Taco Del Mar

Ugh… this is the exact reason why i need a new phone: so that I can Unilocal places before actually going in. After watching the Giants lose in Gave 5 last week, some friends and I stopped into Steff’s bar next door to drink ourselves better. Of course, after the drinking, we needed to fulfill the post alochol munchies, and Taco Del Mar was right there waiting for us. Or at least, that’s my excuse for ending up here.
Right when we walked in, we should have walked right back out. Granted, they probably had some other inebriated customers pass through either directly after the game or after the bars like us, but I doubt the place was packed full of people at any point in the night. And yet, nearly every table we saw still had trash leftover from their most recent patrons. And even worse, the front bar-​type table was littered with food on the counter, and all over the floor. Good thing there wasn’t a sanitation inspection going on… that sure would have left an impression.
Food-​wise, it’s not like the food was awful or disgusting. It was entirely tolerable, but so bland! Ordered the Mondo Chicken burrito, but it was mainly because my primary selection of Carne Asada was out. In fact, out of their meat choices, they only had a few to choose from. That’s pretty bad, but I was willing to cut them a little slack for it since we were there pretty late before closing. But still, no excuse for a really boring and generic burrito, especially for the city. And seriously, no cheese? Or did you throw some in there that was just utterly tasteless? Usually, everything tastes better after a few drinks, and yet I got nothing from this burrito. :sadface:
Also, after one of my friends ventured into the bathroom, the first thing he did when he came out was to tell us to hold it. Even if we had broken the seal, it was better just to hold it… it was that bad apparently. I didn’t see for myself (not that I would want to go out of my way to look at a bathroom regardless), but I think I’m good at taking someone’s word on that one.
Two stars for the food, but minus one for the dirty tables/​floor and apparent bathroom conditions. Never again Taco Del Mar, never again.

Ew, this place is as bad as the reviews say. I trust my fellow Unilocalers, unfortunately a few hungry coworkers and I stumbled across this place and needed a quick lunch, never again. I didn’t even see the two stars until I was standing in line about to order, I knew I should have gone with my instincts. At least Osha is next door.
I got the carne asada enchilada and carne asada taco. Their flour tortillas are generic, store bought tortillas (and not the good kind). Their ingredients aren’t fresh and don’t taste good at all. The carne asada, I don’t know what it was soaked it, but it was so wet it ripped through my tortilla. I also think people in the restaurant industry have to be a special kind of dumb to screw up rice. I had a few bites I had to spit out because the rice was so hard! If you screwed up and there’s the part of the rice that burned along the bottom, please don’t serve it. I know it’ll save you $.01 to serve it, but don’t. Its gross. People don’t enjoy it.
I will never, ever go here again. Not only does it NOT taste good at all, its crappy quality and they’re trying to charge San Francisco prices. Newsflash Taco del Mar, people in SF pay for good food that have good quality ingredients. You can’t just take a crappy place with crappy food with lower end ingredients and think you can charge as much. People will figure it out.
I’m hungry and irritated. I’m going to have to head out to Specialties in a bit.

Centrally located, wholesome fresh food, and at BARGAIN prices!
I think the other reviewers are talking crazy talk.
Tonight I was on my way to an event and finally brought myself to stop in to this place that one could say is somewhat ignominiously-​decorated in light of its Osha Thai and Anchor And Steam yadeyade neighbors. But I needed fresh, savory food to bring with me and I was more than satisfied: I got me a rice-​beans-​meat-​greens Baja Bowl (think burrito-​sans-​the-​tortilla) for only $ 5.99! They even let me split my meat portion between the chicken and the steak. They had black beans. It was ALL GOOD.
In short, this place perfectly hits the spot, esp. if you are in need of protein-​on-​the-​go in the FiDi.

Good thing I didn’t read the reviews of this place prior to trying it. What I had really wasn’t that bad and totally hit the spot. Just be sure to have your expectations in line with where you’re eating and you’ll enjoy it.
I got a ground beef taco, pork/​cheese enchilada, rice/​beans and a Tamarind drink. I desired some hearty Mexican food and it definitely hit the spot. I appreciated the generous scoops of guacamole and sour cream. I hate it when restaurants either charge extra or skimp on those toppings.
In all, a place worthy to consider for lunch when you are stuck working in the culinary dead zone that is SoMa.

Mmm.
Nothing like a fish taco stuffed with a Gordon’s Fish Stick.
Tasteless, talentless, and thoughtless.
Avoid at all costs.

I’ve only ever been here in various states of drunkenness and aimless walkabouts… like, WAY drunk and WAY aimless. But even in my inebriated, dim-​witted, undiscriminating state of hunger, I can’t rally much to rave about.
For a fistful of dollars you can get tacos, quesadillas, or burritos, accompanied with a handful of chips (and a beer for a few dollars more, if you’re about keeping your buzz going). It’s a plentiful portion for the price, but it tends to be a messy messy eat; quesadillas sag — soggy from their own steam, and sloppily filled single tortilla tacos fall apart at the touch. Flavor? Not really any to speak of. Probably why there’s Tabasco on every table.
So, it’s not the best and I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat there, but the next time it’s late and I’m stumbling block after block towards that midnight Caltrain back to SJ, it’ll do.
Sometimes that’s all you can ask for.
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Authentic? Dunno.
Quick? Enough
Easy? Like me.
Cheap? Also like me.

I like this place. I only eat two different things here. I give a double thumbs up to the fish tacos. They use slightly fried and crispy skinned white fish (not talapia) and cabbage. That’s the secret of a good fish taco is to use cabbage.
I also order a taco salad without rice or beans. Usually I get either the steak or carnitas on top and it’s pretty good and not too heavy.

You might be tempted to give this taco chain a shot because you’ve never been here before. But you’ve been here before… trust me. It’s that taco/​burrito joint you were hoping would be a nice change of pace, but ended up being a big disappointment.
I ordered the fish tacos and was really disappointed that the fish wasn’t even warm. They probably fried it earlier in the day and just left it there. bleh! But I must give them their props for their Chips and Cheese. Not that it’s anything special, but the quantity shames that of the Taco Bell equivalent. You get like 4x as much Chips and Cheese!

There should be a vaccine for TDM. Doesn’t it sound like a horrible respiratory or venereal disease? How fitting. Save your money and walk down to Market and get some Del Taco. I’m serious. I hate it – it fools you into to thinking they’re better than Taco Bell, but it’s not. It’s not! Wtf?
‘No-no’s List:
1. Nacho cheese sauce! Really? I’m not at a ball game. I’m not at a roller rink. F’ you! I do not pay $ 6 for nacho cheese product.
2. Chips that taste like salty cardboard. The ones not covered in «cheese» sauce tasted like cleaning product. Serious.
3. Bland-​ass carne asada burrito. Trusty Tabasco couldn’t save this.
4. Woman slathering on sour cream with out asking if we wanted it or not. You can’t scrape sour cream out of a burrito.
5. Charging for guacamole and that glob of unwanted sour cream!

So I was hungry, craving mexican, and saw TDM right across the street. Never been before, and didn’t use my SmartPhone (DumbMe) to check out the reviews.
Ordered a spinach burrito — it is St. Patricks Day!
No grilled chicken offered, so went for the Carnitas.
Burrito is super wet, and not the way I like to eat it. Need a spoon to go with the fork.
AND, to get Guac and SCream — total was $ 8.10 for JUST the burrito.
YIKES. I won’t be going back.

I had a craving for guacamole yesterday so I walked to the nearest mexican place. Taco Del Mar should have filled that itch… I mean how can you make bad guacamole… right?!
Well, somehow it was terrible. Like almost unedible… I think the avocados had gone bad.
The only plus was that the chips were good.

I only came here since there aren’t a ton of Mexican food options in FiDi. Let me sum up my Taco Del Mar experience for you:
— no salsa bar!
— the fish in my taco was battered but had a rubbery texture… not tender nor fresh either as it should have been
— my carne asada taco was unbelievably SALTY… pretty much inedible (blech!)
— used flour tortillas instead of corn ones so they were bigger than normal tacos topped with cheese, lettuce, salsa, white sauce, and hot sauce
— service was ok… ladies who worked there didn’t really speak English
— 2 tacos for under $ 5 was cheap though… could have been filling but was far from tasting good
Worst so-​called «Mexican» food ever! Don’t come here if you can help it… you have been warned!

Stopped in and had a burrito yesterday. Not bad but not good either. There’s probably better within walking distance. I thought the price was fair though and the burrito was pretty damn big.
The other thing is that there was no one else in the place. That always makes me a bit nervous. Especially around lunchtime in SF.

I have been here way too many times for how terrible this place is. The only reason I come here is because it is right next to John Collins and Zebulon. I am usually pretty drunk after visiting the bars in the area and some how forget how bad this place is. If you have to eat here stay away from the burritos and get a quesadilla.
Pros — They have nacho cheese and they serve beer
Cons (To list a few) — burritos, rice is AWFUL, kind of expensive

I DJ next door. The staff is great. The food is great. You are at a chain-​y taco joint… what do you expect. People that voted this less than 3 stars don’t deserve a chance to vote… like it’s a shock.
Frankly… I used to walk to Chipotle a block away, but I like the crispy tacos. They are totally fine for a quick meal. And that’s what this is… quick… meal. Don’t think taco or food. think fuel… in and out, and then back in around 5am, if you know what I mean.

OK so TDM is pretty bad by SF standards, but believe it or not, up in Seattle they’re considered a huge step up from Taco Bell and Taco Time. Yeah, I’ve actually taken girls on dates to TDM and scored points! Gotta love ‘em when they’re low maintenance.
The beef here is bad, chicken is OK, and fish is delish. Too bad they’ve been sold out of fish last two times I went. Still I bump them all the way to 3 stars because they’re open until 9 and have free drink refills. Sometimes when I get stuck working late they’re my best option for something to eat before the 5 mile walk home.

Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!
You should avoid this place at all costs. If the bright lights and tacky décor aren’t enough to scare you off, be warned that they stew their carne asada (Spanish for grilled steak — GRILLED!) in a murky bath of mystery liquid.
I don’t usually post negative reviews, but I feel it is my duty as a human being to save you, gentle reader, from this place. You have been warned!
PROS:
— I think they MIGHT have a bathroom
CONS:
— Everything imaginable!
— Horrible food, bad service

YIKES! I went to eat there this week with a friend, and I don’t think I’m ever going back there. Given the multitude of alternatives (and Korean Ramen Bowls at home being one as well), the only way I’m eating there again is if someone dragged me in, kicking and screaming. The food was crap and the staff there can’t communicate.
We were there on a Tuesday. A friend in LA had just talked about going to Taco Tuesdays, so having the Taco Tuesday special at this joint seemed appropriate. I asked the lady behind the counter about Taco Tuesday, and she only grunted and pointed. The sign said something to the extent of «Taco Tuesday Special», but did not indicate what the special was. The other lady didn’t speak English. So after a couple of minutes, I finally understood that «Taco Tuesday» meant the $ 5.99 combo meal costs $ 4.99, which wasn’t much of a deal.
To the food — I had one soft fish taco and one shredded beef soft taco. The tortilla was dry and hard, the lettuce/​cabbage/​veggies were old and busted, the fried fish was soggy, the beef was chewy. Eating here made me miss good ol’ Hole Mole in Long Beach, where I could get yummy fresh Ensenada-​style fish tacos for about a buck. Eating here even made me miss Del Taco and Taco Bell.
Do yourself a favor. Do your neighbors a favor. Don’t eat here. Let it close so that maybe something else can open in this space.

Our product manager came by and said that he and an external consultant currently here testing our codey were going out to grab a bite to eat. Did I want to join them? Will it be a quick lunch? I asked.
I was assured it would be. We three and one of my developers all left the office in search of food.

The Product Manager suggested «Chipotle.» The developer said that it sucks and that «Taco Del Mar» is much more authentic. So we decided to give Taco Del Mar a shot…
Authentic? I’ll say… so fucking authentic I picked up Montezuma’s Revenge. Muchas gracias!
Actually I’m giving them 2 stars instead of 1 because I’m presuming that’s where it originated, but there’s certainly no other fishy meal (pardon the pun) I’ve ingested over the last 48 hours… Actually I didn’t have any fish there. I ordered the Super Meat Nachos with Chicken, which tasted ok but were pretty lame in retrospect. They put this watery cheese sauce that makes Frito-​Lay look first-​grade culinary!
I didn’t like Chipotle when I tried it, but I regret us not having gone there instead…

For me it’s hard to get inspired to write reviews about places that suck. However, if I can help but one Unilocaler avoid a horrendous meal…
This place just looks bad. But one night, after happy-​houring my way from Zebulon to John Collins, my burrito craving could not hold until the Mission. Woe is me. Instead of getting in my car, I got in line behind a couple of tourists at Taco Del Mar. They were lost, far from Union Square. Mexican-​American couple, but sadly inspiring the least possible confidence in the food awaiting me in this under-​lit, Mexi-​theme-​zoned, almost-​cafeteria-​bad restaurant. One star for being open for «dinner» after all the other cheap lunch joints were long closed. One star for the food being well-​warmed –over and slightly better than micro-​waved. I’m being generous here.
Hard to feel like you haven’t wasted a precious meal eating this crappy crap. Don’t. Walk a block. Walk two. Walk to the Mission. Just Walk Away…