend and I stumbled into La…" read more »
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One day. Four taco trucks/stands. I don't know why. Maybe this fantastic city/neighborhood provide the opportunity to go to four different taco trucks/stands within a few blocks. Or maybe because I wanted an adventure. Wouldn't be the first time.
The plan:
Chicken taco at each location. See what customizing can be done. Sample a bit of each. Rank 'em. Save the rest and mix everything together for a massive burrito for dinner. Give away some as a Replate at 16th/Mission. Post same yelp for all four to give context.
The verdict:
1. Tonayense. Average cost at $1.75. Way above average flavor. Black beans were a huge bonus, loved the mild green sauce and oil was minimal. This was easily my favorite.
2. Mexicali. Second cheapest at $1.50. Tasty. Bonus points for having a bell you ring to get their attention, as well as giving me the opportunity to use a little spanish from 8th grade/Taco Bell to ask for lechuga (lettuce). The friendly lady obliged. More good stuff with the guy who wanted to pay with an ATM card. Didn't work. The lady working and me chipped in to cover his taco. I hope that karma pays off.
3. Gallo Giro. Incredibly cheap at $1.25. Bit on the spicy side. Oil content seemed standard.
4. Cachanilla. Most expensive at $2.00. Tasty. Made in the same building but different prep area than Mexicali. I give them credit for being up front saying if I order at the window (Mexicali) it's $1.50, and inside it's $2.00. I paid an extra $0.50 just for the experience.
People thought this was:
No black beans or wheat tortillas usually means three stars or less. But when it comes from a truck… Read more »
Everytime my husband and I are sitting in traffic on the 101/80 heading towards the bay bridge, 80% of the time, we'll look to eachother and say "tacos?" "Hell Yes." It's our way of "avoiding" the traffic for about an hour, but really it's an excuse to pick up some yummy tacos.
I always get two carnitas tacos, and he usually gets 3 el pastor. Plenty of meat on each taco.
*note to self: Don't buy horchata at the end of a long hot day!
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I love stopping by their location in SOMA by Best Buy when I need some tasty bites to for cheap. Their selection of meats is great compared to most other taco trucks. Their Al Pastor has a lot of flavor although it can be a bit dry at times due to hanging out in a chafing dish for a few hours. But their lengua and cabeza is always tender and scrumptious.
Conclusion: Si. Todo dia.
LOVE taco trucks.... I had thier tacos twice and they were wonderful (and oh so spicy) both times. They make tacos better than the taquerias do.
Addicting tacos! I always get the Carne Asada tacos and they never let me down. The only thing I don't like about this taco truck is how stingy they are on the condiments. No hot sauce set out, no cilantro, no peppers... etc. Most taco trucks have those out and the sodas aren't locked up.
serious serious foodie awesomeness. we were on a foodie adventure and hunted down el tonayense due to all the good reviews.
ate one taco (carne al pastor) and agua fresca (pineapple). nommmms! what a delight! the meat was so moist and full of juices that it dripped down my fingers! the tortillas fresh and, with the fresh pineapple juice sitting alongside a fence, i was transported into heaven for a moment.
my my my!!! :) happiness found at a corner of SF. happiness. :)
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It's not often that a vehicle can stun your culinary palate, but El Tonayense will do just that to you, on a relatively boring white paper plate.
Come Tuesday, this truck has become more and more a part of my weekly ritual that come Monday night, I go to bed with a craving.
A straightforward menu, with ingredients that have depth, make this nonchalant truck a hit.
My order: Steak Burrito with everything, hold the sour cream, and two chicken tacos.
The chicken tacos will have you fall with the first bite. Your heart will cave, knowing that it just got sucker punched from the taco cupid.
Fresh onions, and greens top off spicy marinated chicken that has all the tender juices locked in between 2 layers of soft tortillas. Yes folks, this simple combination of Mexican flavors will leave you substantially content.
The burrito is wrapped with a flavorful protein, and a medley of supporting actors that will leave you looking for a post chow couch.
Fast service, fun sidewalk atmosphere, and a delightful example of how food can push your weekly compass in the direction of Friday.
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I've been a staunch supporter of taco trucks ever since LA business owners were trying to pass an unjust zoning policy for taco trucks about two years ago. In fact I was just telling Mary J that someone needs to start a soul food taco truck in the East Bay but who's got time to get a business plan together when you're too busy eating and yelping?
I bookmarked this place after learning about it from Karen Y. Since the truck parks on the same street corner all day I was able to stop by late last night to try it out. The truck is very clean and it was good to see that they have a few tables and chairs nearby so I wouldn't have to eat with my hands standing up. My lengua and pastor tacos were $1.75 each and served with double decker tortillas loaded with meat and hot sauce. Although the tacos at some other places may cost less, the ones last night were huge and juicy and definitely worth the price.
Of the two tacos, I like my lengua taco the best since I thought the pastor was a bit too salty. Not sure why my pastor was minced but overall the texture was alright. I wish I could have more cilantros and onions, and the hot sauce appeared too watery when I thought it would be thick and salsa-like. My experience was certainly not the best of the best, but it was still tasty and yelpaliciously spicy--just the way I liked it. On top of it all, I really liked the quiet location and overall convenience. I would love to go back again and try their torta the next time I'm there.
Thanks to Karen Y for her great review.
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I wrote a much longer review on the 14th St truck but this location has become my staple as I can mooch around BestBuy and then feast on the best tacos in San Francisco.
I've never bought anything but tacos and the odd quesadilla from ET so I can't comment on the burritos or tortas but I will say that the El Tonayense Tripitas Taco, spicy with everything on is my absolutely favourite piece of street food in the world, ever. Seriously.
Tripitas is of course tripe otherwise known as tasty fried stomach parts. Sounds disgusting? Well it tastes magnificent. Rich and meaty with a delightful crunch you won't regret taking a trip down the grizzly end of the menu.
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This is my first taco truck experience....
Called up a friend this morning and said "let me take you to lunch"! He had no idea where we were going but trusts me.... Arrived about 2ish and was served immediately. Very nice gentleman maning the counter service. I had 2 tacos spicy - carnitas & el pastor - and my friend had a grilled chicken burrito. We both agreed these were awesome! The el pastor taco was my favorite. Two waters so the total was $12! We will definitely come back as next I want to try the tongue taco!
Service is good. The Qusadilla is about 6 bucks (more than other places) but its bekuz it is big and heavy.
The taco's are about 1.75, and they taste like every other dollar taco.
so a bit overpriced in my book.
I'm glad to see I agree with most of Yelpers for a change.
El Ton is the bomb. I've been a few times. Last night brought home a carne asada super burrito and it was by far the best take out burrito I've had in SF. There is something about the fresh onions that you crunch into bite after bite that make this a memorable burrito.
I can see myself becoming a loyal Monday night customer (when a shocking number of other places are closed). I wish they had a restaurant but until then this is great mexi to pick up and enjoy at home.
Strolling around Best Buy with a bellyful of Tongue Taco, what more can a man ask for.
If it weren't for their location (Next to best buy) i would never think to stop and try it. But nonetheless it's pretty darn good street food. The al pastor is messy and good. The tongue is amazing soft juicy meat. I wouldn't recommend the horchata after 6pm cause it tasted a bit funky since it looked like it's been sitting there for ages.
Al Pastor Taco is the order.
Only a fool orders anything less.
Maybe a Mexican Coke if you are feeling crazy.
I dare you to find a better Taco.
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Don't say 'roach coach'! That is soooo 80's and 90's.
I prefer taco truck, anyway I caught this moving stand on wheels on 17th and Harrison on Tuesday, had the chicken quesadilla... and my life is complete. The best quesadilla I have ever had, bar none. I am holding out on one star b/c it was $6.50.
I ordered a simple carne asada taco, medium salsa, with everything for $1.75 each (tacos of this size usually go for $1.00 or $1.25). The meat tasted tough and dry, the salsa was full of garlic and basil. WTF?! Overpriced and not authentic Mexican tacos. I will continue to visit Mi Grullense on International Blvd. in Oakland.
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one of my best friend's got married this past weekend, and they rented el tonayense's taco truck to cater their wedding. best idea, ever!
we dined on all sorts of different tacos, and i have just discovered that i love al pastor! mmm.
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It was so long ago, it might have just been a dream. I wanted some tacos, and this awesome hipster girl took me to the El Tonayense taco truck on Harrison and 22nd. She tried every taco truck and taqueria in the Mission, and she said this was the best one.
When we got there, I was shocked to see that not only did they have patio seating, they even had a perfect 100% score from the city health department!
Taco Truck Girl explained to me that taco trucks are superior to taquerias because the meat is fresher. They grill each taco to order, making the meat nice and crispy. The tripitas (aka tripe, cow stomach) tacos were awesome! They were crispy like hash browns, but made out of tripe! So heavenly and delicious, I could live on tripitas tacos!!
The lengua (cow tongue) and cabeza (cow cheeks) tacos are awesome too! The perfect compliment to these awesome tacos is a bottle of Mexican coke, served in a real glass bottle, sweetened with real sugar.
And after introducing me to the best taco truck ever, taco truck girl disappeared, never to be seen again. Did she even exist, or did I imagine the whole thing while in a drunken hangover? I guess I'll never know, but thank you Taco Truck Girl, for showing me El Tonayense on 22nd and Harrison, the best taco truck in world.
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$6.50 for a really quickly served super chicken burrito. Plus the sauce they cook with or mix in is unique to their taco trucks! It is the reason I keep coming back, and have trouble going to almost any mexican place right now and ordering a "standard" burrito. I eat here once a week.
You must try this.
Best Tacos in SF, hands down (maybe La Tacqueria is a tad better, but it's close). They have an assortment of meats, from the mild (carne asada, carnitas, pollo) to the more daring (lengua, cabeza, etc). Great spot - I hit it up frequently.
The atmosphere is bleak - you're standing on a sidewalk out in front of Best Buy, but the food, prices and convenience can't be beat.
Happy Cinco De Mayo! And it's on a Tuesday this year (Taco Tuesday).
When I think of tacos, I think of El Tonayense. I was in the mood for brains but I accidentally ordered the cabeza again (head meat). I like how the cabeza meat is cut into small cubes and topped with raw onions, cilantro and your choice of salsa (hot or mild, I always choose hot). The tacos ($1.75 each) came with lime wedges, radishes, spicy, crunchy pickled carrots and jalapenos. The food arrives quickly. One guy takes your order and the other guy grills your corn tortillas and assembles the taco.
The tacos are small but they give you a good amount of meat.
* Cabeza: I liked it better here than I did at their other location (though I think the meat all comes from the same place), it had more seasoning than before. Some of the meat was stringy (but not dry), other pieces were more gelatinous and soft, good beefy flavor.
* Lengua: Tender and tasty tongue.
The menu is probably the same for all their trucks? Choose your meat (or the veggie option) and form (tacos, burritos, tortas) and pick a drink if you want. Chips are $1.
I drove past three El Tonayense trucks on Harrison and the line was the 14th St. truck (by Best Buy) had the longest line. I'm sure the difference is driven primarily by location.
The 22nd St. truck provided better service and extras on the side. He asked me if I wanted it for here or to go. I said to go and he wrapped the paper plate in foil. The 14th St. truck didn't bother to ask. The 22nd St. truck gave me radishes, spicy, crunchy pickled carrots and jalapenos and the 14th St. truck didn't.
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Got a quesadilla after climbing for 4 hours at Mission Cliffs. It was delicious. It was cheap. I was happy.
"Yeah, it's OK. But there's this truck on Harrison street..."
This place has the burritos I compare all others too. Super carne asada burrito? Yes please! The meat is always deliciously cooked, a perfect ratio of meat to beans to rice, but the best part is their signature sauce. I like spicy foods, but I would suggest getting it mild, that way the cilantro taste isn't over shadowed. The tacos are wonderful too, they're always the prize for a bet made between me and my friends.
Tonayense ROCKS. So much in fact, that we rented a Tonayense truck to cater our wedding reception in June. Not only do they have the best tacos & burritos around, they showed up half an hour early, and were very professional and courteous. My Chinese mother (a very picky eater), who claimed she did not like Mexican food, even liked her tacos. And, did I mention it is very affordable? The cost owas $650 minimum to rent the truck (and $75 to drive to Oakland). We fed 70+ people, and we only paid the minimum- and I was too drunk to remember to get some burritos to go :(
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Sucker for these guys. Reminds me of home. Carnitas is the way to go. They don't cheap on the meat either. Great for when you get a mexi craving.
Places like this make me feel very grateful for living in the Mission District. I was craving tacos earlier and I already knew that El Tonayense was the spot to stop by on my way home. Luckily, there was no line and my order was taken right away...took only a few minutes for them to prepare it and wrap the paper plate in foil to-go.
I decided to be adventurous today and try the cabeza (head and cheek meat) taco and also ordered my typical chicken taco. The toppings on it include raw onions, cilantro, and spicy salsa is what I chose. $1.75 each is more expensive than I remembered it to be but totally worth it since they are loaded with meat!
The cabeza cubes were super tender and bursting with flavor...delish! Can't go wrong with the moist and yummy chicken either. The pickled carrots and jalapenos on the side packed quite a bit of heat too which I loved! All in all, a great meal that was filling and cheap.
Brains is next on my list to try!
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YES. that is all.
Be ready to choose your meat. Sauce dripping between the fingers. Bites with a kick. but....overall I wasn't impress. I guess an authentic taco from Cancun is hard to live up to.
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My favorite tacos in the city. Their carnitas are sublime, great horchata, and the sandwich is excellent. The guys working in the truck are great and I always stop by when I'm in the area.
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I got four chicken tacos at this one yesterday. I do think that they (their tacos) are a little overpriced at $1.75 each, but there's just sort of a guilty pleasure at getting food here, because it's really only fast food, but it doesn't feel like going to McDonald's or Taco Bell, where you have to do the drive-through with your sunglasses on to avoid being recognized, and then furtively get rid of all the bags, fry holders, cups, and wrappers before anyone sees you've been there.
I'm not sure that there's that much difference between this truck and, say, the one parked outside Best Buy. Are they franchises?
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This place is DA' BOMB! Order the Taquitos de Carne Asada with salsa verde, radishes, marinated carrots, peppers and lime, YOU TOO WILL FALL IN LOVE! Take a look at Caroline L.'s photo, now that is what I am talkin' about!
I remember the days of dollar tacos from this truck, but still at 1.75 per taco it's a great deal.
I never recommend anything from this truck other than tacos, you order a burrito or a torta, you are on your own!
If you hang out for a bit the "paleta" guy comes around and for a buck twenty-five you can spoil your palette with a watermelon or mango paleta and be set for the eve!
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yumtastic! i was a little skeptical when my coworkers invited me to eat at the taco truck. i'm from LA and the only time i ate food out of a truck was in college and it was pretty much as you would expect food from a truck to taste.
but tonayense is a whole other ballgame. i've heard the pastor is excellent, but i wasn't in the mood to be asleep by 3 PM. not that carnitas are too different but it made sense in my head so shut your face. the carnitas burrito was really really good! better than some of those supposedly good hole in the wall mexican kitchens even. i got the regular, spicy...because i don't like things like lettuce and guac in my burrito. it came with beans and rice and seemed to have been missing the spice. this might be a fluke though, so i won't hold it against them unless it becomes a habit.
so i ate there yesterday...and now i want it again! that's a good sign! thank god it's super cheap...$6.50 for a burrito and i think the tacos are less than $2 each. big fan!!
I had my druthers about the quality of food prepared and served up from a truck, but after two solid experiences, I must admit El Tonayense serves up some of the best, fresh simple tacos available in SF! Both the carnitas and pollo asada were juicy and delicious , and topped with fresh, local ingredients which far exceeded my expectations... even if they were prepared from a truck in front of Best Buy.
Who'd a thunk?!
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I go here quite regularly and they have the best tacos I know. The meat is very, very good but not the best. However, the salsa makes this a fabulous taco. I especially love the head and cheek taco which is very juicy and flavorful. For $1.75 this is an awesome deal, although I would be going here often even if it was more expensive.
tasty and cheap. they once put the wrong meat in my quesadilla, but other than that love them.
Had the spicy carne asada burrito and a mexi-coke for lunch today.
The food was prepared quickly and was palatable, but there was nothing screaming "this burrito has changed your life."
Would eat there again if hungry, but not worth a special trip.
EDIT: Did eat there again. Same burrito, much better.
really it was just okay. The one next to best buys is the best i've had.
Good tacos for cheap. Nice guys in truck and very quick. But not worth a long drive and will be forgettable over time.
Street food at its best! I was hungry, hungry, hungry, in the Mission w/friends. I wanted GOOD FOOD, but did not want to kill my budget. Then I saw it: a taco truck. "Are you game?" said I. My San Francisco buddies then gave this Peninsula girl a knowing smile. And now I know why.
I went for the veggie burrito...it was light and fresh with a sauce that made it delicioso! One friend had the beef torta...one bite of his choice made me wish I had ordered that...the beef had lovely flavor...I could not stop myself from eating half, and he had to get another. My other friend had the BBQ pork taco...I was jealous of that one, too. Intense flavors that delighted the palate and left me full and warmed.
This is an incredibly clean, "restaurant on wheels," with fresh ingredients and a good selection of menu items that make for delightful food on the go. And eating these treats was so much fun out in the open air on a chilly day. I can't wait to go back and try out all there is to offer. Another San Francisco treat!
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Hungry and poor? For $6 you can buy a super burrito with your choice of meat along with rice, beans, cheese, sour cream, guac, cilantro, onions, FLAVOR. It's so good.
I made my self stop (..breathe) when I was halfway through the mighty burrito so I could eat the second half later on for dinner. I recommend that game plan if you're ultra poor.
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Yelp Happy Hour
Neighborhood: SOMA
Happy Hour: $1 Tacos & $2…
Neighborhood: Mission
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Food Stands
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Food Stands
San Francisco, CA
Category: Food Stands
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