Panchita's Pupuseria ★ 4.2
Panchita's on 16th Street in the Mission has been serving Salvadorian pupusas since 1989. Open daily lunch through late evening. At 3091 16th Street.
Try: El Salvadorian pupusas with cheese, beans, loroco
Super Duper Burgers, 721 Market is a street-food stop in San Francisco.
Super Duper Burgers on 721 Market is the downtown counter of the Bay Area chain founded in the Castro in 2010, with Brandt Beef patties ground daily.
Tip: Mini Burger plus garlic fries with six-month aged cheddar is the under-fifteen-dollar order; add a Straus soft-serve shake if the line is short.
Address: 721 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Panchita's on 16th Street in the Mission has been serving Salvadorian pupusas since 1989. Open daily lunch through late evening. At 3091 16th Street.
Try: El Salvadorian pupusas with cheese, beans, loroco
La Taqueria in San Francisco is Miguel Jara's Mission counter and a James Beard America's Classic, with the modern Mission burrito and a doubled-corn taco.
Try: Carnitas burrito and tacos
Tip: Ask for the dorado-style burrito; the kitchen sears it on the plancha for a crisp edge.
El Farolito in San Francisco is the Mission's all-night taqueria on 24th and Mission, with the super burrito al pastor the late shift orders and a horchata.
Try: Super burrito and quesadilla suiza
Tip: Open to 02:30 on weekends; the 23:00-01:00 window is the city's best post-bar order.
Off the Grid Friday Night at Fort Mason in San Francisco is the city's largest food-truck gathering, with 30-plus operators and a bay-view picnic lawn.
Try: Rotating food trucks (Friday night market)
Tip: Arrive at 17:00 sharp for the shortest lines; bring cash for the trucks that still take cards slowly.
The Sentinel in San Francisco is Dennis Leary's South of Market lunch window, serving a corned beef and Russian dressing sandwich to a long FiDi office line.
Try: Corned beef sandwich
Tip: Order ahead via the website by 11:00; the window is a six-deep line from 12:15-13:30.
El Toro Taqueria in San Francisco is the Valencia and 17th corner counter, a 1995-opened Mission taqueria with a strong al pastor and a quick burrito line.
Try: Mission taqueria counter
Tip: The taco al pastor with onion and coriander is the simplest, fastest order under five dollars.