Las Estrellas

Las Estrellas is home to the worst tacos I’ve ever had. It’s stunning to me that this restaurant remains in business in a Mexican food oasis like San Francisco. Aside from soggy single layered tacos and flavorless meat there are two things worth mentioning about these tacos: 1. They were topped with feta cheese. WTF is that doing in a Mexican restaurant? I want my queso blanco. 2. I sprung and extra $ 1.50 for the steamed veggies which consist of a previously frozen Asian stir-​fry mix. My girlfriend had a water chestnut in her taco… WTF? The best part of Las Estrellas is the $ 1.50 Model, which what lured me in. SF’s Mexican food is too good to waste your time and money at Las Estrellas.

Sad this place appears gone — maybe a rehab? Though no signs indicating the plan… hope whatever goes in the space retains Las Estrellas down-​to-​earth attitude. If your staff reads this — I hope you’re well!

After a long (and expensive) day in SF, my family found this place after a quick search on Google Maps. There was only one guy who was at the counter and he took our orders for some burritos. When we got our food, it was a mess. The tortilla was soggy at the bottom and the meat felt flavorless and reheated. A complete and utter waste of money and time. I’m only giving them a 2 star because I understand that there was only one guy there having to make 5 burritos. I just hope they find more people to help because it definitely needs it.

I can’t even tell you how disappointed I was today when I arrived only to see the windows covered up and the insides gutted. This was my go to Saturday night joint for a fantastic burrito before a long night at work. I am pissed!!! I’m sure it had something to do with the disgusting Italian restaurant they shared their space with. :(

This area, Hayes and Fell, is about as presumptuous as it gets, but this place is an escape from all that. The guys who work here are down-​to-​earth, there’s soccer playing in Spanish, cheap draft beer, free WiFi.
Food is not as good as the Mexican places south of Market, but burritos are decent and the salsa is solid.

Yikes… this place was a real disappointment! Frankly, I’m surprised this restaurant is able to stay in business in SF while serving such mediocre Mexican food! I’ve honestly had better Mexican food in Cincinnati.
The chicken enchilada I had was bland and boring. My fiancé’s chicken tacos weren’t good either — he found them sweet and soggy, and didn’t appreciate the fact they had beans in them.
The service was ok. We had asked for the tacos without cheese, but had to send them back when they came with cheese anyway.
The staff was friendly and the prices were cheap… but this place was otherwise a let down.

After happy hour at Sugar Lounge, I was in the mood for a good quesadilla. After eating the Shredded Chicken & Smoked Jack one here, I honestly have to reconsider my understanding of what a quesadilla really is. At every other Mexican restaurant I’ve been to, the melted cheese is the glue that keeps the grilled tortilla from falling apart. Neither the cheese nor the tortilla were cooked long enough. I do commend Las Estrellas for giving a fair amount of chicken, but my quesadilla turned into a floppy mess without anything holding it together. Everything here is affordable, so that’s a point in their favor.

The carne asada burrito I had here tasted pretty bland, which I didn’t think was possible for a burrito. The steak quality was so-​so, and I wish there had been more cilantro and onion. Glad I didn’t pay more than $ 7 for it. Cheap $ 2 negra Modelo drafts were a plus tho.

Best burritos in the city. Every time i go by hayes valley, i wish i had a reason to stop by for their burritos. Big, hearty burritos at good prices. I usually get the chicken for 6.50. Tips, it’s cash only and i am currently here on a saturday night and it closes at 10pm. My friend lives in hayes valley and whenever i visit, i ask for this burrito place.

Quick Qualification: It goes to four stars instead of two for the DIRT CHEAP beer and good service. Yet — I never come here on a non-​work day, so a lot of good the beer does this guy.
The food is decidedly three-​ish, but three-​and-​a-​half because of the volume. I’ve had the tacos a few times and they are pretty darn hearty. They come on double-​corn tortillas and have some heft. BUT, for reasons passing understanding, they put beans on the tacos. You have a choice: re-​fried or black. Being a taco purist, I’d prefer to see a bunch of good meat and skip the beans. Plus — and bunch of beans is not a good pick-​me-​up for a busy afternoon in the office. Blghhhhhhh…
The saving grace (yeah, it should be $ 2 beer, if that whole employment-​thing weren’t an issue) is that they have some kick-@#$ hot sauce on the tables. Just douse them, and get ready to rock.
Also, small side-​note: They have some lovely carved doors decorating the place on the wall they share with the Italian-​joint next door. And, they have WiFi. The ambiance isn’t half-​bad.

Go for the beer. Stay away from the burritos. I had a steak super burrito last night and woke up with horrible food poisoning.
Steer clear!

I come here often because this place is one of the few places where you can get a filling lunch for under $ 7. I tend to get the BBQ chicken. I suggest it without beans, but that is my preference. You get the basics — salsa, meat, rice. The chicken is actually better than the price point suggests.
They bring out the food very fast.
Cash only. TV and Wifi inside. Cutlery and water is self-​serve. Chips come with the meal. The hot sauce can get pretty spicy if you are generous with it — as I am. :)

I consider myself a burrito connoisseur and I was a little disappointed with my Super Carne Asada Burrito. While it was a hearty burrito as far as the meat to rice ratio was concerned, I found it a bit dry and under flavored. It lacked character and heat. I typically like my burros a little more on the «saucy and spicy side». The kind that would drip if you turned it upside down. Another thing is that every taqueria that I’ve ever ordered from, I’ve asked for extra cilantro and it’s never been a problem up until this place. It was explained to that «it was already in the picante», which makes me suspect they don’t make their own salsa.
This does make a good «on the go» burrito. You know, one that you could eat without a plate or in the car, but for now I’m going back to my old, and took some time and effort to dig up standbys.

I don’t know why people are so down on Las Estrellas. It’s one of the only places left in Hayes Valley you can get great food without spending an arm and a leg.
Delicious burritos, quesadillas, etc. and fast service. One time I showed up just as they were closing with a few friends, and Las Estrellas was so nice and still made sure we got a couple burritos and got to hang out. They could have shut the door on us, but they went the extra mile.

Las Estrellas wasn’t the typical taqueria. the counter, kitchen, and assembly area took up only a corner portion of this eatery.
only meats offered: tofu, carnitas, grilled chicken, bbq. chicken.
eats: bbq chicken burrito (5.75)
–with black beans, lettuce, tomatos, barely tasty bbq chicken, rice, very nice size
–spicy orange sauce was nice
–crunchy chips interesting–
–filling, not so tasty
2.5 stars
frijoles refritos:
–negra modelo pints (1.5)
–place empty prelunch
–free wifi
–cash only.
–doubtful repeat.

This isn’t the Mission, however, Las Estrellas delivers on tasty burritos. The price point is great. Listen — they have $ 2 Negra Modelo pints. This place rocks. CASH ONLY.
Overall steal of a deal.

There was a time Las Estreallas was pretty solid – always dive-​y but solid. I feel lately both the food and service have taken a nose dive.
Last time I was there I waited a full five minutes at the counter before anyone even came to take my order. They were not busy, and there was a guy cooking in the kitchen who could have easily called out to someone.
My steamed veggie burrito had the usual good portion of veggies but a super small amount of guacamole. The rice was undercooked and the last quarter of the burrito was flooded with some kind of water – maybe from the salsa. Just not a good burrito at all.
I did douse it with their really tasty hot sauce though – still love that stuff.

It’s such an ironic name for a place that is anything but stellar, especially since it’s right next door to one of my favorite Italian places in the city, Stelline. They’re under the same ownership, but the only thing that I noticed they had in common is the unisex restroom. Jamie W. and I came here after we were pondering where in Hayes Valley to eat. He was angling for Hayes & Kebab since he’s a big fan of their homemade baklava. But I was thinking that I had been to Stelline so many times that I really needed to try their neighbor just once.
Once turns out to be enough. It’s a compact spot, about half the size of Stelline, where you order at the counter. The overhead menu is pretty standard fast-​food Mexican with no surprises. Jamie went for the $ 3.50 bowl of Tortilla Soup which came with bits of chicken and chip strips (see photo). Although I saw remnants of the pico de gallo swimming in the watery broth, the queso fresco was conspicuously missing. Needless to say, the taste didn’t stick in our memories much less our palates. He finished off his meal with a $ 5.75 Chicken Burrito, which according to him, was standard grade.
I ordered the $ 6.50 Carnitas Tacos, a pair with braised shredded pork ladled on top of soft corn tortilla with the queso fresco (ah, there it is!), black beans, shredded lettuce and fresh salsa (see photo). They were small and none too filling. Honestly just adequate compared to the Mission. I also had the $ 5.50 Caesar Salad, which violated my rule of never ordering a Caesar salad in a Mexican restaurant (see photo). Why? Because there isn’t anything Mexican about it except they replace croutons with taco chip squares. It tasted like something that was in a plastic container in the refrigerated section of Safeway for a week. Just not that fresh-​tasting.
FOOD — 2 stars… mediocre Mexican that didn’t leave me starry-​eyed
AMBIANCE — 3 stars… a compact place but you can sit down there
SERVICE — 2.5 stars… I don’t remember much dialogue
TOTAL — 2 stars… curiosity satisfied, back to Stelline

Let it be noted I am only reviewing the beer, folks.
Did I mention the beer? $ 1 Negra Modelas, cold and in frosty pint glasses. Did I also mention that I tripped over a tumbleweed trying to get to the beer?
Yeah. Beer, good. Tumbleweed, bad.

Eh.