This review has been a long time in the making. I’m pretty passionate about Mexican food, and even though your standard burrito/Taqueria place in the city usually has me pretty uninterested, El Norteño definitely has changed my mind about some of them. The truck is located frustratingly close to my house, so when I’m on my own for lunch, it can be very difficult for me not to head over and pick up something.
Like many of the Mexican places in San Francisco, the burritos are huge, but they are so portable and easy to eat. They have a wide selection of fillings, with your standard carnitas/chicken/carne asada fare, but they also occasionally have a wider selection of meats including tripe/goat/beef tongue/beef head. And I’ve tried all of the latter, and they are all absolutely amazing. It’s probably why I’m a huge fan, as they use a lot of unusual meats and cuts and do an amazing job of cooking them. But it isn’t just the meats as the hot salsa is also fantastic as are the beans. They also do a great breakfast burrito if you are up early and need a fair amount of early morning sustenance.
It’s pretty much my favorite taco truck in the city so far, and having it so close to the house is slightly dangerous, but I try my hardest to only go occasionally, when I need that big burrito comfort hug. If you’re in the area (as they only have the one location), I highly recommend giving it a try.
Score: 4.5/5
Recommendation: Go for something with one of the unusual fillings, but their breakfast burritos are amazing too!
El Norteño
801 Bryant St
San Francisco, CA 94103
