QuickBites: The Mission Burrito

Burritos have become San Francisco's comfort food. Born in the district from which it hails, the Mission-style burrito is as unique as it is filling. Take a look at what makes this foil-wrapped gut-buster so special.
Hungry for more? Visit our blog at / sfquickbites for tasty recipes, photos from the episode, and scenes from the TakeOut Reel.
Try some Mission burritos for yourself:
El Faro Restaurant -- 2399 Folsom St.
Taqueria La Cumbre (www.taquerialacumbre.com) -- 515 Valencia St.
Papalote Mexican Grill (www.papalote-sf.com) -- 3409 24th St.

[@fishypictures]

Back in the 60s el faro was a corner store. We as kids would buy one and spilt it . The owner would make it in the back end of the store. We would buy one or two and share it when we went fishing. I think it cost us $1.99 each.over the years the store expanded to a Mexicatessen. The owner put all his kids through college behind the super burrito 🌯. Also the sandwiches were very large , lots of meat. Great to be born and raised in San Francisco . Best childhood ever.

[@bartonpercival3216]

Amen. 🙏 El Faro was the first place I ever had a super burrito. I first went there in 1972. San Francisco has amazing food and restaurants, but I've always loved the food in the Mission District! 🌯🌮🍺👍

[@kashmirirose3733]

My uncle Willie visited S.F. from the Bronx back in the 80s. When he returned to the New York, he packed half a dozen, El Faro super burritos in his luggage.

[@shakaburrito5163]

This video is truly excellent, really fun to watch.

[@leoinsf]

It is so funny that when you bite a burrito, it is a bite beyond a regular bite. It is a gargantuan bite. This is a tribute to just how good a burrito is! I love burritos!

[@Diego-rm3yt]

That guy that removed the whole entire burrito from the foil and took a bite needs to be arrested. That's a damn crime in itself.

[@1mfilms]

I've been away from SF for 4 years and miss these a lot. While I can find burritos where I live now, in SF they were cheaper, bigger, and tastier.

[@dianemoonstone4715]

Agree!

[@fserry]

Agree!!

[@Moco925]

Where did you move to? I just relocated to phoenix and the burritos here suck

[@Diego-rm3yt]

@@Moco925 Why tf people from AZ claim their Mexican food is up there with California's then? 😂

[@johnbernstein7887]

@@Diego-rm3yt The answer to that is the Chimichanga which hails from Tucson. While you can't get a great SF burrito in AZ, you can't get a great Chimi in SF. BTW: way, I'm from here. I can vouch for El Faro being the OG as I ate there before La Cumbre existed, But my Wife is from Tucson and I've had my fair share of Chimis there. Still nothing beats a Carnitas Torta from El Faro, But that's a pork Sandwich....

[@PancakeRecipes]

El Faro was first. Their burritos were much bigger then La La Cumbre's back in the day.

[@jameswalt6514]

True. El Faro brought the huge tortillas first. La Cumbre really loaded it up first though. Both can claim it.

[@rl5562]

They had awesome sandwiches as well. They would scoop out part of the insides on a hard roll so the ingredients didn't come out the sides or the bottom. Mi Rancho up the block on 20th also had pretty good burritos in the late 70s / early 80s.

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Ate a burrito at La Cumbre once, chicken was dry, tough and tasteless. That was in 1996

[@ninjaundermyskin]

This video is so San Francisco. I love it!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️😘😘

[@scotthallseviltwin]

El Faro !!!!I miss the food of home

[@TheRausing1]

This is a great video and I agree, Burritos are the BEST dude!

[@rgwak]

El Buen Sabor, Valencia and 18th. The best!

[@LukeA1223]

I only remember La Cumbre. Also I would love to know the recita para lingua de rez you have there. I live in Canada now and only get one of your burritos de lingua de rez once every 15 years on average! iudea me, hermano!

[@J3unG]

Ai que rico!! Que Viva San Pancho.

[@pirateinthekitchen1332]

Salivating

[@yokoxplorer3546]

Oo frisco, como te extraño, y mas la comida

[@dianemoonstone4715]

I miss the SF Mission Burritos!

[@Moco925]

Right guess I didn't realize it was a regional thing. Just moved to Phoenix and still haven't found a good burrito

[@claudiamadrid6774]

Super delicious 😋 big 🌯 back in the 80s is was lil stores near by. Near by store mi ranchito & la bodegita. I use to go shop there with my parents or with my brothers & sister love my city of San Francisco ❤

[@freddyp07ify]

Had burritos from both these spots. Man a I want a Super Carnitas burrito right now 😭😭

[@JeffCowan]

No love for Gordo? Since 1977. So good.

[@brandonperez9961]

Thats on 16th right

[@emmy4537]

wow

[@TheRausing1]

I’m gonna make guacamole out of that little avocado dog

[@saber26ful]

Pancho Villa ftw

[@5.0foxbody8]

18th & Folsom

[@lioncohen8586]

any good suggestion for a vegan burrito spot in SF?

[@d.lawrence5670]

WHY IS THERE ALWAYS SOME VEGAN LURKING AROUND???!!!

[@d.lawrence5670]

Sorry, that was mean. I have an ulcer right now and I'm in a bad mood. I hope you find your nice vegan tacos.

[@jasonfuentz7681]

Gross

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Honestly best to make your own at home. So many options: black beans, avocado/guacamole, maybe some grilled/sautéed veggies, pico de Gallo, cilantro, seasoned rice. So many vegetarian options 😋👍

[@bartonpercival3216]

How about a Dungeness crab burrito!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😆👍🦀

[@jaylopez4163]

La espiga de oro 👌🏽

[@yorkmob9993]

Being a San Francisco Mission District Native 🇲🇽 the burrito is a part of our culture. If you ask 10 random people which taqueria has the best 🌯 you will get 10 different answers. I wont reveal my favorite that would start another debate.

[@lil.erick7657]

We all know the one on Alabama is better 👀

[@Diego-rm3yt]

@@lil.erick7657 I would say the one near Mission and Ocean is even better than both of those.

[@loverabids1109]

o la banda d sanfransisco él que no coma un burrito de la galería las cumbres es por que no sabe de nada los burritos son lo mejor

[@emmy4537]

it’s corona time!

[@franciscocarrasco7128]

Burritos are super expensive now in the mission poncho villa on 16th just jacked there prices. Good luck on your burrito hunt with out going broke!

[@HerAeolianHarp]

San Diego for fish tacos. SF for burritos. Austin for queso. New Mexico for breakfast burritos. You’re welcome.

[@MM-le9en]

i was living in San Francisco long time ago and the Taquerias are THE BEST, i went to Colorado, Florida, New Jersey and no way to compare with those in the mission district, then i moved to Argentina, Peru and Chile and tried the mexican style restaurant but its not like what i loved in San Francisco so i hope to visit the bay area just to try those taquerias again!!! El Farolito en mission st era mi favorito .Saludos desde Peru!!

[@JesusChristIsLord__]

.

[@d.lawrence5670]

Are they as good as Amy's Organic Frozen Burritos?

[@d.lawrence5670]

GoldenState, sorry, I couldn't help myself

[@bartonpercival3216]

1000 times better than Amy's!!!!!!!!!

[@mikeday62]

Ingredients these days are like...almost mandatory.

[@joshuakahelin6524]

I prefer San Diego CABs, and the California Burrito. I don't want rice and beans in my burrito. (filler)

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Good point. Few years ago had a burrito in San Diego that was 80% carnitas, 10% guacamole, 10% salsa. One of the best burritos I've ever had

[@DaveVargas90012]

The first burritos were made bought and sold in El Paso 1910 by Mendez

[@user-qc6dx6iu3f]

Mind boggling expense of city money.

[@lateral1385]

Hungry, anyone?

[@GashdakSaghzaar]

The Mission burritos and the people that make them are sadly the only good thing Sicko Frisco has going for it.

[@d.lawrence5670]

What do u mean "Sicko Frisco"? Are there a lot of child molesters or Trump supporters living there?

[@dannyboydeluxfromthebigitybay]

Well yeah there is a bunch of child molesters there. Addicts and gangsters too. Probably cause of Hillary and gavin supporters im guessing smh

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

@@dannyboydeluxfromthebigitybay Did you enjoy the Capitol riots? 😱

[@dannyboydeluxfromthebigitybay]

@@MisfitsFiendClub138 nearly the best riots yet. Still not as good as the ones I seen in oakland and portland tho.. tsss what kinda dumbass question is that? What are you are 10 years old or you just plain stupid?

[@dannyboydeluxfromthebigitybay]

@@MisfitsFiendClub138 you think your question is clever or funny but it's gotta be one of the dumbest questions I had to answer. If you insulted anyone by that question, you insulted your parents for having a child who asks retarded questions

[@Crazy--Clown]

Charles Hodgkins is a wife basher

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Mission burritos no longer a good value. Too much rice/beans, very little meat. Price $10-$13. Many places now charge you for the chips and salsa. Twenty years ago every Taqueria would include the chips and salsa with a burrito order. Only place I would recommend is El Metate at Bryant/22nd street, get the chicken nachos, burritos are too small for the money here

[@Diego-rm3yt]

True, just ask for no rice, much better.

[@breakyoselffool]

ive never seen anyone eat a burrito in public... gtfo

[@HerAeolianHarp]

I lived in SF 26 years. Never saw it either.

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Have seen people eating burritos in public dozens of times, even on MUNI!

[@squiremuldoon5462]

How can the mission think it has better burritos than San Diego or LA?? this is propaganda

[@MrTonio510]

Haha well if u from la or sd of course u gona think they the best cus thats all u kno n ya taste buds get used to certain flavors so if u try sum different u gon think it aint as good

[@juanitaghannam4564]

Simple amigo, and this response comes from a Mexican national proudly living in my country. It's obvious you've never had a Mission style burrito otherwise you would have never posted that. I've traveled and tasted the food from Tijuana to Cancun and when it comes to burritos, not even in Mexico do they even come close to the SF Mission Style burrito, let alone SD and LA. SF hands down bud!

[@palmtrees2664]

I live in the Bay and SD shits on SF burritos hands down.

[@griesrt]

come try it

[@justinortiz9714]

LA for the win

[@palmtrees2664]

Lol if you want a real burrito you need to go to San Diego. The worst taco shop in San Diego shits on the best taco join in San Fransico.

[@d.lawrence5670]

dumb comment

[@HerAeolianHarp]

San Diego for fish tacos. SF for burritos. Austin for queso. New Mexico for breakfast burritos. You’re welcome.

[@Diego-rm3yt]

A "real" burrito doesn't have bland potatoes. You never even stepped foot in San Francisco and wanna open your mouth 😂😂 SD burritos don't even come close.

[@palmtrees2664]

@@Diego-rm3yt I literally lived in SF for 5 years. Worst burritos ever. If you wanted to get even half way decent Mexican food I would have to go all the way to San Jose, were actual real Mexicans lived.

[@Diego-rm3yt]

@@palmtrees2664 Yea you're smokin dick. "Worst burritos ever" Then why was it named the #1 burrito in America? Answer that, dumbass. SD burritos SUCK. Even Texas has better burritos than SD. My family lives out there and I visit twice a year and specifically avoid burritos for that reason. Y'all don't do them right. Why did Chipotle and Qdoba get their inspiration from San Francisco burritos and not "San Diego"? SF>SD

[@octaviomarquez2777]

LIMPIEN PRIMERO TODA LA BASURA