La Taqueria is a great place to eat in California if you want a tasty and cheap meal. It’s a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. FiveThirtyEight.com, a website that looked all over the country for the best taco, said that La Taqueria was the best cheap food in the whole state.
Cheapism made a list and says that La Taqueria in San Francisco is the best cheap food in California. At this tasty place, you can get a meal for less than $15!
“The data-driven site FiveThirtyEight once analyzed more than 67,000 burrito joints before conducting an awe-inspiring taste test of 84 of the best burritos in America. The winner? The $9.65 carnitas burrito from La Taqueria in the city’s Mission District.”
La Taqueria: History
Miguel Jara started La Taqueria in 1973. He was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and moved to San Francisco in 1963. Jara started working as a cook and cleaner in different restaurants until he had enough money to open his place in the Mission District, which is a lively and diverse area.
He chose to focus on simple but true Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. The name of his business, La Taqueria, means “the taco shop” in Spanish.
Jara’s restaurant quickly became a neighborhood favorite, drawing people from all walks of life who liked how fresh, good, and generous his food was.
Jara also built a team that was reliable and friendly. Some of them have been working for him for decades. Jara still runs the diner and often greets customers, takes their orders, and gives roses to the women.
La Taqueria’s food has won many awards over the years. The San Francisco Chronicle named it the best taqueria in the Bay Area, The Daily Meal named it the best burrito in America, and FiveThirtyEight.com named it the best cheap restaurant in California after visiting 15 times in two months to try its famous carnitas burrito.
La Taqueria: Menu
Burritos
- Carnitas: Slow-cooked pork, beans, cheese, salsa, and avocado
- Carne Asada: Grilled steak, beans, cheese, salsa, and avocado
- Pollo: Chicken, beans, cheese, salsa, and avocado
- Lengua: Beef tongue, beans, cheese, salsa, and avocado
- Vegetarian: Beans, cheese, salsa, and avocado
Tacos
- Carnitas: Slow-cooked pork, salsa, and cilantro
- Carne Asada: Grilled steak, salsa, and cilantro
- Pollo: Chicken, salsa, and cilantro
- Lengua: Beef tongue, salsa, and cilantro
- Vegetarian: Beans, cheese, salsa, and avocado
Quesadillas
- Carnitas: Slow-cooked pork, cheese, salsa, and avocado
- Carne Asada: Grilled steak, cheese, salsa, and avocado
- Pollo: Chicken, cheese, salsa, and avocado
- Lengua: Beef tongue, cheese, salsa, and avocado
- Vegetarian: Cheese, salsa, and avocado
Aguas Frescas
- Horchata: Rice and cinnamon drink
- Jamaica: Hibiscus drink
- Tamarindo: Tamarind drink
Beer and Soda
- Corona: Mexican beer
- Modelo: Mexican beer
- Coke: Soda
- Sprite: Soda
- Fanta: Soda
La Taqueria: Atmosphere
La Taqueria’s environment is relaxed and energetic, reflecting the owner’s and staff’s personalities. Customers order and pay at the front of the restaurant and then wait for their food to be made in the open kitchen.
Customers can plan to wait in line or take their meal to go because the restaurant is generally packed, especially during lunch and dinner hours. Customers may also sit and enjoy their cuisine or converse with other customers at the restaurant’s tables and chairs.
The restaurant is decked with bright paintings, posters, and flags, giving it a joyful atmosphere. The restaurant also plays Mexican music, which adds to the atmosphere.
The restaurant is a family-friendly establishment where kids are welcome and are frequently handed sweets by the staff. The restaurant is also a community hub, where regulars are known and respected, and newcomers are welcomed as if they are old friends.
La Taqueria is a California hidden treasure of economical and tasty food that provides a gratifying and unforgettable experience. Don’t miss this award-winning Mexican restaurant if you’re in the mood for a Mexican feast.