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Mariachi's Taqueria - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
508 Valencia St(between 16th St & 17th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 621-4358
- 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:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Yen C. said: "This review is for their breakfast menu. The menu isn't huge but it's all very well executed ranging from a Mexican omlette with your choice of protein (chorizo, carne asada, chicken, etc) to more traditional fares such as huevos…" read more »
192 reviews for Mariachi's Taqueria
Review Highlights
-
"you can't go wrong with mango salsa." In 24 reviews -
"The thai tofu burrito is incredible." In 9 reviews -
"Offer whole wheat tortillas as a option." In 4 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
192 reviews in English
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Review from Justin D.
Portland, OR
10/13/2010
My friend just called me and told me the news. I feel like I barely have anything to look forward to should I come back to SF to visit. Every burrito I eat, Mariachi's is always the standard to compare it to....
Regular veggie burrito, spinach tortilla, brown rice, black beans, spicy salsa, guacamole instead of cheese, and onions and cilantro.
Only $4.00 at Mariachi's! I could eat the same thing every night and somehow never get tired of it.
Never again, though. :-(
Well, you had a great place, Homero. Thanks for being my favorite place to grab a burrito and thanks for being such a nice guy! I wish you and your workers well! Feel free to move up here to Portland and start another Mariachi's here. I'll eat there. -
Review from Tim R.
San Francisco, CA
11/10/2010
Picture this:
young boy rides his bike to his best friends house and knocks on the door, but no answer. The boy rides off disappointed only to meet up with his lesser friend. The boy later checks his facebook only to see his best friend is deceased! THIS IS WHAT HAPPEND TO ME EXCEPT THE TAQUERIA IS MY BEST FRIEND! damn it. who else has thai burritos, or vegan mole? WTF -
Review from Emi H.
9/7/2010
Let me start with the preface that I hate Mexican food. Growing up in Hawaii, we have the worst Mexican food EVER! So I grew up thinking that Mexican food consisted of Taco Bell and microwave burritos. Ironically my father and my boyfriend both love Mexican but I have yet to become a convert.
While shopping in the Mission with my friend Crystal I had the sudden need for sustenance. I'm 6 months pregnant so the hunger in my tummy is not just a passing notion which will go away. It's literally a person needing to be fed! The girl at the boutique we were at recommended we go to Mariachi's across the street because they served pretty fresh Mexican food. Oh the dread, oh the horror, oh how I needed to get food inside me soooo quickly or I was likely to pass out!
We went across the street to Mariachi's and I must tell you that this place does not appear impressive in any way, shape or form. Like most spots in the Mission, it's a hole. I ordered two chicken tacos because that seemed like the simplest thing and considering my distaste for Mexican food I just wanted some fast so we could continue shopping. They made my food very quickly for about $3 a taco and off we went.
At our next stop I stood outside the store and started eating my taco. O-M-F-G this thing was AMAZING! Maybe I've been denied Mexican taco goodness all my life or my baby is a Mexican food lover, but I had the best time eating those tacos. I wish you could have been there to watch me "mmmmm" on the sidewalk by myself. Everyone thought I was schizophrenic but it's okay I don't really know anyone in San Francisco anyway. I'll see you on my next trip to San Francisco Mariachi and thanks for restoring my faith in Mexican food. I'm a believer!Listed in: The San Francisco Treat, On A Mission: San Francisco…
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Review from Tom M.
Oakland, CA
10/5/2010
I am saddened to report that my favorite taqueria in SF is now closed.
New best option for vegans/vegetarians in this area is sadly now Pancho Villa.
RIP Mariachi's. I poured out some salsa for you. -
Review from Ed U.
4/29/2007
Is that Elton on the jukebox?...
Don't give me none of your aggravation
I had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for porking
Get a few calories in
Get as stuffed as Kirstie Alley
Gonna set the Mission alight
'Cause Saturday night's the night I pig
Saturday night's alright...alright alright
I pass by this taqueria all the time since it's on the pivotal corner of 16th and Valencia where you're within screaming distance of Bombay Ice Creamery, Pork Store Valencia, Limon, Sunflower and so many great eateries. Ever notice the guy that walks by honking like a goose? What's that about? However, this evening, I finally went in with a friend, and lo and behold, it's pretty darn good.
They advertise freshness, and they actually mean it. I ordered the $6.95 Los Cabos, a couple of fish tacos accompanied by rice and black beans. The tacos were the small flour tortilla rounds with a mound of lightly pan-fried fresh red snapper, mango salsa and pico de gallo and shredded lettuce. Very fresh tasting though kind of a pain to get in your mouth unless you are ambidextrous with amazing finger control. I meant the taco, y'know.
My friend had an even better deal, the $6.45 Super Meat Nachos with steak, though the drawback is that it was a coronary waiting to happen. Lots of pan-fried steak chunks covering a sea of chips with lot of shredded cheese microwave-melted with a heaping scoop of pico de gallo on top. Delish but the gurney should be close by just in case. The place has plenty of tables and counter space, and it's just a quick stroll from the 16th Street BART station. Go if Pancho Villa is full up ...or even if it's not.
FOOD - 4 stars...surprisingly fresh and tasty for Californified taqueria fare
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...t'is the Mission after all
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...by-the-numbers...but they know how to do it fast and with a minimum of fuss
TOTAL - 4 stars...fresh Mex in a neighborhood full of taquerias...a stand-out if you ask me -
Review from Autumn K.
7/30/2007
You know you've hit the jackpot when even your best manorexic friend shares a cheese and sauce-smothered tamale and super veggie burrito with you.
Mariachi's is cheap, generous, and delicious. I do not like the tortilla portion of the burrito (I dig the insides out with a fork and cut the tortilla down as I go along...) and I found the filling to be extremely satisfying. So satisfying in fact that my poor, usually food-averse friend had to pry said burrito out of my death grip just to get a bite or two. So much for beating manorexia. If we're going to Mariachi's, I think I prefer him disordered. -
Review from JAYCE B.
Burlingame, CA
8/25/2006 1 photo
I usually save five stars for companies I know and have personal relationships with. This is the first I can remember that just plain "wow'd" me.
I am a burrito aficionado.
Hold on let me climb down off of my porcelain tower to speak to you little people.... Ok. This place... Oh wow.
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL VEGAN BURRITOS. The holy grail of burritos and they pull it off, big time.
I got a veggie California w/ guacamole on a whole wheat tortilla and ate it so fast I got a stomach ache and STILL loved it. The texture and blend of flavors were perfect. It was HUGE. And everyone ordering there smiled at me. Kinda weird but nice.
I can't sing it's praises enough. I'm in love and there is no turning back, I am hooked.
Go. Seriously.Listed in: girthy slabs o' burrito deep…, vegan., the best places ever.
-
Review from Anna G.
San Francisco, CA
2/10/2009
I like the Texas BBQ burrito, with chicken and mashed potatoes. In fact, with this item and other non-traditional "wrap"-like items (i.e., pesto, Thai, etc.), I sometimes wonder if this place will be my new Planet Fresh: http://www.yelp.com/bi....
But, I dunno. It's the little things. Actually, scratch that, it's mostly one big thing - the burritos/wraps are put together rather loosely, so they tend to fall apart and drip all over your hands as you make your way to the end. Annoying. I guess burritos are supposed to be messy and goo up your hands and generally be relatively anti-glamorous, but I still like a bit of controlled chaos with my burritos.
And while the fish in the fish taco was quite tasty, the tacos in general were a bit lackluster. The regular taco with chicken that I ordered didn't come with beans on it, which I found odd. I generally enjoy the bout of gas that comes after imbibing a taco or two.
But, you know. BBQ wrap + around the corner from my apartment = I'LL BE BACK *.
The end.
* I've never seen any of the Terminator movies. Take THAT, Governator.Listed in: I live in the Mission
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Review from Marsha Z.
San Francisco, CA
11/30/2006
EDIT 02/27/08: I've been here many times since my initial review, and the burritos continue to be stellar. While I'm not a fan of having vegetables in my burrito, I decided to try out the California Veggie based on the reviews here. It did not disappoint. The fresh grilled veggies paired with mango salsa are what make it.
Forget what I said before, this is THE place for vegetarian burritos--5 stars.
----------------
Aside from Papalote, I'd say it's the next best place for vegetarian burritos in the Mission. And better than Pancho Villa on the next block. Try their Soyrizo and Green Veggie. Grab a wholesome burrito here for only four bucks.Listed in: Faux Meat Galore
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Review from Shannon B.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2009
After my first few visits to Mariachi's I thought I found my new favorite place, not for Mexican food per say but for the Grigo-fied, American stylized Mexican food, healthier and dressed up in fancy terminology such as multi-grain, tofu, soy, fresh veggies, vegan...
After visit four, I started noticing things I had overlooked before. Its not the cleanest place, its not really all that healthy, the menu is ridiculous in terms of pricing and the some of the staff need to be institutionalized (or maybe just heavily medicated). Its basically the same crowd as you would find at the BART station or the corner of 16th and Mission, sketchy and often dirty. Mmmm they have a shared salsa bar.
Last time I check Tofu and soy in general is not really all that healthy. Sad but I believe it is true. If you don't believe me, try googling it. Most cheap tofu products have high lead and/or heavy metals in them due to the production of tofu. Also soy messed up female hormones so woman should be very careful on soy. Also tofu interacts with the absorption of minerals and can supposedly cause thyroid issues and a weaken immune system. Does this stop me from eating soy products? No, not really but I am not gonna believe you if you try to tell me its healthy (I still eat doughnuts too, even though I should lose the junk in my trunk, knowledge doesn't always work with me).
The menu pricing is not standardized meaning if you do the math you can often save money by ordering the rice and bean burrito or taco and adding on toppings rather than paying for the "official" burrito. Also depending on who is serving you and the mood they are in, they do like to abuse the customers here. Apparently on my fourth visit the staff did not like my recent discovery about the cheaper ordering, one staff member began screaming at me and kept insisting I owed her .50¢. Now I realize .50¢ is no big deal however the shock of having a middle aged Latina woman threatening me, swearing, convulsing her body in such a way she threaten violence. It really turned me off to the dining experience here. I mean what happened to my favorite idyllic, hippie, tofu taco?
It feels like something inside of me shattered, maybe it was my naive notion that ALL things vegetarian are positive things. As far as I am concerned Mariachi's Taqueria is using "healthy" connotations to peddle Taco Bell or Green Burrito quality food and service. Pancho Villas is around the corner and the tofu taco isn't so bad there. If you want soyrizo try going to Paplotes, at least they are friendly.Listed in: Thee Mission: Tacos, Burritos,…
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Review from MJ T.
San Francisco, CA
10/10/2007
Oh Sweet Baby Jesus!
I have found the #1 burrito restaurant in The Mission and oddly enough, Mariachi's is right across from La Cumbre which is just about the worst Taqueria place in SF. http://www.yelp.com/us...
Half of Mariachi's menu is vegetarian friendly
Decent selection of vegan dishes
Offer whole wheat tortillas as a option
The Seafood is freshly made right before your eyes
Fresh mango/avocado/salsa used
Bottom line: Cheap, fresh and extremely satisfying.
No fake or processed cheese used at this friendly joint. -
Review from Miss C.
San Francisco, CA
5/6/2008
I love this place... I love that they've got a LARGE selection of veggie-friendly things on their menu... And the people who work here are nice. =) One time, I ordered a (something veggie) burrito just regular, and the lady who made it for me gave me enchilada sauce on top. Yum! Maybe she thought I asked for it? I don't know... but it was good.
Oh, and one day they were giving out free glasses of sangria. I don't know if they do that regularly, but it was so good.
Yup, I love it there... And I'm surprised it's not packed every night, but oh well... More for me, then! -
Review from justin g.
Santa Clara, CA
8/28/2008
http://www.youtube.com...
So after a night of bumpin, grindin and getting your drank on you need to keep that alcohol in check with some good ol lard.
Mariachi's by far is the closest taqueria I have been to in Nor Cal that semi reminds me of the ones in TJ. The big counters where you order and you can see everyone making your food in the background. The late night crowd varies from those who have just finished up work or out from a bar or skaylark across the street.
The area is a bit disturbing as there are many people hangingg around outside, from homeless folks to just standby-ers.
Alright on to the food, it is delicious its greasy as a mofo but its just what you need to keep that alcohol in check. We shared a Kaysadilla a carne asada burrito and a large Horchata.
Great food after a great evening. -
Review from Jeani H.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2007
To begin this review, I must first explain something about this odd species of human we call the vegan. I know we appear to be the same as you with a similar set of eye balls that apparently see the same things that others see, but there are certain differences about us and especially about the way we see things.
You see, when we become vegan, we are outfitted with a special pair of invisible glasses, and through these glasses, little chunks of meat from your freakin quesadilla do not appear to be little bits of food, but rather they are little bits of flesh from the dead and rotting carcass of a cow. Now, most of us have desensitized ourselves enough that we don't feel huge pangs of anger and frustration every time we see these foods being prepared alongside our own. However, when those little chunks of flesh roll over onto our pristine veggies and tofu and rub their dead meat juices on them and sexually harass them (ok maybe not that last part) then we tend to get pissed.
Now, after seeing my tortilla placed on top of little hunks of flesh and then seeing a little chunk of cow actually roll over into my veggies, I told the woman working behind the counter at Mariachi's about three times to please not touch my veggies and tofu to the meat. She just couldn't fathom what it was that was wrong. She just stared at me as if I were a giant crazy hoe.
I know, I know, she didn't have the vegan glasses so all she saw was one type of food touching another type of food, but you would think after my doing a little dance and signing with my hands, "MEAT NO TOUCHY VEGETABLES" in both Spanish and English, she would get it, but she didn't even respond.
Anyway, after all that, the burrito was bland and mediocre. They have no flavoring for the veggies and tofu. Only an omni would think putting plain tofu with no seasoning and jasmine rice on a burrito was a good idea. A really good idea would be to go to Papalote a few blocks down instead, because they have delicious tofu with yummy spices, and they seem to get the whole vegetarian thing. -
Review from Amy R.
San Francisco, CA
5/9/2007
There are some great things about this place. They cook the veggies fresh for you right after you order them. Not only that, but they have a huge vegetarian selection! Also, the service is good.
So...why 3 stars? Well, my burrito just wasn't that good. It seemed to have so much promise...you can't go wrong with mango salsa! It was just that it was kind of bland. I could have used some more cilantro, or more onions...or something to give it some flavor!
My food wasn't great, but I'll probably give it another try because it's just so promising. -
Review from Steven H.
New York, NY
5/9/2007
I can't speak for the food here, but let me just say...
If you're ever in the Mission and need to take a twosie, go here. Their bathroom is clean, smells nice, and is in a very high profile spot on Valencia. They (usually) don't make you buy anything, which is hard to find these days. Mariachi's stocks quality two-ply TP, and not that cheap one-ply sandpaper that gets you a fingerful of doodoo no matter how thick you spin it.
Perfect for those post-Cassanova nights after your second bacon hotdog when you just don't think you can make it home without ridding that belly full of dookie.
New idea for Yelp: Public Restroom Reviews -
Review from Boxxxman J.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2008
O.K.
It is pretty fresh and clean inside BUT.........The food is SOOOOOOOO bland. I drown my shit in salsa and can still taste blandness through the salsa kind of bland. Suck it!
Vegitarians(I'm not) have more options here than in any other taqueria,
but MYYY LORD can these people fuck up a burrito! Ya know what I mean, when you get a huge stump of a burrito that allows for a bite of sour cream and then a bite of bland-ass beans.... and then another bite of gloopity gloppity sour cream, after you asked nicely that it not be included in said stump. In fact, while we are on the subject of stumps, I might prefer a hacked-off bloody appendage to their meat. At least it would be moist. And yes, I am just too lazy to add salt. -
Review from Raul A.
San Francisco, CA
7/2/2009
THE SCENE:
As authentic as Speedy Gonzales. You know who eats here, do I really have to spell it out? I was the only underpaid Mexican eating there. Two other underpaid Mexicans were working behind the counter. I have to disagree to what someone said before me: "Mariachi's respects the culture, aesthetic of Mexican food while being creative". Hmmm...NO. I won't hold them guilty of having a cartoonish fat mariachi as a mascot: The low score is because they messed up my burrito. And given that burritos are NOT EVEN MEXICAN FOOD makes me give them an even lower rating. Come on, who can mess up a damm burrito?! El Mariachi can!
THE FOOD:
I ordered a nice tofu burrito con Mole. It came with no veggies whatsoever. The lady put the cubed tofu in a pan, then squirted it with bland mole than came out of a plastic ketchup bottle. She put a little bit of "Spanish" rice in the tortilla and that was it. El Buen Sabor down the street has a much better tofu burrito. They at least put tomatoes and have the tofu simmering in red sauce with peppers and some times calabacitas.
The burrito fell apart in one bite. It tasted like the mole had been scorched. The tortilla was cold. It was N-A-S-T-Y. To add insult to injury the little bits and pieces of tortilla chip that I was served were stale and chewy. Seems like they don't make their own chips, they get straight up "Santitas" out of a cellophane bag from Costco.
THE MENU
I'm NOT (and I REPEAT: I'm NOT) the kind of person that subscribes to the following simplistic argument:
Mexican food: Greasy, meaty, no veggies = tasty!
Grigofied Mexican: Veggies, tofu, healthy = yucky!
We Mexicans *do* eat veggies....just because there are veggies present doesn't make the food "Innovative". Maybe I ordered the wrong thing...maybe I was there on an "off" night...maybe. Maybe I should go back? Well, read on:
THE AFTERMATH:
I often joke that I have a steel stomach but the following morning after eating at Mariachis I suffered from horrible heartburn. It was so bad that the pain from my chest went all the way to my jaw. I was not able to eat anything that day. Lesson learned? Get a few organic tortillas at Golden Apple, a few other fresh ingredients at the farmer's market and make your own damm Mexican food. -
Review from Valerie L.
San Francisco, CA
7/4/2007
A wonderful Mexican Restaurant specializing in fresh, healthy burritos and wraps. Not only can you have your basic veggie burrito, but you can have a veggie Thai burrito, a Soyrizo burrito and many other variations. The tortillas are fresh and flavorful, the ingredients are of a higher quality than most other Mexican places in the area, the service is quick and friendly, and the drink selection is quite extensive.
We ordered two burritos (with complimentary chips) and a diet coke for a total of $14.65. If this sounds a bit high for a meatless Mexican dinner, keep in mind that the portions were huge and the restaurant is one of the cleanest and nicest you will find in the Mission. -
Review from Gabriella C.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2010
If you want Mexican food that's flavorful, and won't have you sweating in a gym cursing yourself for eating that burrito, come to Mariachi's!!! Take it from this Mexican, this place is good. Lemme break it down:
1) Your choice of spinach, whole wheat, white, and a mystery red tortilla. No extra charge.
2) Meat selections are flavored with spice, NOT oil or worse, lard.
3) Reasonable prices for all items.
4) Fresh ingredients.
5) Big portions.
6) Salsa tastes like salsa. No watered down crap here!
7) Vegetarian friendly.
I had a burrito which was huge, and my friend had a Taco shell salad with good for you ingredients and not just sour cream, meat n' cheese like other places. Bonus stars for cleanliness, friendly staff, and fast service. -
Review from Anna O.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2008
Mushroom Quesadilla. Oooey Gooey Goodness.
Real mild green salsa adds flavor without the kick.
Super varied vegetarian selection accommodates all eating styles.
Don't forget to look at the nacho selections. I was a little disappointed because I missed those opportunities. Next time for sure.
I'm not sure why people are waiting in long lines at other taquerias when this one is pretty darn good.
You bet. -
Review from Jessica Y.
Portland, ME
9/18/2006
I have been to an a$$load of taquerias in the Mission, and there have been several that I liked, but none that I *loved*. That is, until I went to Mariachi's. Every burrito I've had there has been delicious, the vegetables are fresh, and the place is clean but not sterile (still reminds me of Mexico). They have soyrizo and mango salsa, among other things. I can't wait to try the other things.
Also, I'm a vegetarian and I DON'T HAVE TO GET THE SAME THING EVERYTIME I GO HERE. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE THAN 1 VEGETARIAN BURRITO!!
Another BIG plus is that they donate a good amount to non-profits that support victims of domestic violence and rape (check the plaques on the wall above the salsa bar).
To all you fools that complain about it being too americanized and bland.. I say you must have your priorities out of wack and your tastebuds turned off! -
Review from Amber L.
San Francisco, CA
10/27/2008
I love when places have more vegetarian options than I am used to.
Ginger Rice? Like 15 vegetarian burritos?? Mixed veggies? Tofu?? I felt so overwhelmed with options.
Its like putting a poor kid in a toy store and letting them pick out whatever he or she wants. Its impossible.
I am just not used to so much choice.
No more beans, rice, guacamole, cheese, and lettuce burritos for me. I AM FREE!Listed in: San Francisco Vegetarian
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Review from Paul D.
San Jose, CA
1/3/2010 1 photo
Any place with Mango Salsa can call me a customer!
Walking around Valencia with my buddy Jared S. we stumbled upon the very vibrant looking Mariachi's Taqueria. The menu was very extensive, it was hard for me to choose until...my eye caught "Fish Tacos" and "Mango Salsa" on the Los Cabos Platter description.
The Los Cabos Fish Tacos consisted of two tacos of red snapper with mango salsa and pico de gallo. I think I would of been better off with just the mango salsa, it was bit too much with the pico. On the side, there was a generous portion of beans and rice. Not bad for $7.95.
Coming from San Jose and the taqueria likes in the South Bay, I wouldn't mind coming back here to compare burritos. -
Review from michael k.
Irvine, CA
5/10/2008
A lot of people seem to use the burrito as a standard for comparison between taquerias. I question the validity of this standard, for reasons ranging from the quotient of intent to non-intent (burrito wrap takes up space on plate, in stomach, displacing in both cases the kinds of quality ingredients and prepared foods that can be a testament to a restaurant's intent or ability) to the simple fact that a burrito is a LOT of one or two things, and whether people own up to the fact or not, what we seem to be looking for in a burrito is quantity.
Quantity is absolutely one legitimate measure of value - I won't dispute that. But in this moment, in this city (arguably the epicenter in both time and place for movements like Alice Waters's and Michael Pollan's), when we're told that part of our new responsibility is to pay more for less, to value taste over amount and to simply eat less, by the way, it seems like a taqueria is a good place to start exercising this new philosophy.
What could possibly be a better standard for measurement than a burrito, you ask? At a taqueria?
The tacos at Mariachi - no matter what kind - are the best in the neighborhood. You'll see. -
Review from John S.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2008
Whenever I profess my love for Pancho Villa, someone is always telling me I don't know what I'm talking about. Maybe I don't, but pointing me in the direction of Mariachi's wasn't the brightest idea.
I came here with an open mind, and I was really excited by how uncrowded and open it was. I also liked all the vegetarian options on the menu. But whenever I try a taqueria for the first time, I always go with the super vegetarian or bean-and-cheese burrito. The first knock against this place is that they don't offer whole pinto beans as an option, or at least it wasn't an option when I came. I don't mind refried beans in a burrito, but why not give me some options besides refried and black?
The burrito itself was good. It wasn't spectacular, and I was expecting spectacular after what everyone had told me. Probably the most annoying part of my dining experience, though, was the CD that kept skipping. Instead of changing the CD or turning it off, the staff allowed the CD to skip so that the same song was playing the entire time I was here. And it wasn't busy. Also, the only diet-soda option they have is Diet Coke, which I don't like.
I might come back to try the soyrizo, but with Pancho Villa around the corner, it might take a while. -
Review from Jake Z.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2009
5 Stars for good food
-1 star for charging for chips
I am still leery of any place that puts the words healthy and mexican food in the same sentence. But I didn't go here for healthy food, so who cares. I ordered the quesadilla suiza with chicken and it was goddamn amazing. What wasn't goddamn amazing was the 50 cent charge to pay with a card, or more importantly the 65 cent charge to get an additional serving of chips. Im sorry, but 9 chips doesn't cut it. Charging for chips is like a restaurant charging for bread. -
Review from Noam S.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Disclaimer: I'm a health food nut. It keeps my engine running strong.
This is the only taqueria I know of that offers, at no extra charge, both whole-wheat tortillas and freshly cooked brown rice.
If you're veg or just into veggie burritos, try this magical delight (my go-to):
Whole-wheat tortilla with brown rice, black beans, mango salsa, lettuce, mild salsa, cilantro, and a touch of onions.
It is on the ginormous side, but because of the wholesome whole grains, this under-$5 delight keeps me going for the entire work day. No food coma!
Oh, and talk to the owners if you get the chance. Homero and his wife are exceptionally pleasant humans. Their kid is an adorable hoot as well. -
Review from Corey F.
11/1/2009
Okay. I've got to study and can devote only 4 minutes to this review. It might feel paced by the micromachine man but here it goes.
I was desperate for a burrito before boarding BART and heading into the gastronomical hinterlands of downtown Oakland for a show. We picked Mariachi's because it was 1.) close to the BART station, 2.) reasonably priced and 3.) had 4 out 5 stars on Yelp. Seriously? 4 out of 5 stars? Here?
Total. Let. Down. I guess I shouldn't have expected too much for what you pay at Mariachi's but here are the lowlights: uninspired, bland chicken meat in my taco, way-too-tomatoey and sweet salsa and stale tortilla chips. My friend got the quesadilla, which was more like a grilled burrito, and had to keep pouring salsa on it because it lacked any flavor.
Perhaps I went on a bad night but now that I've had the benefit of reading some of the other reviews, it looks like unless you're a vegetarian that loves soyrizo burritos, this place pretty much stinks. It wasn't that good. End of story.
if you're crunched for time at the BART station, hit one of the other places that actually has customers eating in it. This has been a good barometer for me in the past and should work when considering your quick-bite Mexican options in the Mission.
Gotta run. I went over by 7 minutes. Damn. -
Review from Danyell K.
Tahoe City, CA
4/4/2008
It's not a MINDBLOWING, STOP TRAFFIC burrito...but, it's quality.
It's not your typical beans, rice, meat, salsa dirt-Mission-style burrito...but, it's original.
I'm a vegetarian and I like the options. I have several yummy burritos to choose from, and they're decently priced (though a tad bit more expensive than several other area burritos..)
I'm a big fan of the thai tofu peanut sauce burrito. It's a fusion of thai and mexican goodness in ma mouf....and I can't argue with that.
+ for having a salsa bar and burr (that's "beer" for those of you not with the times).
(Oh, and they take cards with a minimum $10 purchase.)Listed in: Mission
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Review from carrie c.
San Francisco, CA
6/27/2009
I'm not even a vegetarian and I LOVE the veggie tacos here. They grill them to order: broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and onions on the gourmet veggie taco, and then pile on salsa and guacamole...plus rice and beans - $5.
My very particular bf got the chili relleno burrito and said it was delicious, on par with Pancho Villas. My other friend had a weird experience. She ordered two fish tacos and they somehow coerced her into a quesadilla or something. She said the employees were busy flirting and didn't really care about her order...I forget the details, but at least I think she liked them, luckily for everyone, Phyllis is easy-breezy. -
Review from Michael D.
San Francisco, CA
6/3/2008
I waaaaaaaay prefer this over the other places in the MIssion/16th st area.
They do a particularly good Chicken Tostada Salad, the chicken is good.
A little bit pricier than the other places but it beats waiting in line at Pancho/Rancho whatever for their good-but-over-rated food. -
Review from Amy K.
9/19/2010
OVERALL:3.1 FOOD:4 SERVICE:1 AMBIANCE:3.5 VALUE:4
Food rocks, Service sucks! Period.
I-HEART-YOU points for:
+large menu w/delicious items (anything w/shrimp!)--not what I would consider traditional Mexican, but fresh & reliably filling.
+healthy (veg heavy, carb lite, whole wheat) options w/a tropical flair (ginger rice & mango salsa)
+assorted self-serve salsas & condiments
+yummy complimentary chips
I-HATE-YOU points for:
-bitchy service & AreYouEffingAskingMeToActuallyWork attitude
A friend got there 10 minutes before close, and even though the door was wide open, the sign still said OPEN, and the employees were still shooting the shit at the register & kitchen, I guess they'd decided to close early. Except they didn't even look at him or say something logical like, "hey, we closed already--sorry". They just ignored him and let him stand there while the rest of us ate our food. Oh, not only that, they started badmouthing him/us in Spanish, as if none of us could understand. AWESOME. -
Review from Antun K.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2010
Most restaurants assume that if you're a vegetarian, then you deserve to eat less (and pay more). When restaurants do offer a veggie meat option, it's usually treated like gold dust. They charge a premium, then offer you a peanut-sized portion of the fake meat for your hard-earned dollars.
Not at Mariachi's though. If you order Soyrizo with your tacos (or burritos/whatever) here, you'll get a hearty helping of healthy pork sausage substitute. As a veggie, that means a *lot* to me.
The staff are friendly and the rest of the food is tasty to boot. -
Review from Em L.
9/21/2008
Solidly ok.
Mariachi includes grilled vegetables in traditional Americanized Mexican dishes, like burritos, tacos and enchiladas.
The baja srrrimp taco plate is tasty! Mango, cilantro, onions and tomatoes dressed the two good sized srrrimpy tacos. Obligatory beans and rice included in the meal.
I'm not a fan of the heavily fortified veggie burrito. It was pretty bland at last munch.
The boy toy was impressed with his nachos and cheese enchiladas.
Rarely is the restaurant crowded, which is nice when you want to sit and eat. -
Review from Joseph N.
11/3/2009
I was about to walk into Taqueria La Cumbre last night when I noticed Mariachi's across the street, so I figured why not I'll try it. I got a classic veggie super burrito with cheese (it's odd that super burrito doesn't include cheese here, but I digress).
My burrito was ok, none of the ingredients were too flavorful. I suppose that's why they offer a shitload of veggie burrito options. You can get all kinds of tofu or grilled vegetables in your burrito, if I ever come back I'll try one of those options.
The price was fine, chips were decent, salsa was fairly weak, service was very friendly. -
Review from Karyn J.
Seattle, WA
11/18/2008
I really do like it when you find broccoli in unexpected places.
They have a bunch of vegan & vegetarian options so you could show up over and over again when you refuse to wait for Puerto Alegre (seriously, who can wait that long? I have never had the patience... not even once) & try new things.
The mango salsa is damn good. -
Review from Kristina K.
San Francisco, CA
8/11/2009
Alright, yes they have interesting burrito concoctions. But honestly, their crappy service and mediocre burritos doesn't make up for their creativity. I have heard that their Mango Salsa is good - perhaps I will then be sold on this place, but as of now I am heading to Pancho Villa.
I went there two days ago and felt like I was bothering them when I walked in. I got a Veggie Burrito - these are definitely not the handheld kind. Plate, fork and knife are required. Not because they are huge, but because they are loosely folded and fall apart immediately. A few friends and I got drinks and it was near closing time... we were almost the last ones in the place and receiving Death Stares from the staff. It was like pulling teeth for them to wash down the dirty table where we wanted to sit.
I don't like feeling like an inconvenience... I will happily spend my money elsewhere for a better burrito. -
Review from Nessie V.
3/8/2008
Mexican is a hard sell for me. I think it tends to be kind of bland, or filled with cheese, which isn't good for a vegan like me. This place has a large vegan selection, which is really nice since usually mex places think they do good enough with all the cheesehole stuff.
I got the Arizona. Still a little bland. Ok though, for the price.
Big issue with beggars in here, walking in off the street. If I had a restaurant I'd kick their asses out, but they didn't do that here. Maybe next time I'll do takeaway. I mean two beggars in one meal? One more than once? Come ON! -
Review from Lauren T.
4/15/2008
so i thought i did the stupid thing and ordered a thai wrap at a burrito place. Boy was I mistaken. Really fresh tofu, mushrooms, broccoli, and pineapple sauteed with spicy peanut sauce over rice....so big I had half for dinner and half for lunch. Damn you thai burrito-you have no business being this delicious.
I also had a bite of the cactus, cheese and black bean burrito-also really good.
The interior looks like an 80s birthday cake and everything is cheap, fresh and delicious. I should come to the mission more often.
