Mission-style tacos are the doubled, soft, charred-corn-tortilla tacos served the length of 24th Street and Mission, with lengua, carnitas, al pastor, asada and pollo.
The city's tacos draw on two distinct Mexican waves: post-1910 Revolution arrivals from central Mexico, who set up the early taquerias, and a 1970s and 1980s influx from Jalisco and Michoacan that brought al pastor and carnitas to the same blocks. La Taqueria on Mission, opened by Miguel Jara in 1973, treats the meat with restraint (no rice, no beans, doubled corn tortillas with a touch of cheese and avocado), and the room won a James Beard America's Classic in 2017. El Farolito on 24th, opened in 1980, runs the late-night standard. The taco here is not a tasting room project; it is a 24-hour ledger of immigration.
5 editor picks for Mission-style tacos in San Francisco, ranked by editorial score. All San Francisco signature dishes · Mission-style tacos across every city.
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.
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.
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.
Tacolicious ★ 4.1
marina-cow-hollow · 2250 Chestnut St., San Francisco, CA 94123
Tacolicious in San Francisco is the Mexico City-inspired taqueria on Chestnut Street in the Marina, with a Mission-style sister on Valencia.
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.