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Oh man this place was on hit! A perfect after bar/club sobering up joint to eat at with great food to gobble down before you head home. Hella good food. Everything fresh and they serve beer till 2am on the dot!
I was with my drunk company after leaving this Persian nightclub/bar off the same street. This was an ideal joint after leaving that place. I highly recommend this place for after bar food. The service was great and friendly, so being Mexican was a plus!!! LOL
In conclusion, I'm rating the food and service. 4 out of 5 stars baby!
check it out if you haven't!
OK, I think it's time to give La Altena another review; 3yrs later. The food is still DAMN good. If you are not a beef or pork eater and like to mostly eat chicken, their grilled chicken is kick ass. Really. Pollo asado is kick ass. My bf introduced me to having Tacos de pollo asado w/fresh avocado....best tacos in this Mission. Some would swear by La Taqueria's food (down the street). I don't. I still, however, stand by my previous review about the shady dining room. Eat in your car, street, or at home. It's hard to eat a mushy taco or burrito taking in the smell of wasted frat boys and fellow paisanos.
Four stars because the quality of the food is consistent and reliable AND they accept credit cards.… Read more »
Usually here when I'm drunk, and just about anything tastes good when you're drunk. Their super burrito al pastor with everything on it is really good, and the carne asada is ok too.
They have the usual fare and carry Mexican beers (Tecate, Negra Modelo, Pacifico, etc.) in can or bottle. Their salsa is really good and they don't charge for the tortilla chips like El Farolito.
Inexpensive and open late, you can't go wrong.
Note: there is an ATM inside.
I've been going to this place since i was a kid.
Al pastor is my favorite the al pastor burritos are great and full of flavor.
I have to say the shrimp cocktails are really good as well. The only thing about this place is the parking thing that is really hard since you're in the heart of the mission and there's a million a one things going on at one time. This place is cheap in compare to Pacho Villa's or El torro.
As I'm waiting for my prescription to be filled I pass by twice lol I love this place, I couldn't resist. Soup only, doctor's order but that didn't stop me from ordering a Chicken Torta, mmmm! $5.75 & only $1.75 for a agua fresca of Strawberry! That's the type of price that makes you come back haha. I have to say this was one of the best Torta's I've had in a while. The bread was fresh, soft, and big! I also enjoyed their little salsa bar, full of spicy goodies. Lately I've had a thing for jalapenos and this really hit the spot. I would also recommend their Ceviche tostada's especially for Vegetarian's you'll love it! Add this to your list of one of the good Taqueria's on Mission St., affordable, good, and clean.
I hate eating mexican food in San Francisco because its so overpriced and so disappointing. Like I said before I am very picky about where I get mexican food at because if I can get awesome food at home why would i spend my hard earned money on some slop dogs wouldn't eat. With this said I LOVED THIS PLACE! Not only were they open late night but the service was awesome. We were passing by on our way to get into our cars when one of the guys we were with spotted this joint and we walked in. Yes, at first i did have the "FuCHI FACE" but like i said its because i have had bad experiences with mission mexican food. And a late night feast was sure to disappoint me again. Well i was wrong. This place was so good. I ordered a burrito "al pastor" and an horchata. The meat was actually cooked the way that "Al Pastor" traditionally is on a slow moving vertical roaster. They had a self serve salsa bar and chips as well. Their "Agua de Horchata" was awesome...soooo yummy. I think I have found my new favorite burrito spot...well aside from La Tapatia in South City. La Altena you will be seeing me around more often when i am craving real fresh and good mexican food.
Best taqueria in San Francisco. Backs up to a terrific Mexican marketplace that feels like a vacation. The al pastor is the best in the Mission and the steak quesadilla is also my favorite. They used sliced cheese which some don't like.
Eh, not great. we were craving burritos after happy hour and this was the only place open we could find in the mission on the tuesday night before thanksgiving. the girl at the counter mixed up our order of two vegetarian burritos and tried to give us one chicken and wasnt very nice about it. the guy making the burritos behind the counter offered to make us the veggie we actually ordered..one star for that. Salsa bar was lacking...the burrito was decent at best. It satisfied a late night, drunken burrito craving but thats about it.
I will go out of my way for their burritos, the tons of meat, the buttery rice, they always get it right for picky people like me, and the burrito lasts me two meals, easily.
quite literally, this is the best burrito in san francisco. Once in a blue moon it wont come out absolutely perfect, but even when other more popular places like pancho villa, la cumbre, and el toro are at their best they cannot match altena. Don't expect the new fresh and healthy trend at this restaurant that has permeated what once were respectable taquerias prior to the hipster invasion of the mission. This is a greasy cheesy awesome burrito for those who want burritos as opposed to salads hiding in tortillas.
chicken taco want that great , steak was ok and those three stars are for the pastor its really good i wish there was more balance and everything was as good as the pastor taco, i wouldve giving it 4 stars , great place for after the club especially when the line at el farolito is around the block
This place is one of my favorite late night stops in the city. I've stopped in La Altena's at all hours of day and night and they've always been open, even at 1 am! Their Pastor is amazing. They're food is delicious, plentiful and well priced. Their tacos, burritos and Pina drinks are fantastic. They're service is friendly and lightning fast. I doubt I've ever waited more than five or ten minutes to get my food. If you're ever in the area and looking for a great Taqueria this is the place to go!
You know it, you just don't want it admit it.
You know an intervention won't work. You'll just find another way to score.
It's OK. It happens to lots of people.
It's called addiction and you're addicted...
...to burritos at 2:30am.
We'll, if you don't want to sit in the painful line that is kinda like going to AA (aka Taqueria Cancun or Farolito) then head right to La Altena.
I'll admit it's not the best stuff, but if it's late and you just gotta get your fix, come here!
A friend and I both tried to score at Taqueria Cancun on a Saturday night and it was a joke. The place was packed with other junkies. We were desperate. Altena hooked us up right away.
Next thing you know, my friend fell over and passed out on the floor, half a burrito still in his hand.
Here's the story, had to meet up with some friends after the gym for drinks at Medjool.
I'm sweaty, tired, and hungry.
After Outside Lands, I'm a little short on cash and not wanting to spend $15 -18 bucks on grape leaves, 4 slices of pita, and hummus over at Medjool, I was looking for fast, quick, and inexpensive. Right up the street and on the same block is Taqueria La Altena.
7 bucks later - a fat daddy carne asada burrito with spicy salsa, I am satiated and happy!
Considering my situation - broke ass, tired, hungry, and needing food quickly La Altena did me right.
3 stars for decent food and perfect timing!
This place was decent. It's nothing that I'd rave about, and nothing that I'd need to come back to. But, they have a decent super burrito with a ton of chicken in it. We came here because we were on our way to Bruno's and didn't think to plan ahead, ooops. Otherwise, we probably would've met at El Farrolito (sp?) and then taken a cab over. There was a homeless guy that was allowed to roam the restaurant and that was a bit annoying that the restaurant staff didn't do anything to prevent that or ask him to leave. But otherwise, decent place with a decent burrito. I'd be here more if I lived near by, but I'll probably be more prepared next time...
yummy and solid taqueria, however there are better places in the city.
My co-worker and I came here for lunch. I've dined here a few times in the past and could never figure out how to pronounce the name of the restaurant. My co-worker, who is Latino, told me the restaurant's name is pronounced: (Al-tin-ya)! Al who?
Under any circumstance, it's not difficult to pronounce the name at least many times. But dining here many times and in the near future won't happen frequently anytime soon.
I had the Grilled Pork Super Burrito. For $6.25, the super silver burrito contains the usual filling with the meat and bean of your choice. Unfortunately the meat of my choice was the Carnitas that meat was so dry and salty. Overall the burrito in general was a bit soggy with somewhat stale fillings and fell apart on me as I took a bite. The complimentary tortilla chips were bits and pieces and maybe leftovers and recycled from the night before. My $1.25 horchata was as bit diluted and watered-down. I should've gotten a canned-soda instead, next time to be safe.
Co-worker also bought a Super Burrito, but with boiled chicken as the meat of choice. I should follow his lead and have gotten that chicken instead. I mean, how hard is it for a taqueria or any restuarant to cook a chicken?
There are many great restaurants/taqueria along the lengthy Mission St. Despite not being able to pronounce the restaurant sadly, this taqueria is not one of my favorites and won't get any future visit. Ask me next week on how to pronounce the name again, I couldn't tell you and might possibly fail to remember.
I had no reason to go to San Francisco other than Al Pastor at La Altena. It was like a surgical strike team. We were Delta Force with a well defined plan. Get in, eat tacos, and get out. Boom, boom, boom, done.
At long last, the mission was a go.
Ohhhh myyyyyyy Gawwwwwwdddddddddddd! That was taco heaven. No beans, no cheese, no nothing besides corn tortilla, al pastor and salsa. I almost cried and it wasn't because of the spiciness of the salsa.
Everyone who's said this is fabulous Al Pastor was right. Very flavorful. You want your Al Pastor fix, then come here.
Immediately.
I'm on a new kick...Tortas...delicous Mexican sandwiches. Start with bolio(Mexican french-like roll), sour cream, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, choice of meat and avocado slices!
I had an al pastor torta and thought I'd died and gone to heaven. The al pastor tacos are awesome here! Now throw it into a torta and god damn....pure goodness. Washed it down with a negra modela and was off to goldsprints!
Had a friend in town from NYC and we were on a bit of a taco bender. So after we had some tacos at… Read more »
Man, I don't know...the quesadillas are hard to beat but their burritos are totally hit or miss. I know I've enjoyed them before, but I just got a super carnitas and it took six bites before I got any meat at all. What is that? The green sauce in the new salsa bar is pretty damn good, I'll give them that for sure.
after the bars, the super nachos are memorable even if you don't remember anything else from the night. Decent service for a place that's overrun by the animals of the night after 1am. If processed cheese, sour cream, and guacamole make you smile, then get ready to grin.
I only ever get the tacos here, and they are excellent. grilled chicken, al pastor, chorizo. Onions, cilantro, hot sauce? yes.
I thought it was impossible to screw up a quesadilla, but now I know better. My prawn quesadilla at La Altena was disgusting due to a combination of three main factors:
(a) Blandness. Super-blandness. The shrimp didn't taste any different than the rest of the ingredients
(b) Nasty cheese. White plasticky goo.
(c) They cooked it with sour cream inside. I love sour cream, but not hot sour cream. Ugh.
Biting into this thing was like eating a hot sack of... well... I can think of a couple applicable three-letter words that have a 'u' in the middle, and "fun" is not one of them.
They were open. that's why I went.
Ok, maybe I shouldn't even write reviews on Holidays. But I was in the Mission and wanted a burrito. The usual suspects were closed (maybe props go to them for that, their workers deserve the day off). But Altena was the first open place I saw.
The burrito was OK, but the salsa was a bit less spicy than i wanted. Their cantaloupe aqua fresca really hit the spot. In a vacuum, I'd say this place was quite good, but there are better nearby places on many days. Don't go out of your way to go here, but you won't cry if you eat here. I'd say a solid 3.5 stars.
I went here with a crazy person once before a show at The Makeout Room. I did not know he was crazy at the time. He was a pretty good kisser and bought me lots of presents so that's probably why I didn't notice the crazy right away.
In any event, the food was fine. Nothing special but they did have Corona and that's a good thing since the show at the Makeout Room really blew and I needed that 3-Corona buzz walking in or I would have hightailed it out of there right away.
The rumors are true: this place does indeed back up to the Mission equivalent of Oakland's Market Hall. There are markets, shops, and yes, children's rides in the big ghetto market collective that this place opens on to during the day. Entrance is in the back.
Try the tacos. They're full of juicy meat and the tortillas didn't get soggy before we were able to gobble them down. I have on good authority that the nachos don't suck either. Things move quickly around these parts, even during the late-night bar-hopper rush. The space is also a lot cleaner than many of the neighboring taquerias. As in, you can sit here and eat your food and not fear vermin or disease. Plus one star for a clean, functioning restroom. This is important because after 3 coronas, this princess has to pee.
Came to La Alteña after our volunteer music program at Horace Mann. Have to say that their tacos were just "ok". I will take into consideration that we didn't have them piping hot (we headed back to SOMA on BART with our tacos to go), but even so, I'm not sure they would beat the tacos from the El Tonayense taco truck. At $3.50/each for their super tacos, the prices to me just aren't worth it. Maybe I should just stick to getting burritos at these tacquerías, since they are more filling. :-)
I don't fully understand the animosity against this La Altena - firebombing threats are out of order.
I take my burrito as serious as the next San Franciscan, still, Altena isn't 360 Wraps or some other hideous mutant that should have been smothered in its crib as a wee business plan, but through misplaced love, fear or incompetence was allowed to live to a monstrous size and prey on "normals" from its underground lair.
La Altena it a serviceable/pedestrian taqueria. Decent carne asada (not too gristly), everything else (rice, beans, guacamole) rather uninspiring. I saw no evidence of American cheese use, and appreciated the enormous bucket of hot fresh pico/salsa at every table.
My friend John used to have a term for places like this. Mayonnaise burritos he'd call them. It was not a term of endearment.
"One taste and you'll be instantly transported to the lousiest taqueria in Baja California." Bleak.
This place is troublesome to me. It's very nearby to my home, yet most everything I've ever tried here has only been the entry level of edible. If I go again, it'll be because I'm forced to or have reached a level of desperation I can't now envision. I'll probably get the parilla suiza, a quesadilla w/carne asada. I had it once and will say no more.
we stopped by here a few weeks ago on a late night after hopping around a few bars evening.
the place was okay, just average, pretty par.
they had plenty of seating and the authentic music jammin'. they were also open after 2am.
I like their super nachos here because they use american style nacho cheese, meaning they don't toss cheddar cheese on top of the chips and nuke the whole tray in the microwave to melt the cheese, thereby causing the chips to be soggy. Everyone else who reviewed their nachos here hated the cheese, but where else can I find nacho cheese late at night besides paying for overpriced movie nachos? Everything is really cheap here too.
JONASAPPROVED!
Best quesadillas ever. Seriously.
Three things about La Altena that I noticed. I wasn't as attentive as I could have been due to my state.
1. pretty good nachos. everything on them, and fast; they turned out two orders of them plus a whole mess of other stuff in a few minutes.
2. They have an al pastor rotisserie thing behind the counter. Just looking at a spindle with delicious looking barbecued pork piled on like meaty cotton candy makes you really hungry. Well it makes ME hungry.
3. The back exit leads out into some kind of secret indoor shopping mall that appears to have a vegetable market and some of those coin operated children's rides in it! I'm not making this up, I swear.
I'm kind of surprised that a late night taco place like this only has a few reviews, given its proximity to medjool, doc's clock, 12 galaxies, etc. Granted, it's not the greatest mexican food you'll ever have, but overall I think the nachos outshine the bacon dog as drunk food. YEAH, I WENT THERE.
Best burritto and quesadilla in the city. Open hella late and always fills you up. Bathrooms are kind of scarry, but do you really want to use the bathroom at a old taqueria joint.
I had nachos there last night. They had cheese whiz on them.
Not bad. Not the greatest quality meat (pastor) but a passable burrito.
Definitely one of the best quesadillas I have ever had. We got it with grilled chicken and I was blown away. It wasn't shaped like a quesadilla though. It was kind of wrapped up like a burrito.
We also got the enchiladas which I inhaled like a tornado. Very, very tasty. Again, some of the best I've had.
The burrito we got (we were hungry) was good but not great. I am sure it would have been better if we went for the one with sour cream, guac, and all that.
This place is close to five stars. They could use some dessert and also some Dos Equis Lager (all they have is the Amber style - ick!).
I will admit I was drunk when I got here. After our night out at Medjool, I was in need of some grease and food right away. Well this place was on the same block and a few doors down so in we went.
It was bright, and cleaner than most taco shops in the area. Service was fast, we ordered at the counter, sat down and a minute later the guy brought out two trays with our food. I had a chorizo con heuvos, I haven't had chorizo in a month, and I was feening for it the way a druggie does for his/her drugs!
It was a little salty, but at that point I was famished so it didn't matter at that minute. And it was chorizo nevertheless, so good or bad, I was just happy to have it. Chorizo mixed in with eggs, with some beans (not refried which was disappointing) and some rice and guacamole (the guac was horribly done- super watery) and sour cream.
It met the need at that moment, but had I been anymore sober, I probably wouldn't have eaten the whole thing nor would I have eaten it as fast as I did- as the BF said, I inhaled it before he had a chance to even try a bite.
Next time, I may have to walk further to find a better place, drunk or not, I still deserve decent food. Especially in the Mission where I know I am surrounded by better food.
It is what it is. A hole in the wall tacqueria where you can spit and hit another one. So why this one? the quesadilla suiza SUPER con aguacate. A true deal for $5.25 when I can only finish a half in one sitting.
In fact, last night, excited to get my night started, I ate the entire quesadilla with a beer, and had to go home early at midnight because i was still so full and the more beers I drank throughout the night, only increased my bloated stomach.
That said, the crisped tortilla with the 1/2 carne asada 1/2 carnitas quesadilla has a specific flavor from Altena. I first discovered it when I was at Foreign C down the block for a pre-opening party and the passed apps were so lean, we walked down, got a quesadilla, then went back for the champagne and dessert. Granted it is no french bistro, but it does the job (and it is open super late with a high tolerance for slightly drunk ordering).
Hit this place up last night for dinner. I ordered a super burrito De Carne Assada which hit the spot in so many ways. First off it was about $5. second it was filled with plenty of meat and the other ingredients. The mixture was perfect where the burrito was not dry but it was not to wet. every ingredient was flavorful and tasted like it was made fresh. And you got to love it for being opened late night.
The only bad note was the lack of salsa options
God damnnnn look at that line out of El Farolito, screw it, its the mission, there's gotta be another place to get a late night burrito....
I'm not sure if they have multiple locations, but I do remember the name, I felt like it was towards Cesar Chavez more.
The burritos were pretty good, and it sure hits the after drinks craving I get. I like how they give you chips instead of charging for them at El Farolito. Prices for burritos were comparable, but other items were much more expensive (but who gets sopes after drinking anyway? Camannn)
Satisfied my cravings yes, and if El Farolito has lines out the door (which it usually does, and rightly so!) then I'll come here, but Farolito is still my tipsy food of choice.
We got so much free stuff!
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