Many believe that sourdough is the definitive San Francisco food. Some suggest that it’s Dungeness crab. Others might argue that it’s garlic noodles or cioppino. They’re all wrong.
It’s the burrito.
The city’s answer to New York pizza, Philly cheesesteaks and Nashville hot chicken, the burrito inspires tribalism in the Bay Area like no other, fueling infinite bickering about the biggest, the cheapest, the most tightly rolled. Burritos are self-contained meals that are synonymous with the Mission, the historic Latino barrio that birthed the region’s burrito culture and prevailing style: the Mission burrito. It appeals to locals and tourists; NIMBYs and YIMBYs; techies that moved to the neighborhood after the tech boom (take your pick) and organizers fighting gentrification. In a city defined by perpetual change, the burrito is a rare constant.
In the last five years, I’ve eaten enough burritos to build a skyscraper that could eclipse the Salesforce Tower, and in my experience few, if any, are as distinctive as the ones made by La Taqueria. A La Taqueria burrito is as timeless as any of the city’s landmarks. If forced to choose between the Golden Gate Bridge or La Taqueria’s carne asada burrito, I hope Marin County residents enjoy the ferry…