Pisto’s

They’re moving to a larger location! I thought I’d give them my review anyways so you guys can follow them to where ever they end up
We came here for a snack as we waited for our reservation.
Service is very friendly and quick. The waitress came right away with menus, plates, chip and salsa.
We got the quesadilla with fish which was pretty good although we couldn’t really tell how much fish was in there. Seemed like each of us barely had any fish.
If we’re in the area, we’ll definitely come back for tacos. Wished we canceled our reservation and just had the meal here.

This place is so much better than Don Pisto’s!
Simple menu, affordable prices. I’ve had the hamburguesa (just as good as DP’s), guac appetizer (delicious and SO MUCH GUAX), and a double meat (lengua and al pastor) burrito. Both their lengua and al pastor are BOMB.
Atmosphere is cool, they’ve got a sweet playlist that can get a little loud sometimes, but it’s manageable. This is a great spot to come catch up with a friend.
Now here’s the sad news — Pisto’s is CLOSING as of tomorrow to relocate to a bigger space in the Marina :(They’ll re-​open this summer. So go get your last fix tonight!

Overpriced, not special tacos and really bad soups. Also the music is way too load. The guacamole is ok though. Nevertheless the service was very good.

We walked in around 2:30pm on a Monday and were happy to find a place where we could have a light lunch. The restaurant was fairly empty at that odd hour, and we were served very quickly. The server was pleasant and took our orders right away. You get free chips and salsa on the house, which was great since I was starving.
We ordered the street corn (you get two pieces), and 3 tacos (Al Pastor, chicken, and shrimp). The food was tasty and the service was great to the end. Lastly, this place won’t break the bank!

I came here and tried their lengua tacos – two corn tortillas, topped with lengua, onions and dab of salsa. The portion was incredibly small. I wasn’t impressed. I felt I could have gotten better and cheaper tacos by going to another taqueria.
The server was really sweet. She gave us advice on spots around North Beach. The food came out quick as well.
However, I would not go back for the food.

Who would’ve thought that some of the best Mexican food in SF would be found in North Beach?
I used my Unilocal App and found this spot since my LA friend was dying for some good Mexican food.
She got her vegetarian meal and I got a mixed bag-​o-​tacos. I got carnitas, lengua, and carned asada and they were all killer. The lengua was especially good — crispy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside.
To wash it down I was even able to order a 32 oz of Corona. Haven’t had one of those in years.
The service wasn’t bad and I liked the atmosphere in there.
More like 4.5 stars but I’ll round up.

I went here around 6 on a Saturday night. We got seated immediately, the staff was friendly, and our food was served quickly as well.
That being said, the food was average. We ordered shrimp, fish, and al pastor tacos, a side of beans, the regular margarita, and the Agua fresco margarita. The shrimp and al pastor tacos were the best, however nothing special. The Agua fresco margarita a was too sweet and the flavors did not mix well. Overall I would return for a quick, cheap meal with booze. Our bill was only $ 32.

Ambient 5 stars: The music playing was a smash up of some top 40 with a techno beat which really made the place brighten up and wonderful to have a great conversation and some fun in. The waiter/​cashiers were friendly.
Salsa 3 stars: The salsa is a cucumber with jalapeño green salsa that is very watery, but wasn’t spicy.
Food (Asada) 2 stars: I ordered a carne asada burrito but it was lackluster. The tortilla was the tortilla you see in the store that hasn’t been pre-​cooked and looks almost transparent. The very very light pink rice didn’t taste like a true mexican rice but was bland more like white rice. The meat had no «asada/​grill» taste. It was almost boiled tasting, but I didn’t bite into any large pieces of fat which is my typical experience in SF.
Bonus: The chips were really tasty. The salt was perfect and the bag was greasy, sign they are made in house and delicious. They have a raw menu from November to April that has oysters, sashimi, ceviche, etc.

Pisto’s exudes excellence from their salsa to their burritos. The ceviche was fresh and perfectly seasoned. Tacos were pint sized but packed with flavor. Water refills were ample. Pisto’s may be the best Mexican restaurant in ten square miles.

Wow. What a happy coincidence that I stumbled into this restaurant one night with my friend while visiting San Francisco. We are both originally from Southern California where we had been spoiled with great Mexican food and were discussing how there wasn’t that much great Mexican food in the city when we saw this place. We decided to check it out and test our theory.
The salsa here is something I’m currently missing and have been missing ever since I left this place. It’s a green salsa with the perfect amount of kick– not for those who can’t handle spicy, but nothing too crazy. I also tried three different types of tacos: al pastor, camarones, and beef tongue. I had never had tongue, but it was tender and tasty! The Al Pastor was perfect, and trumped most of my favorite Southern Californian renditions of the dish.
The tacos are small but there are 2 tortillas for each taco. My friend and I split a few of the tacos and just divided the meat between the 2 tortillas. We also split a 32 oz Corona for $ 9, so we walked out of there with 3 street tacos, some delicious chips and salsa, and a beer for less than $ 11 each. For a quick snack/​light dinner, this is an amazing deal! I’ll be back on my next visit to the city.

Solid 4-​stars. I ordered tacos and got a burger to bring home for my mom.
I actually was not a fan of the burger, but can see how it’s popular. There’s bacon in the patty?
The tacos were solid and delish. I ordered two tacos dorados, one shrimp and one carne asada. I must say, I still am a fan of Nick’s Crispy Tacos or Underdogs better, but these were tasty as well.
This is pretty far from me, so I doubt I would make a point to stop-​by, I would recommend for those who are in the area and who want a taco fix. Better than tacolicious, I think.

We went to Don Pisto’s and the place was jam packed with a more than 2 hour wait. Not happening. Plus, I remember I’d actually dined there before, so it wasn’t a hard decision to take the suggestion from the hostess and journey down the block to this sister restaurant.
Way less busy, in the sense where we were able to scoot right in and sit at the bar. My fish and carne asada tacos were selections I will think about and my mouth will water. They were just incredible. The flavor in that tiny taco can’t be beat. I only wish I would have ordered more. Wait, maybe I wish I wouldn’t have gorged myself on their fresh baked tortilla’s, delicious salsa and gauc.
Oh well. It was well worth it to stop by here and lavish in their gloriously tasty tacos!

Geezes this place was amazing. I flew in from out of town and my buddy took me here and gosh dangit our friendship just became even stronger because of this place. We came to Don Pistos around 4PM and were redirected to this satellite location a couple of blocks away. There was plenty of seating, and the waitress was quick and helpful.
I tried their shrimp, carnitas, raw tuna, pineapple + something delicious, and steak tacos and I loved every last one of them. So flavorful. So well crafted. So dang good. There were no weak links. You should eat
There were some downsides that I expected being in San Francisco. Their hand-​washing sink was basically in the hallway of their kitchen. I also paid around $ 20 bucks including tip for tacos, which I thought was a bit high for street tacos.
This is the real deal and I frequently fantasize about coming back here. I never would’ve thought a person could get such amazing tacos in Little Italy.

Revealing.
What this says about me:
Chicken. Black beans. Lettuce. No rice.
What this says about Pisto’s:
— Grilled chicken tacos with off menu cream and minimal on menu onions and salsa.
— Shrimp, pinto beans (only option available), cheese and rice in an overly buttered homemade flour tortilla for $ 9.50. Rich and repulsive.
— Check the box service included an eager plate removal two seconds after finishing.
— Hip-​hop so loud you can barely talk.
— Tecate for $ 4 almost saves things. Almost.
It says two stars.

It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes I feel sad.
Then I come here and get a shrimp burrito and a glass of sauv b. And I don’t feel sad anymore.

North Beach murals, sweet like churros,
Friday night foodkid, Taco Hero.
Jesus portrait, weigh my sins.
Three fifty tacos, count my wins.
First count the wait time, forty-​five min,
give my digits, to hostess lady,
when Carly Rae ready, just call me maybe.
High chairs don’t care, I am ten feet tall,
dark room perfume, Pistos No. 5,
backseat name brands, fancy doesn’t drive.
Corn chips and salsa, its on the house huh?
That’s a homerun, OG Sammy Sosa.
Gimme another dose of, Al Pastor.
Crispy pork yes, eat faster.
Pescado Camarones, menu Espanol,
Google translate all, snapchats on the phone.
Sauce always drip, polyester pants,
Big beer bucket, five aluminum cans.
Cash is king, shell out Oysters,
family fortune, Don Pisto’s sister.
Shoutout to Roy C., freestyle meister.
foodkid fAAtcity

Great little restaurant nestled between Little Italy and Chinatown.
They do both soft and hard shell tacos and oysters too! A great place. We were seated quickly given a generous plate of chips and salsa, which tided a group of 4 us over until we had our food. The menu is short but was just what we needed for lunch. Glass cups and a glass water pitcher for the table certainly helps elevate the atmosphere of Pistos.
Food:
Ahi Tuna Tacos– two hard shelled ahi tuna tacos plated on a bed of shredded lettuce
From my experience, the tuna could’ve been prepped better as I like mine a little more raw but otherwise pretty good. Pisto’s does a «sharing» style so all of our food came out at once and everyone’s food came on one plate, as our waitress explained to us.
One complaint is the cost as two of the ahi tuna tacos cost 12, a little pricey, but certainly worth it. Give this place a shot!

Staff was really accommodating with my corn allergy. Yes, I’m allergic to corn and love mexican food. It’s a tragedy really.
They cut me a few little tacos out of their flour tortilla and I was able to have the Al Pastor taco. Very yummy! The right blend of spice in the pork and sweetness from the avocado and pineapple salsa.

I would have not known that this place existed, if it wasn’t for me walking by the street that it is located on plenty of times and hearing that they have $ 1 raw oysters served up all day every day! They also serve up brunch, such as Chilaquiles, throughout the entire hours that they are opened for! Pisto’s exterior is so pitch black dark and when inside, it’s like pumping up the music from wall to wall!
You must get their signature street corn that is sprinkled with parmesan cheese! You can’t beat Baron Point Oysters for a dollar each and with no hours or day limited to it on the special! Their Fanny Bay and Myagi Oysters are 2 dollars each! I truly couldn’t taste the difference (so get the Baron Point Oysters) — especially when I have devoured the grilled up tacos, street corn and wings in my mouth before the raw oysters! Their Al Pastor Taco for $ 3.25 was very small and on the salty side. The mini slices of pineapple that was topped on the taco, didn’t balance out the saitiness just quite! Also, I thought it was pricey for that size on a taco. Their Diabla Wings were salty too. No Bueno! The chicken wings were petite and I didn’t care for the sauce that it was tossed up in.
I am glad that they serve Chilaquiles during dinner hours and all day! It is one of my favorite brunch dishes! However, the salsa of this breakfast dish, lacked a signature flavor. It was forgettable and the chicken pieces that was cooked with it, was just okay. The cooked egg was of the standard. Skippable breakfast dish for dinner!
Service was attentive and superb on consistently asking if we needed anything else!
It is a small, rowdy and hidden gourmet taqueria spot!

The food was above average.
I did like the al pastor tacos and the street corn very much. And any place that has Sol beer on the menu is a friend of mine. A friend had the tortilla soup and thought it was great.
The service on the other hand was off tonight. The waiter just missed the order, bringing out the completely wrong combo of tacos and forgetting two peoples order all together. Felt bad for the guy– meant well but just failed with the execution.
Not sure if I’d come back here frequently.
Tbc…

Small restaurant with a nice casual feel.
Staff is friendly and food delicious.
Love the street corn, pozole, and fish tacos.