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Come in and enjoy our happy hour Monday thru Friday between 3-5pm! We have $1 taco's, $2 beers & $1 Aguas!
Mon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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There are lots of taqueria's in SF, so it's hard to tell one from the other... this place was sliding nicely into a four-star rating after I ordered and tasted their tofu taco. Yum, that's a real option for me on a mexican menu. Then I tried the grilled veggie taco sitting right next to it. Holy heavenly mouthful. I am now a very happy person in the Mission!!
Go here!
mmm carne asada burritos.
mmm yummy salsa bar.
and it's clean!? say what!
pretty cheap.
mmm custard filled churros.
service is good.
no wonder why the line is crazy long.
So I generally love El Torro and I am there on a fairly regular basis. I allow myself one burrito a week and the Pura Carne hits the spot. However, the ladies who work here seriously need to check their irritable dispositions at the door. They act like they're working in a refugee camp and life couldn't be more unfair. The little cute one with the diamond earrings, in particular (far left in the group photo)...
I can literally taste her eye rolls in my burrito.
What can you fault El Toro for? It's good health inspection score? You must admit that this is one of the cleanest, immaculate taco shops in the mission. Their employees are fantastic.
Why not 5 stars? Well it deserves 5 stars during its happy hour ($1 tacos, $2 beers including NEGRA MODELO!), especially including the above. But on average, it must be 4 stars.
But to be the best of the best, you need to be open late. And this taco shop is not. But their employees are the most detail oriented I've seen-- cooking or cleaning, this place is pretty darn awesome.
Fast efficient line with a great menu. They made me the wrong burrito :( so my lunch wasn't as satisfying. My veg burrito was dry but had lots of black beans, a plus. They had forgotten the avocado, sad sad burrito.
The salsa bar was awesome, love having choices that include green salsa. I need to return and get the correct burrito, super this time!
Perfectly adequate food, but this is one of the most expensive taco places in the city. Can't say it presents much of a reason to go back.
Pretty freaking good super tacos with no fuss order process and the ever faithfully present Negro Modelo.
No complaints and got to Oakland Airport on time.
Only went here because I couldn't find Taqueria Vallarta on my own.
I am astounded this place has 4 stars when there are much more authentic places on 24th Street. I know I'm not from the SF area but even I know a gringo place when I see one. The tacos and the horchata were double the cost of the 24th Street places and they had TOFU on the taco menu!!! WTF?!?
Are you kidding me? No authentic mexican place, not even a tex mex place has tofu tacos. This place gets a generous 3 stars from me because the fish taco was decent but I can't give this place any more props when there are much better and cheaper places a few blocks away.
OK, I'm cracking up a little after reading some of the not so pleasant reviews from mainly white guys who somehow became experts on Mexican cuisine. Maybe they were the child who was kidnapped from a powerful American Exec while on vacation and jumped the border to bring us the news that "I've had better, etc"! Too funny.
Right, my turn...Yes, you may have to wait sometimes because this place has a huge following with a line sometimes out the door. Can you blame people? California has real Taquerias unlike the east coast where I'm from and this place is no exception. The burrito is a for the worker who was out working their asses off all day in the sun who needed a meal that was big enough for the whole day and full of different nutrients. If you want fine dining then go somewhere else! In my experience their servers were very friendly, the salsa bar was always stocked and clean, and the meal never disappointed.
I am their a couple times a month and will continue to do so as long as the Mission exists! Viva El Toro!
i had one missing taqueria missing from my list of misssion taquerias and el toro was it. i was really disappointed. i was also surprised to see that they didn't have chorizo on the menu...weird. anyway, compared to the other taquerias el toro was very skimpy on the portions, especially the meat. they also charged me over $9 for a super burrito. can't remember but i'm pretty sure that burritos usually aren't that expensive even if it is by $1. and they also have the same plastic cups for their drinks that you would find at a coffee shop, which kind of eeked me out considering it's a mexican restaurant. the taste, well it was ok. i've had better.
my suggestion would be to skip el toro and eat somewhere else. there are so many to pick from.
I was pleasantly surprised after walking into what looked like a commercialized Taqueria. After waiting in line for about 5 minutes (no biggie) I ordered a ginormous meat burrito and a Pacifico. The chips were pretty good, but what I couldn't get enough of was the mild salsa for my chips. The burrito ended up being pretty tasty with the added guac and cheese. The meat was really flavorful as well.
The place had a pretty low key ambiance. There was lots of light and defiantly enough places to sit, no prob. I am not sure how to compare this Taqueria to any other in the city because this is my first bite of Mexican food in 3 months, but if I were in the area again I would take a stroll right into El Toro.
I came here on Saturday as I had a craving for Mexican and it was close to where I was running some errands.
The service was quick! The staff was super friendly and I know they loved that I spoke Espanol. My chicken quesadilla was perfect and I got a Jarrito - Strawberry flavored - AWESOME! They had a ton of aguas frescas too - which I was tempted to get, but the Jarrito won me over. The nice part was that the cashier threw in a huge free bag of chips - maybe it's because I left them a tip - it was a super nice gesture.
So why didn't give them a five? I saw the refried beans and they looked NASTY. I didn't try them though...I don't think I'm brave enough too.
Provecho!
Oh, I see...I look this place up and find that it's affiliated with Pancho Villa. I don't even need to leave a review. Flavorless, honkified Mexican food.
We were looking for a quick bite to eat before we headed back to the hotel for the night after a long day of walking. I have been on such a Mexican food kick lately that this was a no-brainer. No line when we got there, I was actually hoping there would be so I could take my time figuring out what i wanted to eat. (I hate standing around staring at a menu like a goof) So I went with the ol' trusty 3 tacos dish with chips and salsa. Each taco was different, carne asada, pollo asada, and carnitas, but all had black beans. Then I had them add cilantro, red onions, and verde salsa to each. KISS - keep it simple stupid.
To drink I had a pineapple Aguas Fresca, which was absolutely refreshing. This thing was like drinking straight pineapple juice out of an umbrella straw with shoes kicked off type of fresh.
The salsa bar was AWESOME. They had probably 7 different salsas to pick from - again, making me feel like a goof standing there deciding...i went with the roasted pepper salsa and verde salsa. Good choices. Not too hot, but you definitely know it was on the chip.
My fiance got the supreme nachos, which was a MOUND of chips with meat, veggies, beans, and cheese. She couldnt even finish the damn thing. And she can put away some food when she needs to.
The restaurant itself was nice and clean, very open and seemed to be a popular spot in the Mission District. I will definitely come back here, although probably after I try every other place in the area.
Godlike integration of burrito ingredients. Extensive salsa bar. Negra modelo. Busted-ass seats.
Cinco estrellas. Cuatro moustachios.
I usually hit El Toro when Pancho Villa is too crowded. The food is great and the salsa rocks! The burritos tend to have a little size variation depending on the maker, so I always look out for my favorite lady when I show up.
The only other issue nowadays is that a super burrito with no drink costs $9.31. It's a bit pricey, but I hit it once a week anyway! I've never hit the happy hour since it's from 3-5 --- that's a tough time for most people--- but the $1 tacos would be a great deal...
Awesome place. Even though it's not traditional Mexican style food, the flavor in authentic. And you can't beat the dollar taco happy hour from 3-5 on weekdays. It's good for guys like me that can't cook.
The ladies there are great. They teach me Spanish.
El Toro has taken it up a notch lately, and now instead of being the Danny Devito to Pancho Villa's Governor Schwarzenegger, it is more like the Serena to Pancho Villa's Venus Williams. Sorry, couldn't think of any other roughly equal twins...
Anyway, the salsas have gotten better and there are more choices on the salsa bar, though still no cilantro/onion blend. The beans also seem better, though, and I am really looking forward to taking a course in "Taconomics" ($1 tacos, $2 beer, 100% corny ad campaign) if I can ever time it right so that I am around between 3 and 5pm.
Maybe I'm getting desensitized to the lackluster Mexican food in SF or maybe I'm more forgiving in my old age, but this gets El Toro a shiny new 4-star rating.
Ever been to Pancho Villa? Then you've been to El Toro. When my girlfriend wants to go here, she… Read more »
Are you one of the millions of people who lost their job in the recession? Maybe you hate your job because you bust your camel hump every day because your company laid off 21% of the office and now you have to do 27% more work and want to leave early.
Well, head on down to Pancho Villa Taqueria for their awesomely priced, inconveniently timed happy hour! From 3-5pm weekdays, you can get tacos for $1 and beer for $2. For those of you who are bad at math, that means you can have a perfectly filling meal of three tacos and a negro modelo for the low, low price of $5!!
Take that, burger clown.
This is a review by a vegetarian
The first time I went to El Toro was several years ago as part of a quest to find alfajores in the Bay Area. Turned out there were some little dry homemade type things in a plastic case at the end of the ordering line but I didn't even bother with them. Since that dissappointed venture I've only thought of this corner as the "Good Vibrations" location.
Now I've had occasion to actually sample the food here and it's pretty good. They have many many variation so food sauces all prepared , or at least assembled, to order before your eyes. Any place where they actually have tofu in a burrito and it's not too wet and gushy gets some credit. The carnivores seemed pretty satisfied as well. Most of the time when I'm vibrating goodly through the area I head for a falafel at Ali Baba but I may divert here every once in a while.
I learned something Thursday night:
Erika C is no match for an El Toro Super Burrito. Why I thought I could eat the whole thing....I will never know.
I truly haven't been able to eat since. so....full....but....soo....worth it......gahhhh
/food coma
The mission Taqueria's really need to intern for a few weeks in Los Angeles - which have the best Taqueria's and Mexican Restos this side of the Rio. Srsly.
Over the past two years, I used to come by for a Vegetarian Burrito. Then, I realized all too quickly that all the Burritos in the Mission were the same. They're good. Not bad. Not great. Just a matter of convenience when it's hangover time and one needs to stuff themselves into a coma to sleep it off.
Anyway, last fall I stumbled upon El Toro during their $1 taco / $2 beer Hour Hour 3-5 Monday thru Friday. Saving money makes my tastes buds a little more forgiving... but really not necessary for the taco's here. They're simple and fresh and a $1.10 gets you a taco loaded with any meat, 10 or so crispy nachos, a sweet salsa bar and a cup of water I give an essence of lime. (see my photo). Wow. A $1.10 plus a 30-50% tip for all the hands behind the counter.
I'm a little bummed with all the commercialization/glossy posters that someone thought would be a good idea. I'm kinda into scruffy Taqueria's. Like Sunday morning lovers with all that scruff... slumming at it's best.
MMMMM. El Toro. If you were any better at what you do I'd think you were my Abuelita. Having been practically raised on El Toro, my review may teeter on the line of nostalgic but, their tacos are AMAZING. As a Bay Area native, I know bad Mexican food and I know good Mexican food. El Toro being the master of the latter.
Mexican food is something so simple to create and even simpler to mess up. The ingredients are few and inexpensive but, doing it right is an art. El Toro's meat has so much flavor and they don't crown one meat the King. All meats, from Al Pastor, to carne asada, to chicken are all full of flavor making the simple taco a true treat.
The line may be long but, its totally worth it especially if there are Mariachi inside waiting to serenade you while you drink an ice-cold Coke and eat more tacos than you can count on your fingers... Don't worry, it won't break the bank either.
Thank you El Toro for being closer than Tijuana.
There prices are VERY HIGH for their SMALL ASS SUPER burrito.
8.50 for there super burrito which is the same size for a "baby burrito" at Cancun Taqueria.
Yes their salsa bar for the chips is exquisite but that small ass super burrito was fuckin recockulous........
I think this was partially due to the pretty latina employee having some "pretty girl issues" and while she talked spanish to me , of me answering back in english???? My spanish sux.
Bomb @ss quesadillas.
Valentine's Day 2009. I found my soul mate.
For the last 18 months, I have been prowling my home city of Detroit for a Mexican restaurant that would complete me. I have had so many first dates, but never any second dates. I just never went to bed satisfied, even after all my suitors offered me their best. Their burritos were just never filling enough, or meaty enough, or spicy enough.
But this Valentine's Day, I'm in the Mission District, still desperate for a burrito to fill me.
Out of nowhere came El Toro, sweeping me off my feet like a natural Romeo. He tempted me first with his spicy grilled chicken, so moist and flavorful, it teased me from its dish on the assembly line. Then he turned on the heavy flirting with pico di gallo so full of fresh jalapeno, crisp tomatoes, and aromatic cilantro. Finally, I was paralyzed, in love, enraptured... the avocado-tomatillo salsa took me over the edge, as it ran over my tongue like silk and tantalized my tastebuds.
Alas, this fateful encounter could not last forever, and we were both exhausted after just one burrito. I have had to come home to Michigan, while my El Toro remained on his corner of Valencia and 17th. Long-distance dating is tough, so I'll be visiting him soon. He will need to once again fulfill my carnivorous desires.
Solid taqueria, glad to be home....Had my first taco last night since going over the pond.....mmmmmmm No better place than this when in the mission district, well, there are others, but I'll leave it up to you...
My foodie buddy dragged me into this place one Sunday afternoon. We were planning to chill out in Dolores Park because it was convenient. After I stepped foot through the door, I was pleasantly surprise that the place was clean. I ordered 2 tacos to sample first at 3.00 a piece.
The tacos were yummy. Everything tasted fresh. There's also happy hour between 3-5PM and you could have a nice dinner for just under 5 bucks with beer.
I'm coming back. The salsa bar is also fresh and great for topping your tacos.
I debated on 3 or 4 stars. 4 stars because the restaurant is clean, and ingredients are good, salsa bar is good. But the prices are kinda high for the mission, and they are a little bit short when it comes to how many chips they give.
Would go again, but would be open to try other places if I was in the mission.
A TRUE San Francisco Burrito...
I've been hittin this spot up since I was in Jr High so it definitely holds a special place in my heart (and probably these hips).
YES! the prices have gone up and seem a bit ridiculous but every once in a while its worth it for a yummy piece of nostalgia.
I've definitely had better, especially in the Mission. The new exterior is nice, but the food is still a step behind the rest. And, the prices are surprisingly high for what you get.
Clean store. The food isnt bad, but I don't think its the best Mexican I've ever tried. They seem to charge more because they "use" fresh ingredients. In my opinion, I think its way pricey for the mission.
So when I moved to San Francisco 5 1/2 years ago, I lived in Noe Valley. I remember discovering El Toro one of the first times I had ventured into the Mission and falling in love with it. I thought the super veggie burrito was really good but moreover just got swept away by the sauce. Ooooh, the sauce is so special! There are so many variations of the medium hot sauce, and the cups they allow you to use are unlimited so you can fill as many at your heart's desire.
This place hooked me in from the get go that I literally made it a religious thing. Some people went to Church on Sundays, I took the 14 or 49 and visited El Toro. Every Sunday. For a year. And I loved it.
These days, there is another taqueria that has me going back for more so I don't visit El Toro that much, even though I do live in the Mission. I did however get dinner there last night and was reminded why I used to make such an effort to go there regularly. I just can't get enough of that sauce!
As for the environment, the place is a bit too noisy to stay in and dine. They are constantly chopping meat behind the counter which makes the place too loud to have a conversation w/o having to raise your voice or shouting. The service is also just mediocre. It's a hit or miss that the cashier will actually smile at you.
I would give this place 3 stars if it weren't for that sauce. Oh the sauce! So fresh and soooo good!
My rec would be to skip ordering in and instead get it to go and have lunch or dinner at Dolores park (pending on weather). That will make for a waaaay more positive experience.
S.E.V.E.N D.O.L.L.A.R.S F.O.R A R.E.G.U.L.A.R* B.U.R.R.I.T.O !!!!!!!!!!!!111
*rice, beans, meat, salsa
Might as well rename this place "Solamente Por Los Gringos"
The shrimp tacos here are the best in the city, hands down. They even put a little dollop of Caesar dressing on top. So delicious. I'm also a big fan of El Toro's salsa bar. Always clean, and always fresh.
It's hard to walk by this joint and not pop in for a taco, even if you're not hungry.
My favorite brick and mortar taco joint in San Francisco.
Hmmm....can't get away from the Steak and Prawn Burrito...
Food is fresh, filling, and fabuloso.
IT SMELLS LIKE FERMENTED SHRIMP MIXED WITH SALSA?
I've pasted this place very often. today i was suppose to go try Frjtz next door but it was packed and i was hungry therefore i found myself in El Toro since alot of people come in and out of the place.
i went safe and ordered 3 taco's for $7.00. two chicken, one beef. i was pretty pleased with the waitstaff, very friend, very on point with service, and very careful. what i mean by careful, they made my plate pretty, no messiness, they didn't just dump my black beans in my taco, they waited for the juice to drip out and then put my beans in my taco (something i appreciate SO MUCH) because i hate saggy tacos. i also received a free side of tortilla chips and they were like all other tortilla chips. i also ordered fresh squeezed fruit juice and i chose cantelope.
1) 3 tacos.. they were good. i enjoyed the chicken way more then the beef. and their pico de gala they put in the taco, fabulous and fresh. but the salsa they put. first off, they said it wasn't spicy.. very little but why did it look thick and really hot. i tried and it was hot. not only that IT STINKS!!! you sure that's just salsa? IT SMELLS LIKE FERMENTED SHIMP MIXED WITH SALSA. i had to take it off of my food, i couldn't handle the stinch. sorry.
2) the fresh squeeze cantelope was okay. it would have been better if they actually had it colder or had added ice to make it cooler because luke-warm fresh squeezed juice is not as refreshing. the cantelope wasn't that sweet either but it was still okay. maybe im just comparing it to how filipino's make their fresh squeezed cantelope juice. next time, if i ever go back, i'll try a different juice and ask to have ice with it.
Until the next review....
I hadn't been to El Toro in quite a while, but it was still as good as ever. The tortilla was cooked to perfection, beans were flavorful, and salsa was some of the best I've had. The horchata was from the bottom of the barrel, so it had a lil too much cinnamon, but everything else was great. We were also lucky enough to get rock-star-parking this time, so we didn't have to drive around looking for a spot.
WOOLALA the AGUAS FRESCAS! the options are plentiful. tubs and tubs of colorful, juicy, refreshing bevs. usually places only have 3 tubs, they had about 6 or 7! yayyyyyy.. burritos are warm, hearty, flava-flav. one of the tastier taquerias i've encountered thus far........ then again, i've only been in sf for a week so maybe my opinion doesnt really count... regardless, it's a trusty little joint.
Yup. Good stuff. Re-discovered the carnitas (pork). Pulled well, tender, fatty, and I think the best of all the meats offered.
Went on a limb and ordered the tofu ranchero taco just for exploratory reasons. Yeah, not so good. Tasted something like Chinese Ma Po Tofu. Pass on this item, for sure.
Again, clean, large portions, quick, and fresh.
The Mexican McDonald's of The Mission. (In a good way.)
I hate commercial wrap - burritos, that is.…
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Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Mexican
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