9 cheap eats rooms in San Francisco, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in San Francisco — the places editors actually return to. All San Francisco food.
La Taqueria ★ 4.7
the-mission · 2889 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
La Taqueria in San Francisco is Miguel Jara's Mission taqueria, James Beard America's Classic, with no-rice burritos and doubled corn tacos since 1973.
Tip: Cash and card accepted; the line moves fast even at 13:00 because each taquero builds with both hands.
El Farolito ★ 4.5
the-mission · 2779 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
El Farolito in San Francisco is the Mission's all-night taqueria, opened in 1980 on 24th and Mission, with the super burrito that set the modern bar.
Tip: Open until 02:30 on Friday and Saturday; the 23:00 to 01:00 window has the fastest line of the night.
La Cumbre Taqueria ★ 4.4
the-mission · 515 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
La Cumbre in San Francisco is the Valencia Street taqueria credited with the modern Mission burrito format, founded by the Duran family in 1972.
Tip: Pinto over black beans here; the kitchen renders pork fat into the pintos and they sing.
Good Mong Kok Bakery ★ 4.4
chinatown · 1039 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Good Mong Kok in San Francisco is the Stockton Street Cantonese takeaway window the city actually eats at on weekends, with hot trays out from 07:00 to 18:00.
Tip: Cash only; bring a clear list of items because the line behind you moves at speed.
Saigon Sandwich ★ 4.4
lower-pac-heights · 560 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Saigon Sandwich in San Francisco is the Larkin Street banh mi window: six bucks for a roll, with a fast line out the door by noon every weekday.
Tip: Cash only; order four at once and bring them home; the bread stays good for three hours wrapped.
Shalimar ★ 4.3
lower-pac-heights · 532 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Shalimar in San Francisco is the Tenderloin's cash-and-card Pakistani counter, with a tandoor at the door turning out solid chicken tikka under fifteen dollars.
Tip: Eat at the back of the room; the front benches give you a view of the tandoor cook at speed.
Taqueria Cancun ★ 4.3
the-mission · 2288 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Taqueria Cancun in San Francisco is the Mission taqueria on 16th and Mission, the baseline burrito mojado the city falls back on, open late every night.
Tip: Mission and 16th is the busiest of the three locations; the 24th Street branch at 3211 Mission has a shorter line at lunch.
Taqueria San Jose ★ 4.2
the-mission · 2839 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Taqueria San Jose in San Francisco is a Mission taqueria serving Jalisco-style cabeza, lengua and al pastor on doubled corn tortillas since 1980.
Tip: Half a block from the 24th Street BART; the new 2839 Mission space sits across from the original storefront.
Taqueria El Buen Sabor ★ 4.1
the-mission · 699 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Taqueria El Buen Sabor in San Francisco is a family-run Valencia Street taqueria at Valencia and 18th, serving the Mission since 1995 at sub-twelve-dollar prices.
Tip: Open 11:00 to 21:30 daily; busiest at 13:00, quieter for an early dinner at 17:00.