Mariachi’s Taqueria

Picture this:
young boy rides his bike to his best friends house and knocks on the door, but no answer. The boy rides off disappointed only to meet up with his lesser friend. The boy later checks his facebook only to see his best friend is deceased! THIS IS WHAT HAPPEND TO ME EXCEPT THE TAQUERIA IS MY BEST FRIEND! damn it. who else has thai burritos, or vegan mole? WTF

My friend just called me and told me the news. I feel like I barely have anything to look forward to should I come back to SF to visit. Every burrito I eat, Mariachi’s is always the standard to compare it to…
Regular veggie burrito, spinach tortilla, brown rice, black beans, spicy salsa, guacamole instead of cheese, and onions and cilantro.
Only $ 4.00 at Mariachi’s! I could eat the same thing every night and somehow never get tired of it.
Never again, though. :-(
Well, you had a great place, Homero. Thanks for being my favorite place to grab a burrito and thanks for being such a nice guy! I wish you and your workers well! Feel free to move up here to Portland and start another Mariachi’s here. I’ll eat there.

I am saddened to report that my favorite taqueria in SF is now closed.
New best option for vegans/​vegetarians in this area is sadly now Pancho Villa.
RIP Mariachi’s. I poured out some salsa for you.

If you want Mexican food that’s flavorful, and won’t have you sweating in a gym cursing yourself for eating that burrito, come to Mariachi’s!!! Take it from this Mexican, this place is good. Lemme break it down:
1) Your choice of spinach, whole wheat, white, and a mystery red tortilla. No extra charge.
2) Meat selections are flavored with spice, NOT oil or worse, lard.
3) Reasonable prices for all items.
4) Fresh ingredients.
5) Big portions.
6) Salsa tastes like salsa. No watered down crap here!
7) Vegetarian friendly.
I had a burrito which was huge, and my friend had a Taco shell salad with good for you ingredients and not just sour cream, meat n’ cheese like other places. Bonus stars for cleanliness, friendly staff, and fast service.

OVERALL:3.1 FOOD:4 SERVICE:1 AMBIANCE:3.5 VALUE:4
Food rocks, Service sucks! Period.
I-​HEART-​YOU points for:
+large menu w/​delicious items (anything w/​shrimp!) – not what I would consider traditional Mexican, but fresh & reliably filling.
+healthy (veg heavy, carb lite, whole wheat) options w/​a tropical flair (ginger rice & mango salsa)
+assorted self-​serve salsas & condiments
+yummy complimentary chips
I-​HATE-​YOU points for:
–bitchy service & AreYouEffingAskingMeToActuallyWork attitude
A friend got there 10 minutes before close, and even though the door was wide open, the sign still said OPEN, and the employees were still shooting the shit at the register & kitchen, I guess they’d decided to close early. Except they didn’t even look at him or say something logical like, «hey, we closed already – sorry». They just ignored him and let him stand there while the rest of us ate our food. Oh, not only that, they started badmouthing him/​us in Spanish, as if none of us could understand. AWESOME.

Let me start with the preface that I hate Mexican food. Growing up in Hawaii, we have the worst Mexican food EVER! So I grew up thinking that Mexican food consisted of Taco Bell and microwave burritos. Ironically my father and my boyfriend both love Mexican but I have yet to become a convert.
While shopping in the Mission with my friend Crystal I had the sudden need for sustenance. I’m 6 months pregnant so the hunger in my tummy is not just a passing notion which will go away. It’s literally a person needing to be fed! The girl at the boutique we were at recommended we go to Mariachi’s across the street because they served pretty fresh Mexican food. Oh the dread, oh the horror, oh how I needed to get food inside me soooo quickly or I was likely to pass out!
We went across the street to Mariachi’s and I must tell you that this place does not appear impressive in any way, shape or form. Like most spots in the Mission, it’s a hole. I ordered two chicken tacos because that seemed like the simplest thing and considering my distaste for Mexican food I just wanted some fast so we could continue shopping. They made my food very quickly for about $ 3 a taco and off we went.
At our next stop I stood outside the store and started eating my taco. O-​M-​F-​G this thing was AMAZING! Maybe I’ve been denied Mexican taco goodness all my life or my baby is a Mexican food lover, but I had the best time eating those tacos. I wish you could have been there to watch me «mmmmm» on the sidewalk by myself. Everyone thought I was schizophrenic but it’s okay I don’t really know anyone in San Francisco anyway. I’ll see you on my next trip to San Francisco Mariachi and thanks for restoring my faith in Mexican food. I’m a believer!

2.5 rounding down to 2 due to lack of cleanliness and service.
I came here with some friends on Saturday night around 6:30 pm. The place was pretty empty, so we did not have to wait in line. We Unilocaled this place before coming, saw that it had received 4 stars, and thought it would be a good choice.
Unfortunately, I must say I was disappointed. I ordered the steak and carnitas tacos. The meat was not flavorful and it was also dry. The sauce was also disappointing — there was no «kick» to it.
As there are many other tacquerias in the mission, I would probably not come back again!

Disclaimer: I’m a health food nut. It keeps my engine running strong.
This is the only taqueria I know of that offers, at no extra charge, both whole-​wheat tortillas and freshly cooked brown rice.
If you’re veg or just into veggie burritos, try this magical delight (my go-​to):
Whole-​wheat tortilla with brown rice, black beans, mango salsa, lettuce, mild salsa, cilantro, and a touch of onions.
It is on the ginormous side, but because of the wholesome whole grains, this under-​$ 5 delight keeps me going for the entire work day. No food coma!
Oh, and talk to the owners if you get the chance. Homero and his wife are exceptionally pleasant humans. Their kid is an adorable hoot as well.

Most restaurants assume that if you’re a vegetarian, then you deserve to eat less (and pay more). When restaurants do offer a veggie meat option, it’s usually treated like gold dust. They charge a premium, then offer you a peanut-​sized portion of the fake meat for your hard-​earned dollars.
Not at Mariachi’s though. If you order Soyrizo with your tacos (or burritos/​whatever) here, you’ll get a hearty helping of healthy pork sausage substitute. As a veggie, that means a *lot* to me.
The staff are friendly and the rest of the food is tasty to boot.

Any place with Mango Salsa can call me a customer!
Walking around Valencia with my buddy Jared S. we stumbled upon the very vibrant looking Mariachi’s Taqueria. The menu was very extensive, it was hard for me to choose until… my eye caught «Fish Tacos» and «Mango Salsa» on the Los Cabos Platter description.
The Los Cabos Fish Tacos consisted of two tacos of red snapper with mango salsa and pico de gallo. I think I would of been better off with just the mango salsa, it was bit too much with the pico. On the side, there was a generous portion of beans and rice. Not bad for $ 7.95.
Coming from San Jose and the taqueria likes in the South Bay, I wouldn’t mind coming back here to compare burritos.

How can you not order something that includes the words «shrimp» «spicy» «mango» and «comes with rice and beans?»
I came here with my homeboy Paul D. and went for the Baja tacos which included all of the above. I was pretty stoked to find a taqueria that offers mango salsa. Although the fruity salsa was good, the tacos were less than adequate. The shrimp was flavorful and the salsa was sweet, but it was just too much and too wet for the small tortillas. It was impossible to pick up due to how soggy it was and I ended up scooping everything in my fork and made choo-​choo noises as I brought it toward my mouth.
They do have a plethora of veggie options so make sure to hit this place up if you’re scared of the cow!

Okay. I’ve got to study and can devote only 4 minutes to this review. It might feel paced by the micromachine man but here it goes.
I was desperate for a burrito before boarding BART and heading into the gastronomical hinterlands of downtown Oakland for a show. We picked Mariachi’s because it was 1.) close to the BART station, 2.) reasonably priced and 3.) had 4 out 5 stars on Unilocal.Seriously? 4 out of 5 stars? Here?
Total. Let. Down. I guess I shouldn’t have expected too much for what you pay at Mariachi’s but here are the lowlights: uninspired, bland chicken meat in my taco, way-​too-​tomatoey and sweet salsa and stale tortilla chips. My friend got the quesadilla, which was more like a grilled burrito, and had to keep pouring salsa on it because it lacked any flavor.
Perhaps I went on a bad night but now that I’ve had the benefit of reading some of the other reviews, it looks like unless you’re a vegetarian that loves soyrizo burritos, this place pretty much stinks. It wasn’t that good. End of story.
if you’re crunched for time at the BART station, hit one of the other places that actually has customers eating in it. This has been a good barometer for me in the past and should work when considering your quick-​bite Mexican options in the Mission.
Gotta run. I went over by 7 minutes. Damn.

After my first few visits to Mariachi’s I thought I found my new favorite place, not for Mexican food per say but for the Grigo-​fied, American stylized Mexican food, healthier and dressed up in fancy terminology such as multi-​grain, tofu, soy, fresh veggies, vegan…
After visit four, I started noticing things I had overlooked before. Its not the cleanest place, its not really all that healthy, the menu is ridiculous in terms of pricing and the some of the staff need to be institutionalized (or maybe just heavily medicated). Its basically the same crowd as you would find at the BART station or the corner of 16^th and Mission, sketchy and often dirty. Mmmm they have a shared salsa bar.
Last time I check Tofu and soy in general is not really all that healthy. Sad but I believe it is true. If you don’t believe me, try googling it. Most cheap tofu products have high lead and/​or heavy metals in them due to the production of tofu. Also soy messed up female hormones so woman should be very careful on soy. Also tofu interacts with the absorption of minerals and can supposedly cause thyroid issues and a weaken immune system. Does this stop me from eating soy products? No, not really but I am not gonna believe you if you try to tell me its healthy (I still eat doughnuts too, even though I should lose the junk in my trunk, knowledge doesn’t always work with me).
The menu pricing is not standardized meaning if you do the math you can often save money by ordering the rice and bean burrito or taco and adding on toppings rather than paying for the «official» burrito. Also depending on who is serving you and the mood they are in, they do like to abuse the customers here. Apparently on my fourth visit the staff did not like my recent discovery about the cheaper ordering, one staff member began screaming at me and kept insisting I owed her .50¢. Now I realize .50¢ is no big deal however the shock of having a middle aged Latina woman threatening me, swearing, convulsing her body in such a way she threaten violence. It really turned me off to the dining experience here. I mean what happened to my favorite idyllic, hippie, tofu taco?
It feels like something inside of me shattered, maybe it was my naïve notion that ALL things vegetarian are positive things. As far as I am concerned Mariachi’s Taqueria is using «healthy» connotations to peddle Taco Bell or Green Burrito quality food and service. Pancho Villas is around the corner and the tofu taco isn’t so bad there. If you want soyrizo try going to Paplotes, at least they are friendly.

After reading all the reviews on here I regret ordering just a plain veggie burrito, but I sorta just went for the cheapest vegetarian option, as I usually do. But since it was pretty damn good (especially the guacamole) this place deserves four stars and a trip back to try all the gourmet tofu wraps.
They have four or five different tortillas to choose from and three different types of rice. As for the menu, it is very extensive and creative for a taqueria. There are many options and everything seemed fresh.

Solidly ok.
Mariachi includes grilled vegetables in traditional Americanized Mexican dishes, like burritos, tacos and enchiladas.
The baja srrrimp taco plate is tasty! Mango, cilantro, onions and tomatoes dressed the two good sized srrrimpy tacos. Obligatory beans and rice included in the meal.
I’m not a fan of the heavily fortified veggie burrito. It was pretty bland at last munch.
The boy toy was impressed with his nachos and cheese enchiladas.
Rarely is the restaurant crowded, which is nice when you want to sit and eat.

This place is amazing! They have HUGE portions… and are so healthy!
My brother got a delicious huge burrito, i got a huge plate (pictured) of beans, veggies, rice, guac. and 2 beers. 22 bucks!
The price is a plus, but honestly. I would pay more! The food was so good!
Menu is also very extensive. This is a sure way to get a cheap, delicious and if wanted, healthy meal!

It’s not a MINDBLOWING, STOP TRAFFIC burrito… but, it’s quality.
It’s not your typical beans, rice, meat, salsa dirt-​Mission-​style burrito… but, it’s original.
I’m a vegetarian and I like the options. I have several yummy burritos to choose from, and they’re decently priced (though a tad bit more expensive than several other area burritos.)
I’m a big fan of the thai tofu peanut sauce burrito. It’s a fusion of thai and mexican goodness in ma mouf… and I can’t argue with that.
+ for having a salsa bar and burr (that’s «beer» for those of you not with the times).
(Oh, and they take cards with a minimum $ 10 purchase.)

Mexican is a hard sell for me. I think it tends to be kind of bland, or filled with cheese, which isn’t good for a vegan like me. This place has a large vegan selection, which is really nice since usually mex places think they do good enough with all the cheesehole stuff.
I got the Arizona. Still a little bland. Ok though, for the price.
Big issue with beggars in here, walking in off the street. If I had a restaurant I’d kick their asses out, but they didn’t do that here. Maybe next time I’ll do takeaway. I mean two beggars in one meal? One more than once? Come ON!

You know you’ve hit the jackpot when even your best manorexic friend shares a cheese and sauce-​smothered tamale and super veggie burrito with you.
Mariachi’s is cheap, generous, and delicious. I do not like the tortilla portion of the burrito (I dig the insides out with a fork and cut the tortilla down as I go along…) and I found the filling to be extremely satisfying. So satisfying in fact that my poor, usually food-​averse friend had to pry said burrito out of my death grip just to get a bite or two. So much for beating manorexia. If we’re going to Mariachi’s, I think I prefer him disordered.

Is that Elton on the jukebox…
Don’t give me none of your aggravation
I had it with your discipline
Saturday night’s alright for porking
Get a few calories in
Get as stuffed as Kirstie Alley
Gonna set the Mission alight
’Cause Saturday night’s the night I pig
Saturday night’s alright… alright alright
I pass by this taqueria all the time since it’s on the pivotal corner of 16^th and Valencia where you’re within screaming distance of Bombay Ice Creamery, Pork Store Valencia, Limon, Sunflower and so many great eateries. Ever notice the guy that walks by honking like a goose? What’s that about? However, this evening, I finally went in with a friend, and lo and behold, it’s pretty darn good.
They advertise freshness, and they actually mean it. I ordered the $ 6.95 Los Cabos, a couple of fish tacos accompanied by rice and black beans. The tacos were the small flour tortilla rounds with a mound of lightly pan-​fried fresh red snapper, mango salsa and pico de gallo and shredded lettuce. Very fresh tasting though kind of a pain to get in your mouth unless you are ambidextrous with amazing finger control. I meant the taco, y’know.
My friend had an even better deal, the $ 6.45 Super Meat Nachos with steak, though the drawback is that it was a coronary waiting to happen. Lots of pan-​fried steak chunks covering a sea of chips with lot of shredded cheese microwave-​melted with a heaping scoop of pico de gallo on top. Delish but the gurney should be close by just in case. The place has plenty of tables and counter space, and it’s just a quick stroll from the 16^th Street BART station. Go if Pancho Villa is full up… or even if it’s not.
FOOD — 4 stars… surprisingly fresh and tasty for Californified taqueria fare
AMBIANCE — 3.5 stars… t’is the Mission after all
SERVICE — 3.5 stars… by-the-numbers…but they know how to do it fast and with a minimum of fuss
TOTAL — 4 stars… fresh Mex in a neighborhood full of taquerias… a stand-​out if you ask me